Outback Nsw Guides Attractions Events in New South Wales

Balranald is the gateway to Mungo National Park, the new Yanga National Park is on Balranald's Doorstep. Balranald is the oldest settlement on the Lower Murrumbidgee River, with records dating back well before 1850. In 1847 and 1848 George James McDonald, the Commissioner for Crown Lands for the lower Darling District came to the small village. McDonald, a Scotsman was from a small town called Balranald in the Outer Hebrides, and perhaps it was natural for him to christen his adopted place of abode Balranald. Bal (Celtic) means abode, township, a village thus Balranald signifies an abode of Ranald.

Famous Explorers who visited Balranald were Captain Charles Sturt in 1830. Major Thomas Mitchell in 1836 and Burke and Wills in 1860.

In 1853 the River Steamboat trade commenced with Randall's "Mary-Ann" and Cadell's "Lady Augusta" within a few Years Balranald became an inland Port.

Pick up a Mud Map Tour brochure and discover a variety of ways to navigate the area in and around Bourke ­ one of New South Wales' most important inland towns. Wool, cotton and citrus growing map out this area, located almost 800 kilometres from Sydney on the Darling River.

Amongst the many historic buildings worth a visit in Bourke are the Court House, Police Station and the old Carriers Arms Hotel on the Mitchell Highway where, it is alleged, bush balladeer Henry Lawson penned some of his stories.

Broken Hill is situated 508 kilometres North-East of Adelaide, 50 kilometres across the New South Wales - South Australian border into the semi-arid desert of Far Western New South Wales.

Founded in 1883 by a Boundary Rider named Charles Rasp who discovered the first deposit of silver which at that stage he believed to be tin, has one of the biggest deposits of silver in the world today.

There are numerous tour companies which conduct fully guided coach and four wheel drive tours in and around the Broken Hill area.

Broken Hill is surrounded by the outlying towns of White Cliffs (Opal Mining Town), Menindee (Lakes System on Darling River), Silverton (Hollywood of the Outback), Tibooburra (once a thriving gold mining town) are all worth a visit.

Noted explorer Captain Charles Sturt and his party were almost certainly the first white men to pass by the future site of Buronga during their historic exploration of the Murray River in the 1830s.

After that, an increasing number of Europeans passed through, the majority overlanders (drovers) taking stock to the Adelaide markets, but others were pioneering graziers taking up the 'vacant' Crown Land between the Murray and the Lower Darling Rivers.

Buronga, as we know it today, was part of the huge Tapio run, formed when the Federal Government decided to formalise lease rights to the land in the 1840s.

Venture just a short way from the main streets of Cobar and you'll discover a small town with a wealth of charming attractions. The Cobar Regional Museum is regarded amongst the best in New South Wales, thoroughly covering the area's fascinating past. Old mining remnants and historic buildings also mark out the area and Aboriginal rock paintings provide a glimpse into the storytelling traditions of the country's native population.

Coombah is a roadhouse on the Silver City Highway situated approximately halfway between Broken Hill and Wentworth. At the Coombah Roadhouse you can fill up with fuel and gas, have something to eat, use the toilets or stack up on those snacks and soft drinks for your further travels. Coombah Roadhouse is the only retail option on the road between Wentworth and Broken Hill, a journey of 270 kilometres along the Silver City Highway.

If the spectacular and sometimes rare flora and fauna of the Corner Country are not enough to wet your adventurous appetite, toss in a mix of the history of Sturt's Inland Expedition and the mining and pastoral heritage of a region half the size of Tasmania.

Visit the longest single fence in the world and the junction of three states at Cameron Corner. Explore the amazing landscapes of the region, the saltbush steppes and acacia woodlands, quartz fields and gibber plains, ancient sandstone mesas and jump-ups that form part of both the pastoral lands and Sturt National Park.

The Darling River Run is a trip through time and the heart of Outback NSW. Best done by four wheel drive it runs between Brewarrina in the North and Wentworth in the South, taking in Broken Hill, Lake Mungo, Kinchega and Mount Gundabooka National Parks which are just astonishing, and classic outback towns like Wilcannia, Menindee, Pooncarrie, Tilpa and Louth.

You will be re-tracing the steps of explorers Sturt, Mitchell, Dowling, Burke and Wills and the history and heritage of the run are matched by the vastness of the landscape.

The historic highlights are partly man made, as in the mines of Broken Hill and White Cliffs, partly born in the Aboriginal cultural and spiritual sites and partly just the land itself. Unique places such as the ' Walls of China' geological formation at Lake Mungo in the World heritage Listed Willandra Lakes area are simply stunning.

The mighty Murray River is great for Boating and Water Skiing and Euston has the convenience of a Boat Ramp in front of the Euston Club. There are several Sandbars with access Roads that are great for Camping and Fishing. The Murray is very wide and usable, so try hiring a Houseboat for a Weekend or a week to travel on the Murray.

The Euston Club stands on the site of the original Shailer Hotel. Prior to the opening of the old Lift-bridge in 1924, a Punt ferried People across the Murray River from this Location.

