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Smoky Cape campground

Hat Head National Park

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Current alerts in this area

There are no current alerts in this area.

Nearby alerts

Applies from Mon 1 Mar 2021, 11.38am to Fri 30 Oct 2026, 9.17am. Last reviewed: Mon 16 Jun 2025, 11.37am

Closed areas: Area permanently closed - Mermaid Pools

Access to Mermaid Pools is permanently closed including for swimming. Sudden large swells and tides create major waves that wash over the rocks and pools.

Do not access this area. The severe conditions at this site have caused a number of significant injuries and deaths in the past.

Mermaid Pools have never been a designated visitor site due to the extreme nature of the surf and tides at this location. There is no approved public access walking track to Mermaid Pools.

For further information call the NPWS Verges Creek area office on 02 6561 6700.

Affects 1 park and 1 location nearby. Show list

Applies from Mon 10 Feb 2025, 4.13pm to Fri 31 Oct 2025, 4.14pm. Last reviewed: Fri 30 May 2025, 1.25pm

Closed areas: Trial Bay Gaol campground infrastructure upgrade

Sections of Trial Bay Gaol campground will be closed for upgrades from Monday 10 February 2025 until late October 2025. The Bayview campsites and northern area will be closed.

Open parts of the campground will be impacted by noise and machinery between Monday and Friday, 7am to 5pm. Saturdays 8am to 1pm.  

Access to parts of the campground will be impacted. Please refer to onsite maps for access information.

Stay safe and follow directions on signage as well as instructions from staff.

Find out more about the improvements planned for Trial Bay Gaol campground. For more information about the closure, contact the NPWS campground office at 02 6566 6168.

Affects 1 park and 3 locations nearby. Show list

Applies from Mon 5 May 2025, 9.00am to Tue 5 Aug 2025, 5.00pm. Last reviewed: Tue 3 Jun 2025, 9.50am

Other planned events: 1080 Ground Baiting Operation

National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) will be conducting a ground baiting program in Kumbatine National Park from Monday 5th May 2025 to Tuesday 5th August 2025. The operation will use 1080 (sodium fluoroacetate) poison for the control of wild dogs. The program is designed to minimise predator impacts on wildlife, especially threatened species, and to minimise the impact of wild dogs on neighbouring stock.

Signs will be placed at the entry to the baiting location. Domestic pets are not permitted in NSW National Parks managed lands. Neighbours are advised to take relevant precautions to exclude animals from entering the baiting location – 1080 is lethal to cats and dogs, thus pets and working dogs may be affected. In the event of accidental poisoning seek immediate veterinary assistance.

For further information call the NPWS Port Macquarie  Area office on 02 6588 5555.

Affects 1 park nearby. Show list

Local alerts

For the latest updates on fires, closures and other alerts in this area, see https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/camping-and-accommodation/campgrounds/smoky-cape-campground/local-alerts

Park info

See more visitor info

Emergency services

For all NSW fires visit the Rural Fire Service

For the latest information on wildfires in your area please contact the NSW Rural Fire Service.

View all alerts for NSW

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