Mount Yarrowyck Nature Reserve

Latitude -30.483333, Longitude 151.483333

Located in the New England Region of NSW, nearest town Armidale

Source: www.environment.nsw.gov.au/nationalparks/parkHome.aspx?id=N0555

Source: Field Geology od New South Wales Authors Branagan & Packham

Link to Detailed Map

Mount Yarrowyck Nature Reserve protects an Aboriginal cave painting site and much of the natural environment of Mount Yarrowyck. The reserve's Aboriginal cultural walk, a three kilometre loop track, will take you along the granite slopes of the mountain to the cave painting site.

The reserve forms part of the traditional territory of the Anaiwan people of the New England Tablelands. The Aboriginal art is believed to be between 150 and 500 years old. It is with the co-operation and approval of the Armidale Aboriginal Community that this site is open for public visitation.

The track will take you through one of the few remnants of natural bushland on the western slopes of the New England Tablelands. The walking track is clear and easy to follow and, apart from one short section, is level and undemanding.

Geology

The topography of Mt Yarrowyck Nature Reserve is highly variable and rises from the floodplain of the Gwydir River, 780m above sea level (asl) to the top of Mt Yarrowyck (1130m asl). The rainfall that drains from this catchment travels thousands of kilometres across the continent via the Murray-Darling basin and eventually into the Southern Ocean at Lake Alexandrina in South Australia.

The batholith forming Mt Yarrowyck consists of hornblend-biotite granodiorite known as Yarrowyck Granodiorite from the Early Triassic age. The area surrounding Mt Yarrowyck is scattered with tors which have rolled down the slope after dislodging from the main body of rock. This phenomenon is due to the weathering of joints in the granite over millions of years allowing large boulders to break off from the batholith in the form of tors. These tors have been subjected to further onion skin weathering resulting in their rounded shape. Note the cave shape at the art site, this is one of the results of weathering.

The walk to the Aboriginal art site crosses a huge exposed granite slope formed by exfoliation. Vegetation can't get a hold on this slope as the power of water flowing down the incline after a downpour removes anything in its path.

Getting There

Mt Yarrowyck Nature Reserve is located 29km west of Armidale on Thunderbolt's Way between Uralla and Bundarra. (also known as the Bundarra Road). Look for the sign at the entrance which is 1 km north of the Armidale-Bundarra Road turnoff. There is a car park, toilets, BBQs and picnic tables.