Thunderbolts Way

Template: Infobox several high-level roads / maintenance / AU O

States:

New South Wales

The Thunderbolts Way is a connecting road to the northeast of the Australian state of New South Wales. It connects the Bucketts Way in Gloucester with the Inverell - Bundarra Road at Copes Creek, 16 km south of Inverell.

History

Eric Carson (1913-1999), a sawmill owner and road builders from Gloucester, built the first road through the mountains of the Great Dividing Range, to carry away the great hardwood from the forests. For many years he had unsuccessfully tried to convince the politicians of a road through the mountains from Gloucester to Nowendoc, he just started themselves to build them. The construction of the road by 32 km of the steepest and wildest parts of the state was connected with many dangers, but 19961 he could finish it.

Carson 's Lookout, where is reminded of his work, is between Gloucester and Nowendoc and offers itself as a good vantage point over the panorama of the mountain chain.

The street was named after the notorious highwayman Frederick Ward (1835-1870) named, who was known by his pseudonym Captain Thunderbolt. He roamed in the 19th century this area.

Course

From Gloucester, the road leads to North northeast by densely forested mountains, on the Gloucester River, the Barrington River, the Bowman River, the Manning River and the Barnard River, and along the Nowendoc River, past the Woko National Park and several nature reserves. In Nowendoc they continue to follow the river to the north- west to the source. Later, she turns to the north and crosses in the Walcha Oxley Highway ( R34)

From there, the Thunderbolts Way leads again to the north - northwest to the New England Highway (N15 ), which he crossed in Uralla. In the settlement Rocky River it crosses the same river and then along the Gwydir River to Yarrowyck. Continue pulling the road to the north-west and crosses the Gwydir River twice at Bundarra. Here it leaves the river and leads directly to the north, towards Inverell. The Gwydir Highway ( R38 ) but it does not reach, but ends 16 km south of Inverell on the Copes Creek, from where the Inverell - Bundarra Road forms the further connection to the north.

Tourist importance

The steep, curvy road with tourists, especially motorcyclists, very popular and offers many places for picnics and fishing. Tents by the river is possible in the Gloryvale reserve and in the Bretti reserve. At the bridge over the Barrington River, there is a picnic area with toilets.

Occasionally, one can observe from the street dingoes, koalas or wombats. At the Südwestabdachung the Great Dividing Range you can hear the calls often from Bell Birds ( Manorina melanophrys ).

In Uralla is a statue of Captain Thunderbolt at the intersection of Thunderbolts Way and New England Highway.

In the Mount Yarrowyck Nature Reserve in the same settlement on the Gwydir River is there to see cave paintings of the Aborigines, as well as the wonderful nature around Mount Yarrowyck.

The Gwydir Bridge in Bundarra is a 1881 created steel truss bridge with five sections, 204 m long and 5.6 m wide. Because of their construction, their historical value and its aesthetic appearance it is considered as a monument from Federal rank.