Mystery Face Walk and Thunderbolt's Lookout, Torrington State Conservation Area, NSW.

Mystery Face

Mystery Face Walking Track and Thunderbolt's Lookout were the highlight of our trip to Torrington State Conservation Area.


Mystery Face Walking Track: Grade 3, 2.6 km loop.
Take the signed turnoff from Silent Grove Road to the parking area for this walk. The road in is unsealed but was in good condition.

We really enjoyed this easy walk suitable for the whole family. There seemed to be an amazing rock formation around every corner. We did the loop clock-wise and took the side track to Westminster Rocks. Our first encounter was with The Brain. We continued on and as we passed some large granite rocks Mystery Rock suddenly came into view.

The Brain

I think these look like brains too.

The Sphinx?

Climb through Westminster Rocks

View from Westminster Rocks

We saw a number of birds along the walk, including three different types of Thornbills: Striated, Brown and Buff-rumped.

Striated Thornbill

There were lots of Copper-tailed Skinks out in the sun on the granite rocks.

Copper-tailed Skink

Thunderbolt's Lookout Walking Track: Grade 3, 2 km return.
This walk starts at Nomads Picnic Area. The entry to the picnic area is on the corner of Bates Road and Emmaville Road at Torrington. 

Nomads Picnic Area

Although both Mystery Face Walking Track and Thunderbolts Lookout Walking Track are listed as Grade 3 walks they require completely different levels of ability. The last 200 meters of Thunderbolt's Lookout Walking Track is mostly steps and culminates in a steep 5 meter ladder. Don't be deterred as the view from the lookout is breathtaking. 

The last 200 meters is mostly steps:

Steps

More Steps

The ladder.

The view

Looking back down the ladder

As always, I find getting back down the hard part but the ladder is very well designed and I got down easily. 

We had a lovely picnic in Nomads Picnic Area. While we were there, several people arrived on day trips only to discover that they couldn't go on the walks because they had their dogs with them. Pets are not allowed on any of the walks in the conservation area.

Wildlife List for Torrington Conservation Area: Euro, Eastern Grey Kangaroo, Eastern Wallaroo, Copper-tailed Skinks, Eastern Water Skinks. Birds: Pied Currawong, Wedge-tailed Eagle, Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo, Striped Honeyeater, White-eared Honeyeater, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, Eastern Yellow Robin, Crimson Rosella, White-browed Scrubwren, Eastern Spinebill, Brown Thornbill, Buff-rumped Thornbill, Striated Thornbill, White-throated Treecreeper, Weebill, Willie Wagtail, Golden Whistler.

Blatherarm Campground, Torrington State Conservation Area, NSW.

Blatherarm Campground

I have lost count of the number of national park managed campgrounds we have camped in over the years and although they vary quite a bit we have always found something to like about each campground. Sadly, Blatherarm Campground became the first ever campground that we rejected on sight. We had intended camping there but on arrival we quickly changed our minds. We are not normally shy about staying in remote and deserted locations but this time it just did not feel right, particularly as it was the weekend. There were bags of rubbish dropped down the non-flush toilet, trees had been ring-barked by a chainsaw and except for one shanty-like establishment the place was deserted. Ultimately, I think it pays to listen to your gut and ours were ringing alarm bells.

We took a few quick photos and drove to the nearby parking area for the Ugly Corner Falls Walk. 

Ugly Corner Falls Walk: Grade 4, 3 km return.
The walk starts on an old fire trail. A short distance in we passed a picnic table before the track narrows and descends to the creek. There were lots of Eastern Water Skinks at the creek. However, we were unable to find the trail from the creek to the falls as it appeared to have become overgrown. After some fruitless searching we decided to return to the car park.

Ugly Corner Falls Walk, picnic table on the right.

We weren't completely alone.

We couldn't find the track after reaching the creek.

Eastern Water Skink

Our main reason for coming to Torrington State Conservation Area was to do the Mystery Face and Thunderbolts Lookout walks. These turned out to both be excellent walks so don't be put off by our campground comments. There are several options for camping in the area, including the free Bluff Rock Rest Area and the privately run Kookaburra Camping and Caravan Park. The walks could also be easily done as a day trip from either Tenterfield or Glen Innes.


Details for Blatherarm Campground:
Where: In Torrington State Conservation Area. 77 km south-west of Tenterfield or 83 km north of Glen Innes. Turn off the Highway just north of Deepwater onto Torrington Road. Ignore Goggle Maps and continue on to turn right into Silent Grove Road. Turn right into Blatherarm Road and drive 2 km to the campground.
Access: Approximately 12 km of unsealed road. There are three separate areas: areas 1 and 2 have 2WD access. Area 3 has 4WD access with a challenging river bed crossing and is not suitable for caravans.
Booking & Fees: No bookings. Self-register on arrival. $6 per adult $3.50 per child.
Sites: 15 undefined sites, hard surface. Areas 1 & 2 suitable for tents, camper trailers, camping beside vehicle, caravans. Area 3 is serious 4WD only and not suitable for caravans.
Facilities: Tables, fire rings, non-flush toilet. 
Of Interest: Fossicking area for topaz, beryl and quartz.
Caution: Remote location.

Things to do in Kwiambal National Park, NSW.

Macintyre Falls

There are so many things to see and do in Kwiambal National Park that we are surprised it isn't more widely known. 

The Junction Walk: Grade 4, 7 km return.
This walk starts from Lemon Tree Campground. 

