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Category: Activity

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Maitland Gaol NSW Australia

Looking at A-Wing from the Watch Tower

Maitland Gaol NSW Australia

Although outdated and no longer in use, the Maitland Gaol in NSW Australia is now a tourist attraction. Several options are available when visiting, guided tours, self guided tours or a guard tower tour. We chose the last option, as this takes you up onto the walls of the gaol, providing better views over the buildings. The guide also gives a commentary full of interesting information. Additionally, you can do the self guided tour when you finish on the walls.

Getting There

Located in East Maitland NSW Australia, the gaol has its own car park, so self -drive is usually not a problem.

Watch Towers

Before undertaking the tour, a safety talk ensures that you understand the risks and behaviour expected. The main risks are heights and enclosed spaces. These are all managed with guard rails, but if you suffer from heights and enclosed spaces, the guard tower tour might not be for you.

Climbing to the top of the tower is via a modern metal spiral staircase inside one of the towers. Once at the top, you are safely enclosed by a metal frame and mesh wire. The view from the top is amazing, providing views over the gaol. The hour long tour took us along the walls where guards used to patrol and through several towers.

Guard Tower
Guard Tower
Stairs up to the watch tower
Stairs up to the watch tower
Outer Wall Maitland Gaol
Outer Wall
Walkway on the wall
Walkway on the wall
Dividing Wall and Razor Wire Maitland Gaol
Dividing Wall and Razor Wire

Prison Cells

Originally opening in December 1848, Maitland Gaol did not close until January 1998. By this time it no longer met community standards.

The cells and exercise yards are open for visitors to explore where you get to see the conditions the prisoners were held in. The rooms are small and basic reflecting the times in which they were built.

Gaol Cells
Gaol Cells
Gaol Cell Maitland Gaol
Gaol Cell
B-Wing Cells
B-Wing Cells
Exercise Area
Exercise Area

Buildings

Built of sandstone, the buildings are impressive in size and certainly look substantial and difficult to escape from.

In addition to the cell blocks, there is a chapel with stain glass windows where religious services took place weekly.

As the number of prisoners increased over time, the gaol expanded. This is best seen from the guard towers where the original wall now runs down the centre of the gaol forming a dividing wall.

At this time a building for female prisoners was added. It originally had a balcony and doors facing into the gaol. Later, the women were relocated to another facility and the balcony was removed and the doors filled in. Different coloured sandstone in the walls shows where this happened.

A-Wing and the Chapel
A-Wing and the Chapel
Looking at A-Wing from the Watch Tower
Looking at A-Wing from the Watch Tower
Dividing Wall and Razor Wire Maitland Gaol
Dividing Wall and Razor Wire
The old Female Section (rear) and day-cells
The old Female Section (rear) and day-cells. The different sandstone blocks show where the doorways onto the balcony used to be.
Stained Glass Windows in the Chapel
Stained Glass Windows in the Chapel
The Kitchen Workers' Cells Maitland Gaol
The Kitchen Workers’ Cells

Other Buildings Nearby

Opposite the gaol is the East Maitland Courthouse. This building is still operating as a children’s’ court, so access is restricted. However, if the court is closed, you can enter the carpark and see the front facade.

Located next to the gaol on Lindesay Street are the old Mounted Police Barracks. Used by the Maitland and Beyond Family Heritage, it is generally closed to the public. However the outside of the buildings can be viewed from the road.

East Maitland Court House Maitland Gaol
East Maitland Court House
Mounted Police Barracks Maitland Gaol
Mounted Police Barracks
Mounted Police Barracks
Mounted Police Barracks
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Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary

A Koala

Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary

One of the prime attractions in Port Stephens is the Koala Sanctuary. Not only does it allow you to see koalas, but it rehabilitates injured ones, while providing a place to live for those that cannot be returned to the wild.

Accommodation

An excellent accommodation option for the Port Stephens region are the cabins available at the sanctuary. This allows visitors to see the koalas in the evenings and mornings when they are more active.

Accommodation at Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary
Accommodation

Koala Sculptures

After paying for your entry, a path leads through a number of large koala sculptures. As you walk along the path, most sculptures also have an information board helping you understand the koalas, their habitat and the threats to their survival.

This is a great educational opportunity and is especially good for children.

Koala Sculpture Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary
Koala Sculpture
A Koala Statue Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary
A Koala Statue
A Koala Statue
A Koala Statue Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary
A Koala Statue
A Koala Statue
A Koala Statue Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary
A Koala Statue
A Koala Statue

Koala Hospital

Before reaching the viewing area, you pass the hospital where injured koalas are treated. A window allows you to see into the treatment room and we were lucky enough to see one there, along with the vet and his assistants.

Koalas

Only koalas that are unable to be rehabilitated back to the wild are on display. Koalas that have undergone surgery and are being rehabilitated are housed in separate enclosures. Each kolas has its own information board detailing how it came to the sanctuary and what injuries it was suffering.

Because we arrived in the middle of the day they were not very active, but were able to see most of them. stationed here were two volunteers who gave talks on the koalas and the work of the sanctuary.

Information Board about the koalas
Information Board about the koala
Koala information board
Koala information board
A Koala
A Koala
A Koala Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary
A Koala
A Koala Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary
A Kookaburra
A Kookaburra

What Did We Think?

This was a great visit and would recommend it to anyone wanting to see or learn about koalas. It’s similar to the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital although larger and offering onsite accommodation.

Our photos are available for purchase on

To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.

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Stockton Bridge Newcastle Australia

Stockton Bridge title

Stockton Bridge Newcastle Australia

Spanning the North Channel of the Hunter River, the Stockton Bridge connects the Tomaree and Tillegerry Peninsulas with Newcastle, Australia. Replacing an earlier vehicle ferry from Stockton to Newcastle (the passenger ferry still runs), it has significantly improved vehicle flow. When opened in 1971, it was the longest bridge (at 1,024m) to have been built by the Department of Main Roads and the second longest bridge in New South Wales after the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

We have driven over the bridge many times and always assumed the central barricades were to separate traffic and prevent cars crossing into oncoming lanes. Having wondered how pedestrians crossed, because there are no footpaths on the outside edge, we did some research. It turns out that the bridge design incorporates a central footpath which you access from underneath the bridge.

Getting There

To have a look for ourselves, we parked near the boat ramp and walked across. Located where the bridge meets the ground, the stairs are easy to find. From here it’s a short climb to the bridge surface. While walking across, you are only separated from the traffic by a metal barricade. Although this is sturdy, it can feel unsafe at times as the cars and trucks drive past.

It was a cold clear morning when we walked across, so the views back over Stockton and Newcastle were beautiful. However, as you are in the centre of the bridge taking good photos is difficult because the bridge gets in the way.

Returning to our car, we found some artwork on the concrete uprights near the road. Sponsored by the NSW Government and local Rotary Club, they were a nice colourful surprise.

Stockton Bridge
Stockton Bridge
Access steps to the walkway
Access steps to the walkway
Access Steps
Access Steps
Walkway on the bridge
Walkway on the bridge
Stockton Bridge Newcastle Australia pedestrian walkway
Bridge pedestrian walkway
View from the top of the Stockton Bridge Newcastle Australia towards Newcastle
View from the top of the bridge towards Newcastle
Street Art on the bridge structure
Street Art on the bridge structure
Spectacular Blue Wren artwork
Spectacular Blue Wren artwork
Female Spectacular Blue Wren artwork
Female Spectacular Blue Wren artwork
Male Spectacular Blue Wren artwork
Male Spectacular Blue Wren artwork

Our photos are available for purchase on

To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.