Barrington Tops

To me as an adventure tourer rider, this is one of the loop, of all loops.

There are many roads and tracks throughout Barrington Tops to be discovered.  On this occasion, it is simply part of a loop and awe inspiring enough without getting carried away. If you get the chance, spend a few days in this area and discover as much as you can.

Let’s start in Walcha and warm up with a cruise down Thunderbolts Way to Barrington where you will turn right onto Scone Road. The ride south out of Walcha is pretty lame for a while until you get to around Nowendoc, then things get very interesting and scenery starts to get amazing.

The valley to your right as you ride down towards Barrington is mind blowing.

Once you have turned right (west), onto Scone Road, you are essentially on Barrington Tops Forest Road and prepare yourself for the scenery. I love scenic rides and I cannot possibly describe this ride well enough.

Barrington Tops Forest Road winds its way west and past some of the tops most beautiful vantage points.  Eventually, you start your descent down through Moonan Flats and Belltrees toward Gundy. A right turn before Gundy will have you heading north toward Timor. Oh, I forgot to say, once you leave Thunderbolts Way, back near Barrington, you are headed for dirt, dirt and more dirt.

Obviously check weather conditions before you do this ride and be prepared to rug up.

After Timor, you are headed for Crawney Pass. A great ride in its own right, but far more tame than the Barrington Tops section. Crawney Road will take you north over the pass and into the quaint little town of Nundle.

Nundle is worthy of a big break and maybe even a pub lunch.  North of Nundle, you have a small amount of dirt on River Road, then past Chaffey Dam, turn right at Woolomin and take Woolomin Gap Road to cut across to Ogunbil Road and take another right to head back to Niangala Road.  Turn left (north) on Niangala Road to get back to Walcha.

This ride is a very big day.  Loads of your day will get sucked up by stopping to take pictures, so don’t think you will do it in the 6 hours 45 minutes that Google thinks you can …. Not gonna happen!

Start early, and be careful of kangaroos. Wear appropriate gear as it can get stupid cold up on the Tops.  No food, drinks or fuel are available from Nowendoc to Nundle.  As the majority of this ride is on dirt roads, always check conditions with the locals.

Click here for Route Map.