An early morning start on the Junction Walk.

The Dungeon Lookout used to be a precarious cliff-top view but is now fully enclosed.

The Dungeon Lookout

View from the Dungeon Lookout

View from the Dungeon Lookout

The descent to the Junction

The junction of the Severn and Macintyre Rivers.

Macintyre Falls Picnic Area:

Macintyre Falls Picnic Shelter

There is a large parking area at the picnic area and several walks leave from here. Facilities include: toilets, tables and a picnic shelter with a table and BBQ.

Rufous Whistler at Mackintyre Picnic Area

Macintyre Falls Lookout: Grade 2, 200 m return.

Macintyre Falls Lookout

View from Macintyre Falls Lookout

Rock Pool Walking Track: Grade 3.
A very rewarding walk with good access to the large pool that the Macintyre Falls flows into.

The Beach Lookout

View from the Beach Lookout

View from the Beach Lookout

The track down to the rook pool has quite a few steps.

Steps on The Rock Pool Track

The Rock Pool at Macintyre Falls

Slippery Rock Walking Track: Grade 4, 4 km return.
The track is fairly unformed and gradually descends to the river. We saw quite a few Eastern Water Dragons near the pools and a variety of birds along the track; mostly Noisy Friarbirds, White-faced Honeyeaters and quite a few Speckled Warblers.

Slippery Rock

Speckled Warbler on the Slippery Rock Walking Track.

Limestone Caves: Grade 3, 600 m return.
It is about 200 meters to the picnic area from the car park and then a short walk to the caves. There is also a dedicated disabled car park 80 meters on from the main car park. This cave system has been mined extensively in the past for guano and phosphate rock. Due to the threatened species of microbats living in the caves the public is asked to only enter the caves from September-October and March-April.

Entrance to the Limestone Caves

Bird nests in the entry to the Limestone Caves.

Interior of the Limestone Caves.

There are a few exits in the caves that the bats probably utilise.

We saw four emus at the creek near the limestone cave car park. Spiny-cheeked Honeyeaters were attracted to the flowering gum trees near the picnic area.

Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater

Swimming and Fishing:
The Macintyre Falls rook pool and spots along the Severn River are popular for swimming. Fishing is allowed in the park with a NSW Recreational Fishing Licence.

Camping and Accommodation:
Lemon Tree Flat and Kookabitta Campground are both excellent campgrounds that have self-registration on arrival. Lemon Tree Flat is the campground recommended for caravans. NSW National Parks also has accommodation for rent in Kwiambal National Park that needs to be booked online: Lavendale Cottage has three bedrooms and sleeps up to nine people. Lavendale Homestead has six bedrooms and sleeps up to twenty people. 

Kookabitta Campground, Kwiambal National Park, NSW.

Kookabitta Campground looking towards the new camp kitchen shelter.

There are two campgrounds at Kwiambal National Park. Our understanding was that Kookabitta Campground was closed for refurbishment so we drove straight to Lemon Tree Flat Campground and set up. Later, we realised that Kookabitta Campground was open so we went in and had a look. The new kitchen shelter is excellent and overlooks the campground through to the Severn River.

Kookabitta Campground looking towards the Severn River.

There are tables throughout the campground and the fire pits are a bit different as they are concreted holes in the paved platforms.

National Parks New South Wales often supply great camp cooking facilities.

We had heard that Emus come down to the opposite riverbank to drink so we kept an eye open for them. We didn't see any there but overall we saw four in Kwiambal National Park. We did see goats come down for a drink and some Peaceful Doves foraging along the river stones.

Goat coming down for a drink in the Severn River.

Peaceful Doves

In the campground, Brown Treecreepers and White-plumed Honeyeaters were quite active and inquisitive. There were lots of Superb Fairy-wrens and Sulphur-crested Cockatoos are common throughout Kwiambal National Park.

White-plumed Honeyeater

Brown Treecreeper

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo

Superb Fairy-wren; male in eclipse.

Eastern Grey Kangaroos were peacefully grazing in the campground.

Eastern Grey Kangaroo

After walking around the campground we realised that we were covered in grass ticks. We don't know if we came in contact with the ticks at the campground or on the walks we had done that morning. Grass ticks are very small and typically there are lots of them. We do carry a fully stocked first aid kit with us on our travels so we were able to get rid of them but it takes up a bit of time to locate them all.

Details for Lemon Tree Flat Campground:
Where: In Kwiambal National Park. 160 km north-west of Glen Innes via Inverall and Ashford. From Ashford travel along Limestone Road. Turn right into Kookabitta Trail a couple of kilometers before Lemon Tree Flat Campground.
Access: 2WD roads, can become boggy when wet. Approximately 25 km of unsealed roads before arriving at the campground.
Booking & Fees: No bookings, self-register on arrival, $6 per adult, $3.50 per child.
Sites: There is an enclosed grassy area, with separate parking bays, suitable for tent camping. There appeared to be only one site at the end of the campground that would be suitable for a motorhome or a camper trailer. The campground is beside the Severn River.
Facilities: Fire places, wood supplied, tables, non-flushing toilets, large camp kitchen shelter with free gas/electric BBQs, rainwater tank (empty when we were there). Fishing is allowed with a permit.
Prohibitions: No noise after 8 pm, no pets, no smoking.
Caution: Grass ticks.
Managed by: National Parks NSW, Tenterfield Office Ph 02 6736 4298