Thunderbolts Hideout

New South Wales

Fred Ward (1835 - 1870), better known as Captain Thunderbolt, was the longest roaming bushranger in Australia’s history. He was very familiar with the Tenterfield region, using it as both a hideout and hunting ground for his hold-ups. The large area between the rocks was used to stable horses and the small shelter under the large rock was a great place to camp. The top of the rock made an ideal lookout, as this was the main road to Warwick during the gold-mining days.

Lookouts
Heritage Sites
Dogs Permitted
No Camping Permitted
Eucalypt Forest
1032m
Maximum Elevation
34m
Total Climb

 

Getting there:

From Tenterfield travel 12km north on Mount Lindesay Road. The site is signposted on the left where you can pull in.

Maps:

None found.

Route/Trail notes:

I clearly signposted track leads from the road out towards the boulder outcrop. To the left is the cave used to camp and to the right through the boulders the horses shelter and beyond a short climb to the lookout.

Return by the same route.

Permits/Costs:

None.

Other References/Comments:

A path to the right just off the road leads up to the Tank Traps.

Thunderbolt’s Cave, another accessible Fred Ward hideout is located 25km north of Armidale on the New England Highway.

Comments

I have driven past this numerous times but never stopped to investigate. Having visited Thunderbolt’s Cave last year this makes an interesting twin.

F.A.B. on 22 May, 2023

Where

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