Nandewar Range

Nandewar Range
Mount Kaputar, the third peak from the left, is the range's highest peak.
Highest point
Peak	Mount Kaputar
Elevation
Geography
Location of the Nandewar Range in New South Wales
Country	Australia
State	New South Wales
Range coordinates
Geology
Age of rock	Cenozoic
Type of rock	Shield volcano

The Nandewar Range, a mountain range that is part of the Great Dividing Range, is located in the Northern Tablelands region of New South Wales, Australia. The range is situated approximately 30 km (19 mi) east of the township of Narrabri.

John Oxley was the first European to see the range in 1818 as he explored the New South Wales.

Location and features

The range is located on the western, inland, side of the New England region, and generally forms the watershed divide between the Namoi River and Gwydir River catchment basins to the south and north respectively. The Macdonald River starting south of Walcha drains west to Warrabah National Park where it changes its name to the Namoi then is added to by the Manilla River, Peel River and Mooki River. The Horton River runs north to the Gwydir. Both rivers together drain large segments of the Nandewar Range.

The eastern part of the Nandewar Range starts at the Great Dividing Range south of Uralla. As this is already in the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales it is low, hilly and not particularly distinctive. The main road between Barraba and Bingara crosses the range. At its western end, however, the Nandewar Range culminates at Mount Kaputar, a complex of volcanic origin, from which spectacular views of the flat inland plains of New South Wales can be seen.

File:Mount Kaputar.jpg

Forests on the north west slopes of Mount Kaputar.

Small patches of rainforest mark the western limit of some tree species. The foothill areas of the Nandewar Range are used for grazing and cropping. There are forests in some of the higher areas. The Mount Kaputar area is included in Mount Kaputar National Park.

Grattai Mountain rises to 1,301 m (4,268 ft). and is the most northerly peak in the range.

The range is occasionally dusted with light snow in winter.

Geology

The range is the remnants of an eroded basaltic shield volcano that formed about 18 million years ago. Some of the exposed rocks in the area are 230 million years old.

Etymology

The first is a volcanic plug called 'Ninghdoo' (pronounced locally as Ningy-doo) or 'Nungadhun'. The names Nandewar, Kaputar and Ninghdoo are the Gamilaraay language names for these features.

Peaks

Mountains within the Nandewar Range include;

• Bushy Mountain, (1,260 m or 4,134 ft)
• Castletop Mountain
• Gins Mountain
• Grattai Mountain, (1,301 m or 4,268 ft)
• Mount Dowe, (1,457 m or 4,780 ft)
• Mount Kaputar, (1,489 m or 4,885 ft)
• Mount Lawler
• Mount Lindesay, (1,373 m or 4,505 ft)
• Mount Ningadhun, (1,013 m or 3,323 ft)
• Mount Waa
• Mount Yulludunida
• Round Mountain

See also

• List of mountains in New South Wales
• Warrumbungles