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The Cranky Rock Nature Reserve is east of Warialda on the Gwydir Highway. Travel six kilometers from Warialda, then turn left into Cranky Rock Road (which is about 3 kilometers long) and continue to the end of the road. A short walk of 200 metres is required to view the rocks.
The Cranky Rock Nature Reserve consists of an outcrop of granite with huge boulders. A small gorge cuts through them in an east-west direction. The Warialda Creek flows through the gorge.
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296 Cranky Rock Rd, Warialda NSW 2402
The great boulders in the area are formed of granite.
Granite is an igneous rock. (Igneous is named from the Latin
word for fire.) Granite forms when molten magma
cools slowly. The slow cooling process allows large crystals to
form which are easily seen with the naked eye.
Granite underlies much of the continental crust.
The following pictures show the various smaller stones that are to be found in the gorge. Most are water washed and rounded. These are granite, basalt, conglomerate, and others.
I have placed three photos of conglomerates at the end of
the collection with each photo showing a conglomerate which is tightly packed with
embedded stones.
