8 Day NSW Outback Bourke Broken Hill Mungo Silo Art

Explore the Far West of NSW with Silo Art, Mungo National Park, Broken Hill, Darling River Run from Wilcannia to Bourke with a visit to White Cliffs opals fields, Bourke river cruise, Brewarrina Sydney Return 8 days

Highlights

Sydney to Mungo & Gundabooka National Parks & Aboriginal rock art, Broken Hill, Bourke and return to Sydney
Blue Mountains & Three Sisters
Portland Silo Art
Grenfell Silo Art
Weethalle Silo Art
Mungo National Park & China Walls sunset tour
Menindee – Lakes & Burke & Wills Camp
Broken Hill & Silverton - Pro Hart Gallery, mine tour, history, Mining & railway museums
Return optional tours or meets rail to Sydney or Adelaide
White Cliffs Opal fields
Darling River Run via Pooncarie, Menindee Lakes, Wilcannia Tilpa & Louth
Burke and Wills campsite Menindee Lakes
Gundabooka National Park & Aboriginal rock art
Bourke - river cruise and history
Brewarrinna - ancient fish traps 40,000 years old
Siding Springs Telescope
Warrumbungle Ranges
Coolah and the Black Stump
Goulburn River National park
Hunter Valley

Our tours are small group adventures for people who love to connect with regional Australia and particularly regional and outback New South Wales. Our small group tours travel in Land Cruiser vehicles or we do have a comfortable minibus for groups up to 10 people

We explore some of The Silo At Trail which is transforming Australian regional towns. Join us on an adventure through rural Australia to witness these great masterpieces and the local hospitality.

Options include a day tour to Mutawintji National Park for exceptional rock art rich in Aboriginal history.

Day 1 – Our tour takes us through some lovely country towns and regional areas, from Sydney to Broken Hill and return includes stunning views from Echo Point and the Three Sisters at Katoomba (always a marvellous delight) then to decent Victoria Pass to Lithgow. Moving on to Bathurst and home of the fascinating history of the gold rush and Cobb & Co coaches.

We visit Canowindra, ballooning capital of Australia and the Museum of Fishes – viewing ancient fish fossils from this area that was once an inland sea. Then Cowra (and railway roundhouse for the keen). Onwards we travel via Weddin Mountains National Park, visiting the popular Grenfell Wheat silos completed in 2019. Driving West toward Rankin Springs the country spreads and the sky seems to get bigger we know the perfect place to see our first Big Sky sunset. Overnight West Wyalong

Day 2 – Weethalle Silos Rankine Springs Hay Balranald Mungo National Park

Beyond West Wyalong to the well-known Weethalle Silos. then Rankine Springs, Hay and Balranald. Hay was one of Australia’s major wool growing areas, and a visit to the Shear Outback centre takes to you into the rich life in the wool industry in early NSW. From historic Balranald into the desert region and Mungo National Park to explore this ancient lakebed environment. Here the stories of the oldest known ritual burial in the world. Discover the Walls of China and megafauna history of the area, explore the ancient Willandra Lakes and the historic sheep station and large and impressive shearing shed that served the area for around 100 years. Overnight Mungo Lodge, Mungo National Park.

Days 3 – Travel the Darling River via Pooncarie, Menindee and Kinchega National Park. Explore the memorial to Burke & Wills at their campsite on the lakeshore and a haven for wetland birds. Into Broken Hill and dinner at the famous & delicious Mario’s Palace Hotel (full of the original murals from Priscilla Queen of the Desert fame) Overnight Broken Hill.

Day 4 – Explore Broken Hill highlights (your choice) options include Pro Hart Gallery, The Line of Lode Lookout, a mine tour, and Miners Memorial plus Desert Sculptures or Mutawintji National Park (optional extra day tour) for exceptional rock art rich in Aboriginal history.

