If there is one great, and largely undisturbed, port on the mighty Darling River it is Wilcannia. Cross the bridge driving from Sydney to Broken Hill and turn either to your right or left when you enter the town and you will be amazed at the richness of the architecture.
Here are the remnants of a once-important inland port. Some of the town's historic treasures include the old centre-lift bridge which was built in 1896 and is now classified by the National Trust, the beautiful 1880 post office and its attached residence, the Athenaeum Library (1883) and the impressive courthouse (1880), police station (1881), and the police residence (1880), which were all built of locally quarried sandstone and designed by James Barnet. In the right seasons the area near the bridge is ideal for picnics.
Wilcannia is located 965 km northwest of Sydney via the Great Western, Mitchell and Barrier Highways. It is on the very edge of the New South Wales desert experiencing only 252 mm of rainfall per annum – and often much of that rain will fall in violent, if short, desert storms
The River Run - Half way between Broken Hill and Nyngan, Wilcannia is situated on the Darling River and is where the Barrier Highway crosses the mighty waterway.
Being at the juncture of the major east-west highway and the iconic 'Long Paddock' (The Cobb Highway which runs from Echuca-Moama on the Mighty Murray River), it is a great access point for the Darling River Run. Upstream from Wilcannia is Tilpa and downstream is Menindee and the glorious Menindee Lakes.
Side Trips - The Darling River Run at Wilcannia is the perfect point to visit White Cliffs and experience one of NSW Parks and Wildlife Service best parks - Mutawintji NP
The Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia is a not-for-profit charitable Service providing aeromedical emergency and primary health care services together with communication and education assistance to people who live, work and travel in regional and remote Australia.
The Outback NSW Tourism Organisation is a proud supporter of the RFDS and the work they do to provided essential support to out Outback areas.
Staying with the Outback Beds network allows you to experience working sheep and cattle stations, bush pubs, log cabins, living underground, Bed and Breakfasts, a little luxury and tranquil river campsites.... even camel campouts. It's a true-blue outback adventure.
Gary and Liz Murray from Trilby Station, a 200,000 acres sheep and cattle property on the banks of the Darling River in Outback NSW, invite visitors from around the world to come and taste their unique lifestyle. Trilby Station offers accommodation in the renovated Stockman’s Cottages & Shearer’s Bunkhouse. There’s also powered caravan sites with amenities and secluded Darling River camp spots. Guests can self cater or enjoy a range of delicious Australian country-style meals such as Liz’s farmyard breakfasts, stockman’s lunches and two or three course dinners served to your accommodation.
Turlee Station is a working sheep and wheat station located adjacent to Mungo National Park in outback NSW. Situated within the Willandra Lakes World Heritage Area, Turlee is a great place to experience outback station culture whilst exploring the national park. Accommodation options include camping, shearer’s quarters as well as a self contained cottage. Tag-along tours, sheep shearing and sheep dog working demonstrations as well as a self guided drive tour are all available at Turlee. We pride ourselves in our one-on-one interaction with guests and aim to provide our guests with a memorable experience of outback Australia!
Bourke is a wonderful community established in 1861 on the banks of the Darling River. Historically, the town was a vital link for agriculture in the west and larger cities to the east. Today the town welcomes all visitors with a smile and G'day.
Brewarrina was one of the great inter-tribal meeting places of eastern Australia with the fish traps, sustaining thousands of Aboriginal people during tribal gatherings held prior to European settlement. The fisheries are estimated to be at least 40,000 years old and could be the oldest man-made structure on earth.
Travel in the footsteps of Vincent James Dowling and other early pioneers over 100 years ago discovered this area, known as the "Plains of Promise"- people travelled the track looking for a new life and new opportunities. The Australian author, Henry Lawson walked from Bourke to Hungerford and back in the hellish summer heat looking for work. The Dowling Track is 4WD experience linking Back 'o' Bourke and beyond to Quilpie in South West Queensland, total kilometres, 567.
Walgett Shire embraces the fertile black soil plains of northern New South Wales. Our towns and villages have a proud and fascinating pioneering history, and our people still have the inventiveness and good humour of the early pioneers.
Central Darling Shire, at over 53,000 square kms, is the largest Local Government Area in NSW. Conversely, it has one of the lowest poplation densities (2000 residents) dispersed throughout the towns of Ivanhoe, Menindee, Wilcannia and White Cliffs, and its localities of Darnick, Mossgiel, Sunset Strip and Tilpa.
White Cliffs was the first to establish this country as the world’s leading producer of this fiery stone. The opals mined here were far more vivid and vastly superior to opals mined in other countries, and White Cliffs opals quickly became popular, particularly in Europe, paving the way for the opening of opal fields in other parts of Australia. The galleries here are a great place to shop for locally mined opals that have been cut and set by expert jewellers.
The vibrant yet subtle colours and magical light of this landscape at Broken Hill have brought film-makers and artists here to capture its special quality. It packs a powerful emotional punch, this dark red soil contrasting with clear blue skies where the wedge-tailed eagle soars, appealing to something deep in our human souls. There’s definitely a spiritual element in this country, as the Aboriginal ancestors knew. And at sunset, when the wide horizon glows red and orange, we are each lost for words.
Silver City Tours philosophy of sit back, relax and enjoy best sums up the most compelling reason for booking an organised tour. Whether it is half day excursion or a six day adventure tour, comfort, safety and style play an important part in your overall enjoyment and experience. That's why our patrons travel exclusively in fully maintained luxury air-conditioned coaches and are accommodated in a wide variety of Outback styles especially selected to ensure maximum satisfaction.
There is a very special magic about Silverton. It must be the most thriving and healthy looking ghost town in the world. Here is a true Outback experience and you can return to the comfort of Broken Hill feeling no pain or hardship at all. Tourists can experience a real ghost town and consequently there are a number of shops, art galleries, museums and pubs which have grown up to meet their needs. Its location and its proximity to all the creature comforts of Broken Hill have ensured that it is popular with any film crew needing to shoot some desert and Outback scenes.
For 16 years Tri State Safaris have been taking their clients to some of Australia’s most remarkable and remote locations. With a focus on nature based touring, they have an enviable reputation for their knowledge and expertise in the outback. With destinations from Broken Hill to Broome, and the Simpson Desert in between, there’s bound to be a bit of adventure in every tour. Imagine standing where no other person has ever stood before, breathing in a cool desert sunrise, a dingo howling, glowing embers of a campfire, starlit skies. “Remember when a holiday was a real adventure” that’s our philosophy.
