A must see destination in New South Wales is Thunderbolt’s Lookout, in Torrington State Conservation Area.
Take this alternative to driving Glen Innes – Tenterfield. Instead, we drove west to Emmaville (with a lovely little caravan park next to the public pool, and 2 pubs in town, one opposite a museum).
Then onto the Torrington State Conservation Area.
We stopped at the Nomads Picnic Area (day use only, nice stone shelter with fireplace!) and took the Thunderbolt’s Lookout walk.
The Walk
(Love checking out bushranger history – and we’d already seen Thunderbolt’s Cave and Hideout in the New England Tablelands)
Plus it was only 950m to the lookout. Easy!
It was not easy – nice even track but a steady slope up – me huffing and puffing.
There’s a bench seat 450m on the way up. I wasn’t even half way, but kept going.
Then you see it. The rocky outcrop so common to this area – and another cave. Travel further over boulders, to a rocky staircase. So cool. Then a ladder up! It would have been tough going for the bushrangers without the ladder.
But WHAT views!
We were blown away, and smiling all the way back to the carpark.
Drive further north and there is a lovely campground (toilets, picnic tables, firepits, firewood supplied) with three areas, sites well spread out – and some close to the creek. Last site has a creek crossing – no vans. But it was fairly dry as we crossed. You can walk to a waterfall from the road in. Plus there is another walk to Mystery Face, east of the road.
Silent Grove Road (on way to Tenterfield) is worth the drive alone. Views just blindsided us! Very impressive.
You’ll find other beaut sites perfect for Mother’s Day, as well as more budget and free camping sites, or caravan parks throughout Australia in the FREE updated CAMPS 12 guide books, CAMPS Pendium boxed set and CAMPS AUSTRALIA WIDE App.
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