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.