Torrington State Conservation Area
Overview
Get off the beaten track and experience the serenity of Torrington State Conservation Area. It has dramatic views and granite formations, secluded camping and peaceful picnic spots.
Read more about Torrington State Conservation Area
Whether you’re a keen bush walker, birdwatcher, fossicker, 4WD enthusiast or just a nature lover who likes to get away from it all, Torrington State Conservation Area has options for pretty much everyone.
Sprawling across the rugged Mole Tableland, the dry forests and woodlands are scattered with scenic rock outcrops and balancing boulders, gorges, swamps and small creeks. From September to March the bush becomes a blaze of colour with spectacular wildflower displays.
Explore by 4WD or head out by foot on trails like the Thunderbolts lookout walking track and you’ll get dramatic 360º views of the surrounding tablelands. Spark your imagination as you admire the stunning rock formations on the Mystery Face walking track.
Or go back in time to the bygone mining era as you try your luck fossicking for semi-precious gemstones at the creek near Blatherarm campground and picnic area.
Local alerts
For the latest updates on fires, closures and other alerts in this area, see https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/visit-a-park/parks/torrington-state-conservation-area/local-alerts
Contact
- in the Country NSW region
Torrington State Conservation Area is always open but may have to close at times due to poor weather or fire danger.
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Glen Innes office
02 6739 0700
Contact hours: Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 4.30pm. - 68 Church Street, Glen Innes NSW 2370
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Email: npws.ntab@environment.nsw.gov.au
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Glen Innes office
Visitor info
All the practical information you need to know about Torrington State Conservation Area.
Map
Map
Map legend
Getting there and parking
Get driving directions
From Tenterfield:
- Head south along the New England Highway for 50km
- Turn right into Stannum Road, just before the town of Deepwater.
- Follow for approximately 30km until you reach the town of Torrington where the conservation area starts
From Glen Innes:
- Head north along the New England Highway for 40km
- Turn left into Stannum Road, just after the town of Deepwater.
- Follow for approximately 30km until you reach the town of Torrington where the conservation area starts
Parking
- Blatherarm campground and picnic area See on map
By bike
Check out the Bicycle information for NSW website for more information.
By public transport
There is no access by public transport to Torrington State Conservation Area
Best times to visit
There are lots of great things waiting for you in Torrington State Conservation Area. Here are some of the highlights.
Spring
See the spectacular display of spring wildflowers as the boronias, grevilleas, prostantheras and many other native wildflowers turn the bush into a vibrant display of colour.
Summer
Wander through the bush, dotted with colourful wildflowers, as you take in the magnificent granite formations on the Mystery Face walking track.
Weather, temperature and rainfall
Summer temperature
Average
13°C and 31°C
Highest recorded
41.2°C
Winter temperature
Average
1°C and 19°C
Lowest recorded
-10.6°C
Rainfall
Wettest month
January
Driest month
June
The area’s highest recorded rainfall in one day
361.2mm
Facilities
Toilets
Picnic tables
Barbecue facilities
Maps and downloads
Prohibited
Pets
Pets and domestic animals (other than certified assistance animals) are not permitted. Find out which regional parks allow dog walking and see the pets in parks policy for more information.
Smoking
NSW national parks are no smoking areas.
Nearby towns
Glen Innes (67 km)
Set in the most prolific sapphire region of Country NSW, Glen Innes hosts the annual Minerama Fossicking and Gem Show and the annual Australian Celtic Festival, and is home to the Australian Standing Stones.
Tenterfield (79 km)
Sir Henry Parkes delivered his famous "birth of our nation" speech in the Tenterfield School of Arts in 1889. His rousing speech is credited with being the decisive moment that set the country on its path toward Federation in 1901.
Inverell (130 km)
Go fossicking for sapphires and other gems at several places around the city. Grab a map of local fossicking sites from the visitor information centre and try your luck.
Learn more
Torrington State Conservation Area is a special place. Here are just some of the reasons why:
Mining heritage
Go back in time to the by-gone era of mining on the Mole Tableland when hopefuls came from as far as England and China to explore the deposits of tin and other minerals. At its peak in the 1920s, Torrington and nearby villages swelled to accommodate around 600 miners, but sharply declined in 1946 when mining virtually stopped. Try your luck fossicking for semi-precious gemstones like beryl, emerald, topaz and quartz.
Land of Dreaming
Torrington State Conservation Area is a significant place for the Ngarrabul, Marbul, Bigambul and Jucumbul people. The land and waterways of Torrington, and the plants and animals that live in them, feature in all facets of Aboriginal culture and are associated with dreaming stories told to this day.
Fabulous flowers and wonderful wildlife
This area is home to over 750 plant species, including 45 rare or threatened species like the rare Beadle’s grevillia and Torrington wattle. In fact, some plant communities thrive in the sedge-heath swamps and mole granite outcrops and can’t be found anywhere else in the world. From September to March the bush is ablaze with colour for the spectacular wildflower display. The unique climatic conditions make Torrington a haven for Australian wildlife. It’s home to 20 mammal, 135 bird, 29 reptile and 13 frog species, including threatened species like the powerful owl and the tiger quoll. You’ll probably see grey kangaroos and wallabies in the distance, and kookaburras and currawongs in the trees overhead. But if you’re lucky, you might also spot rare birds like the striking turquoise parrot and rare regent honeyeater.
- Mystery Face walking track The magnificent rock formations on the Mystery Face walking track are a must-see for any Torrington visitor and great for birdwatching and springtime wildflower displays.
- Ugly Corner Falls walking track The Ugly Corner Falls walking track is a fantastic way to get back to nature and experience the unique plants and animals of Torrington.
Bush experiences
Take in the dramatic views, magnificent rock formations and stunning wildflowers on the many walking tracks. Set up camp at Blatherarm campground or just spend an afternoon relaxing and picnicking at the various picnic areas. And if you are an experienced bushwalker looking for adventure, why not go exploring by foot into the remote corners in the north.
- Mystery Face walking track The magnificent rock formations on the Mystery Face walking track are a must-see for any Torrington visitor and great for birdwatching and springtime wildflower displays.
- Thunderbolts lookout walking track Follow this walking track to see the spectacular 360° panoramic views of Torrington at Thunderbolts lookout. Experience the stunning wildflowers along the way.
Education resources (1)
What we're doing
Torrington State Conservation Area has management strategies in place to protect and conserve the values of this park. Visit the OEH website for detailed park and fire management documents.