Weir Lock 15, located downstream from Euston, includes a Fish Ladder and can be reached via Bush Tracks from Euston and through a Parkland Setting from the Robinvale southern side of the River. The Lock was built in 1934 and allows passage for Paddle Steamers and Houseboats and the Murray is approximately 130 Metres wide at this point.

Gol Gol was proclaimed a township in 1866; however, the village allotments did not begin to be occupied until the late 1870s.

Located on the Murray, not far from the now thriving regional centre of Mildura across the River in Victoria, the town is historically significant because it was once an important coach stop.

Coaches were vital for communication and transport in the Wentworth Shire, and were also the carriers of the Royal Mail. During the dry months they compensated for the loss of navigable waterways for the riverboats by putting on extra services for passengers.

The Gol Gol Inn was an important change and up to 200 horses could be found on the common at any one time.

It was around the inn that the town grew. A wharf also added vitality to the township.

Today, Gol Gol has a rapidly expanding residential area.

Lake Benanee is a large freshwater lake 13 kilometres east of Euston. Euston and its sister, the Victorian border town of Robinvale, straddle a particularly scenic stretch of the Murray as Australia's most important river twists and turns through a mosaic of citrus orchards and vineyards.

Lake Benanee has a beach area and public toilets and is easily seen and accessed from the Sturt Highway.

It took a few years in the early 1900's for the famous Black Opal to become acknowledged for its true quality and rare beauty. Lightning Ridge has become synonymous with Black Opal mining in Australia.

Visitors either fossicking for fun or looking for their fortune and numbers far outweigh the tiny population. Lighting Ridge offers a true vision of gritty life in the Australian outback. The town's mineral water spa baths are simply luxurious.

Menindee Lakes have the capacity to hold three and a half times more water than Sydney Harbour and is seven and a half times the area. This makes the town of Menindee, on the banks of the tree-lined Darling River, an oasis in the outback.

This is one of the finest freshwater fishing spots in New South Wales and the lakes and rivers are great for water sports too. Copi Hollow, an artificially constructed lake developed for speedboats, sailing, swimming and water-skiing. Bring binoculars as the area is the an important breeding habitat for over 170 different bird species.

The dry sand-dunes around the lakes have given up early remnants of human existence, with fossils and marked stones of the Barkindji people and their ancestors dating back 26,000 years.

Menindee was the first town on the Darling. Take a heritage walk past historic sites to uncover a colourful past.

Mildura is a vibrant and exciting border town that makes the most of its position on the mighty Murray River. Known for its produce, the town has a thriving cultural scene and many festivals that attract visitors. The town supplies 80 per cent of the State's dried fruit. Mildura is a diverse landscape of mallee scrub, red desert and rich irrigated farmlands.

In the late 1800s, Canadian irrigation pioneers William and George Chaffey put Mildura on the map when they set about making the area arable; in the same way they had done in the Californian desert. Although the scheme experienced many ups and downs, a dried fruit industry was established by the mid 1890s.

Milparainka A boomtown...brought back to life. The first proclaimed Albert Goldfields Township. Milparinka is sited on the edge of Evelyn Creek.

Charles Sturt had camped nearby at Preservation Creek for six months in 1845 and it was he who named Evelyn Creek nearby. Later, Mount Browne Goldfields miners camped on the banks. They chose this spot as the creek gave them much-needed water.

At first this was a shanty town of several hundred souls huddled in huts and tents. Before long, though, civilisation caught up. By the mid-1880s the town boasted a police office, newspaper, chemist, blacksmith, photographer, two butchers, four hotels, a school, a hospital and a general store. But by the mid-1920s the golden years were only a memory.

In the 21st century Milparinka has brought its boomtown years alive again with a heritage centre in the courthouse, a native plants park and a heritage walking trail.

White settlers moved into the area in the 1840s and established the village of Canonba on the banks of Duck Creek. The village thrived until it was bypassed with the railway to Bourke. In 1882, the people of Canonba packed up and moved south to the railway, establishing Nyngan on the banks of the Bogan River.

Nyngan has always been prone to flooding and temporary levees were built as the need arose over the years. A permanent levee was not enough to contain the Bogan when it flooded in 1990 - the entire town was airlifted to safety in one of the State's biggest rescue efforts. Evidence of the flood remains today, in the form of markers, memorials, and a higher levee.

Nyngan is an important centre of Australia's Wool Industry with many world famous sheep and cattle studs. It is a wealthy pastoral district with wool, wheat and cattle.

Outback New South Wales provides a unique Australian experience that brings the visitor in contact with the ancient and spectacular landscape of the Outback. Discover a network of rivers and lakes, astonishing wildlife and meet the Aussie characters who are the spirit of this red land.

Here you'll find rugged beauty, vivid red earth, bright blue skies, endless horizons and prolific native wildlife. Of equal interest are the mining towns of Broken Hill, Cobar, Silverton and White Cliffs

Follow the Darling River for a touring adventure from Brewarrina or Bourke to Wentworth where the Darling meets the Murray.