Day 5 - Depart Broken Hill through to White Cliffs and explore the opal mines history, and maybe find some local opal bargains. Now to the Darling River Run via Wilcannia, once a bustling port for the wool laden paddle steamers, now with its beautiful and historic sandstone public architecture. On up the Darling River Run to river towns of Louth & Tilpa - with a cuppa and tour at the famous Dunlop Station (locals willing). Dunlop Station is an historic sheep station property located on the Darling River. Once a million acres it has a 45 stand shearing shed which was the first shed to have mechanical shears. Check out the paddle boat and big wool and sheep station history of this region. following the Darling, we visit the historic towns of Tipla and Louth before Gundabooka National Park. The park surrounds Mt Gundabooka and has unique Aboriginal Rock art to explore, including a pleasant and easy walk through this isolated National Park. Back on the main track, we head for Overnight in Bourke BLD

Day 6 - Bourke

The impressive ‘Back O’Bourke’ centre showcases the early days of Bourke and beyond. Discover the Outback life of Henry Lawson, and the search for an inland sea. Marvel at the stories of the ‘women of the west’ including Nancy Bird Walton, who flew an air ambulance here in the 1930’s. Stop by the 110 year old Morrall’s bakery for a pie or pastry, follow the Heritage Trail through town, or visit the grave of Fred Hollows. Cruise along the Darling on the Jandra, a historic paddleboat to recall the river boat history. In recent years Bourke has undergone a remarkable revitalisation and is now a shining light in the remote west of NSW. Take a cultural walk to learn about the history of Aboriginal people in Bourke and the personal connection formed with the land and it’s richness. Tonight we’ll join a campfire dinner under a coolabah tree, (if available) under a starlit sky, with plenty of music, poetry, and storytelling all about outback of Australia. Overnight Bourke. Meals: BLD

Day 7 - We head for Brewarrina on the Barwon River, and the 40,000-year-old Aboriginal Fish Traps - still working. The Brewarrina fish traps are one of the oldest man-made structures on earth. This elaborate network of rock weirs and pools stretches for around half a kilometre along the riverbed and was built by ancient tribes, to catch fish as they swam upstream.

Heading south to Macquarie Marshes a UNESCO registered site of outstanding value as one of the most important wetland areas in the world. It is one of the most crucial breeding sites for waterbirds in Australia, with 77 species, along with over 150 other birds, as well as fish, turtles, frogs, snakes and mammals. We travel on to another Silo Art in Coonamble then take the scenic road to the beautiful Warrumbungles for a delightful bush walk with wonderful views of The Breadknife. We have a tour of Siding Springs Observatory, home to Australia’s largest telescope. We have an optional extra cost guided tour of the night sky this evening. The Warrumbungles is Australia’s only Dark Sky Park, meaning it is our only Internationally recognised park with an exceptional quality of starry nights and an environment specifically protected for its scientific, natural, educational, cultural heritage, and public enjoyment. Overnight Coonabarabran Meals: BLD

Day 8 - Coonabarabran Black Stump Coolah Goulburn River NP, Hunter Valley Sydney

Drive through Coolah, one of several towns to claim bragging rights as the home of the legendary Black Stump. It was here that the colloquial saying ‘Beyond the Black Stump’, meaning ‘beyond the limits of civilisation,’ is said to have originated.

On the way to Denman, we pass through Cassilis and Merriwa, passing Collaroy, a once-grand sheep station of this productive area,. Merriwa has more silo art, then on via spectacular rock formations, Sandy Hollow and the winding Goulburn River to Denman, the Hunter Valley and return to Sydney by approx 7 pm (delivered to your door if pre-arranged)

All tours require a minimum of 2 passengers for departure. If you require a booking for 1 person please call us directly to confirm minimum numbers have been met prior to booking online.

Inclusions –

7 nights superior Motel Accommodation - twin share or single supplement available - see booking link details
Genuine small group tour vehicle - usually 2-4 people in 4WD GXL Landcruisers
Professional Driver Guide
All meals
Paddleboat cruise at Bourke
Wild wildlife!!
National Parks entry fees.
Tour price supports Outback Kids & Nature Care projects.