We took the Mount Mackenzie Drive on Wednesday 29 December
Mount Mackenzie Drive (Tourist Drive 9) is only a 38kms drive from Tenterfield but it is an excellent introduction to the granite outcrops of the New England landscape. This is a really picturesque drive surrounded by the mountains, farmland, rock formations and multi-coloured woodlands of the area. We loved it.
Its a loop drive, mostly on a good dirt road and you go around anti-clockwise starting in Sunnyside Loop Rd. There are instructions at the Tourist Information Office. The lookout and drive is named after Sir Robert Mackenzie, a Scotsman who was granted the first official grazier licence in 1842 for the land that was later to become known as Tenterfield Station
The drive took us to a number of marked locations. The first is called the Doctors Nose. We could not see anything that resembles a human head and nose. But then we read that it relates to the finding of some lost sheep right under the nose of the owner. It refers to a mountain that is visible from town.
Next it “Small Bald Rock” which we see on our left. It is second only to the famous Bald Rock which we will see next day. It is a dramatic exposure and the colours are great.
Just after that two sets of rocks resting on another rock. We are not sure if these are natural. – they are not mentioned on the guide to the Drive. But they still look pretty good.
Around from that, on a steady climb are a series of points where we can get views to the Mole River district.
There is a faint set of tracks to the right and we drove down the for a few hundred metres. There, we got more great views to the Queensland border.
We drove past the Draining Rock, the second largest exposed granite rock in the district, the colours are amazing.
Then the views were of the town of Wallangarra from afar and the mountain ranges of Southern Queensland.
Then we passed some farmlands.
Once we get to the sealed road we turn right to get to the Mount Mackenzie Lookout. It’s about a 4-5km drive from the turnoff.
There are great views of Tenterfield town and the surrounding district.
As with most of these lookouts we are surprised to see the size of the town.