Packsaddle is located 175 kilometres north of Broken Hill on the Silver City Highway, halfway to Tibooburra. The Packsaddle Roadhouse offers accommodation, fuel, souvenirs, take-away alcohol, a public bar with counter meals and a licensed restaurant for the weary traveller driving to or from the Corner Country. Accommodation starts from AUD50.00 for a single and includes air-conditioning, heating, television and tea/coffee. Camping also available.

Pooncarie is a pretty township on the Darling River, midway between Wentworth and Menindee. Pooncarie is a great place to stop on your outback visit,
you can go fishing or explore the Mungo National Park. The park contains the oldest Aboriginal burial site and where you will see the Walls of China which
are spectacular crescent shaped dunes. Any spot beside the Darling River is a pleasant place to stop for a picnic.

Pooncarie to Mungo National Park is 88 kilometres of which 29 kilometres is unsealed. This unsealed section can be prone to bulldust and corrugations and
closes after rain. Not recommended for caravans.

This outback ghost town is the location of more than 140 films and commercials and was once a vibrant mining town.

You've already seen Silverton - on the silver screen. It has appeared in films including Bryan Brown's Dirty Deeds, Mad Max II, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert as well as the Castlemaine XXXX beer advertisements and the Royal Flying Doctor television series.

Cinematographers are attracted by the clear light, the haphazardly placed colonial buildings full of character, the wide streets, the famous pub and the evocative scenery. Silverton is the ideal image of an outback town.

Prospectors began working in the area in 1867 after hearing a tale of a gold find by a station hand - unfortunately, his claim turned out to be a pretext for stealing a horse. Some years later, two men drilling a well on Thackaringa station to the south hit a lode of silver.

The perfect place to discover what Outback Australia is all about. Tibooburra is a tiny community 335 kilometres north of Broken Hill. With an abundance of wildlife and wildflowers (in a good season).

The town's main historic buildings, built of local stone, are the courthouse, and the two pubs, The Family Hotel (1882), famous for murals and paintings by some of Australia's most renowned artists, and the Tibooburra hotel (1882), with its wall of old hats.

Family Hotel Murals - a few decades ago some artists, fascinated by the desert, came to the town to paint. Any flat surface was fair game and there are still original works by Clifton Pugh, Russel Drysdale, and Rick Amor on the hotel's walls.

Tibooburra Keeping Place- the main attraction: perched on poles, a replica sculpture of the 27-feet long whaleboat Charles Sturt hauled across inland Australia on a wagon.

Walgett is located on the productive black soil plains of northern NSW. Walgett is the gateway to the opal fields of Lightning Ridge, Glengarry and Grawin.

Situated at the junction of the Namoi and Barwon Rivers, it is an excellent fishing retreat. Walgett is a rich sheep, cattle and wheat producing region.

The Murray and Darling Rivers meet at the historic port of Wentworth with a population of approximately 1,600. Aboriginal history dates back thousands of years, Captain Charles Sturt arrived in 1830, settlement and grazing began in the 1840s and Wentworth was the nucleus of river trade between New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia. Wentworth retains an 'historic' atmosphere with well maintained buildings, including the Old Wentworth Gaol, Churches, Post Office, and bank buildings. The two rivers provide precious water for agriculture, domestic supply and fishing, skiing, bushwalking and bird watching. Wentworth, Dareton, Buronga, Gol Gol and Pooncarie, boast magnificent river frontage.

The Wentworth Shire is a unique holiday destination with the Perry Sandhills (ancient, red sand dunes-great family fun); eco-cultural tours to Mungo National Park (World Heritage listed); four wheel drive bike tours; river cruises; industry showcases such as a fishery, citrus orchard, wineries and view the local wildlife.

Once, home to over 4000 hardy souls, White Cliffs offers visitors a glimpse of the tough early days of opal mining. Tour through dugout homes, opal showrooms and historic opal fields which create a lunar landscape effect. Visit the photographic gallery, have a drink at the local hotel, have a go at the dirt golf course or just enjoy the unique atmosphere of White Cliffs. For further options you could combine a visit to Mutawintji or Paroo-Darling National Parks.

Take the opportunity to stay the night underground. It's a fantastic unforgettable experience. Above ground, bed and breakfast, motel, hotel, Caravan Park and camping site accommodation are also available options.

Be sure to take the heritage trail and try your luck noodling for opal or potch. Visit Joc of Joc's Place underground home and mine.

Petrol and diesel, meals and refreshments, sealed airstrip and avgas are all available.

The traditional Aboriginal population of the Paakantji people have been calling the area in and around Wilcannia home for some 40,000 years. Since white settlement, the town has been filled with buildings constructed from locally quarried sandstone. Wilcannia has a strong mining history, with both gold and opals discovered in the area.

The township reached its height in the 1880s. In 1879 the Red Lion brewery (it is no longer standing) was built at the northern end of Reid Street. Its great claim to fame was that it was the first brewery which the famous beer baron Edmund Resch built in Australia.

At this time Wilcannia became the third-largest port on the Darling River. In 1887, 222 steamers stopped there. The town was also at the centre of a number of coach routes which traversed Western New South Wales. Some of the coaches were built here.