Thunderbolt's way is a spectacular piece of road going thru some spectacular country
yes - it's a good quality sealed road all the way
yes - it's steep in places with few overtaking lanes
yes there are stopping places & viewing lookouts
yes once you get to the top you are 'on top of the world and can see forever'
If your journey is downwards rather than upwards, then do as others do, drop a cog, use the brakes carefully and enjoy the drive
If you decide not to do the run, the road from Wauchope to Walcha is more level, just as pretty and just as enjoyable
As Hendo says - steep - good surface with some sharp bends but I would not do it in reverse as it is approx 10kms of just a steep climb with no break. There is a great lookout just on the other side of the mountain just as you start to go down - fantastic views to seemingly the end of the earth.
The road is sealed all the way. It is a bit bumpy down low near Gloster. It meanders quite a bit, but the scenery compensates for that. Then you cross the Barnard river (if heading North) and it is a 10 km steep climb with no let-up. My old NL Pajero on LPG, towing a 16.5 ft poptop, used to go up it is 2nd gear. Once at the top, the views are spectacular and from then on there are a couple of short steep bits but the worst is over. If going to Armidale, this road cuts off about 25 km and more importantly cuts off about an hour of the trip. Very light traffic on it as well. Great trip.
