Sawn Rocks
Keen to experience an almighty wall of organ pipes without stepping foot inside a church?
Then Sawn Rocks, with its towering wall of pentagonal basalt pipes is the place to go. Undoubtedly the most iconic reminder of Kaputar’s volcanic past, this rock formation is located in the northern section of Mount Kaputar National Park. This unusual phenomenon is the result of slow and even cooling of molten rock, enabling individual crystals within the rock to align perfectly with each other.
Walking Instructions
From the carpark a 750 metre walking track offers an easy, wheelchair accessible all weather stroll, through tall eucalypts, figs, wattles and delicate maidenhair ferns. An observation platform affords stunning views of the intriguing rock formation jutting starkly from the bed of the Bobbiwaa creek.
Stairs to the side enable access to the creek bed upon which outlines of more pillars are visible. Amongst the clear pools and smooth bed of the creek at the base of the formation, one can see that the rock is fractured into octagonal shapes identical to the cliff face. It is believed that these plunge a further 60 metres into the earth below. Over thousands of years, enormous slabs of rock have fallen to the bed of the Bobbiwaa Creek, resembling the crumbled pillars of an ancient roman temple.
The upper reaches of the creek reveal a fascinating scene of rock pools, horizontal polygonal rocks and some superb plants and trees.
A shelter and barbecue area is available next to the carpark for those wishing to enjoy the scenery.
Sawn Rocks is located 36kms to the east of Narrabri.
Although Sawn Rocks is part of the Mount Kaputar National Park, it is not accessed via the Kaputar Road. Instead, head out of town along the Newell Highway as if you are driving to Moree. Just 3kms out of town, turn right onto the picturesque Killarney Gap Road (Bingara Road) and travel a further 33kms to the Sawn Rocks carpark.
Fast Fact: The road from Narrabri to Bingara is one of the most picturesque in the region making it a most enjoyable short cut through to Inverell.
Along the way, you will pass the fertile paddocks of the IA Watson Grains Research Station. Named after preeminent agricultural scientist Irvine Armstrong Watson, the Research Station is part of the University of Sydney's Plant Breeding Institute.