Monday 20/04/2015 – Balranald

We were greeted in Balranald with freezing cold weather and wind that nearly blew your socks off.  We all booked into the Balranald Van Park after individually arriving in the rain. We went to the pub for dinner on our first night so that introductions could be made. The next day all packed up and left the caravan park breaking into two groups so that the second team could visit Yanga Homestead and the woolsheds. Then rejoin the group at Wentworth for the rest of the trip along the Darling River.

Tuesday 21/04/2015 – Wentworth

We spent the morning viewing the junction of the Murray and Darling rivers, viewing Lock No. 10 and Perry Sand hills where we embarked on a drive around the sand hills and mud holes. On our return we were greeted with the news of the severe storms hitting the Central Coast and Newcastle. After many phone calls to make sure that all relatives were OK we set off after lunch and visited the gaol, museum and had dinner at the pub.

Wednesday 22/04/2015 – Mungo National Park

We left Wentworth around 9.30am and arrived at Muir Camp in the Mungo National Park at 1pm. On the way we came across a rest area with 4 plastic chairs, a table and a portable TV set up along the roadside, someone’s fantastic sense of humor. After setting up camp we headed to the Rangers Head Quarters to pay the camp fees and walk around the interesting display and reading about the history of the area. Back at camp we enjoyed happy hour and then drove out to the Walls of China to photograph the sunset of the Lunette landscape. Some of us went back to the Rangers HQ for a shower. Roger and Noeline shared a shower together with much giggling which provided gossip and much entertainment for the group at the campfire after dinner.

Thursday 23/04/2015 – continued

We drove to the Mungo National Park HQ to meet our guide Ernest Mitchell who was taking us on a tour to the Lunette Landscape. Ernest told us information about the Aboriginal way of tracking, hunting, gathering food, cooking Emus and other animals, their way of making tracks for locating water, reading the stars and finding plants that provide medicine for their people. We walked around the Lunette “Walls Of China” and Ernest explained the age difference in the layers of coloured soil, some dating back 120,000 years. Ernest comes from the local Barkindji Tribe and his grandmother is a trible elder. He was a wonderful guide and spoke about his people and way of life with such passion. After lunch back at the camp we embarked on the self drive 4WD tour around the Mungo National Park, seeing many emus and kangaroos along the way. There was lots of Salt bush, Blue bush, Rosewood and Mallee Scrub. We stopped off along the way to view the Lunette, various tanks and Zanci Homestead.

Friday 24/05/2015 – Broken Hill

We left Mungo around 9.00am on route to Broken Hill, although some were ready to leave at 8.30am. The dirt road to Pooncarie was mainly flat, in good condition with some undulating sections and patches of sand along the way, with only some parts showing damage from the recent rains. We were very lucky to get into and out of the Mungo National Park  as it had been closed earlier in the week due to rains and it was closed again following our visit. Driving with deflated tyres on bitumen roads about 20kms south of Pooncarie Brian’s caravan began to show its dislike of the situation. Once we had all refueled and left Pooncarie we were back on dirt roads again traveling to Menindee where we had lunch and aired up for the bitumen roads to Broken Hill for our stay at the Broken Hill Caravan Park. Unfortunately, Trevor did not refuel at Pooncarie, thinking that he would make it to Broken Hill but alas we ended up stopping on the side of the road, so that he could refuel with petrol from his jerry cans.

 

Saturday 25/04/2015 – Broken Hill – Anzac Day

We were unable to get details of the Anzac Day services (there is no RSL club in Broken Hill). So we set off at 9.30am for Silverton, an old mining town from the 1880’s but died 10 years later when the boom crashed. Few buildings remain as many were transported back to Broken Hill. However, the old gaol still remains and it had a great deal to offer the visitor with one of the best views of the areas past history. This area is also famous for the site of some of the Mad Max movies and the museum where all the cars from that movie are housed. We all visited the local café for coffee, scones, hot soup and damper at super cheap prices which was enjoyed by all on that cold and windy day. We then drove to Mundi Mundi lookout where we saw the road where the bus from the film “Priscilla Queen of the Desert” was filmed. We tried to find the Perry Sand Hills but alas they could not be seen.

Sunday 26/04/2015 – continued

We all went to visit the Royal Flying Doctor service today and saw a short film on the history of this service before a tour of the facility which houses the Royal Flying Doctor planes. The next stop was the Miners Memorial in a building on top of one of the slag heaps close to the town of Broken Hill – reading about these deaths was very sad and tragic. Our day ended with a tour to see the sunset over the sculptures. However, it was way to cold to have “happy hour” so we all went back to the camp kitchen for a few drinks and laughs.

Monday 27/04/2015 – Kalarra Station – on route to Bourke

It was still cold and bleak this morning and we were all packed and ready to leave by 8.30am. Today we were headed for Wilcannia a long day of driving and I (Bev)  have to stay awake to take the notes for the day. We arrived in Wilcannia around 11.37am, Diesel @ $1.58 per litre and Bread @ $4.00 per loaf. Aired tyres down for the drive along the corrugated Bourke Road. Scott left the group at Wilcannia. Drove through Paroo National Park stopping for lunch along the Darling River. No campfires at this camping ground so we moved on heading for Tilpa. We had just left the Paroo National Park when Trevor hit and killed an emu. The poor bird took a couple of minutes to die – it was horrible. Roger moved the bird off the road up into the bushes.

Once the damage was assessed we continued on our way, stopping at the Tilpa Pub for some refreshments. Then we drove onto Kalarra station for a homestead stay for the night. Powered sites $10.00 but only one box with 8 plugs so we were all scattered in the camping area. Once we were all set up it was happy hour by the big fire that the guys had set up in this huge boiler. Then we all cooked dinner and finished the night with an hour or two of Yvonne & Ken’s card games. Much fun and laughter was had by all. Trevor also discovered later that the Anderson plug on his car and the brake lines to the trailer were damaged when he hit the emu.

Tuesday 28/04/2015 – Bourke

We left Kalarra station and headed towards Louth calling into Trilby station along the way to check out the camping facilities which were situated on the side of the Darling River. We left Trilby station and drove into Louth stopping on the way at the pub for a bite to eat. The terrain started to change and the temperature started to warm up to 21 degrees. We also saw some lovely green grass in the fields along the way. Departed Louth via the cemetery before heading to Bourke. There were plenty of kangaroos, goats, emus and sheep along this stretch of roadway. Ken discovered that he had water leaking from the water tank in the camper trailer due to a loose hose. We set up camp at the Kidman’s Caravan Park in Bourke. Once more we had happy hour in the camp kitchen and enjoyed our game of cards, laughing throughout the night.

Wednesday 29/04/2015 – continued

Time for a sleep in this morning. Great amenities, even a disabled shower. How good is that? This morning two cars went back to Gundabooka National Park to check out the camping areas along the Darling River. While the rest went into town, lunched at the bakery, then the girls checked out Vinnies while the blokes went to the hardware store. We stopped at the old railway station, not much left of the building, and then we drove onto see the weir and the replica wharf. Back to camp to wait for the others then onto the club for dinner. Relaxing day.

 

Thursday 30/04/2015 – continued

It was raining today and we missed the 9am paddle boat trip so we all had a relaxing breakfast in the camp kitchen. We embarked on a drive to Mays Bend and stopped for photos along the way. We added a few inches to our height with the mud on our boots and on the car tyres. Next we visited the historical lock and weir built in 1897 the only one of its kind on the Darling River. Back in town we stopped to see the Crossley Engine being fired up for the spectators. It was fantastic but ran very fast and was very smokey engine. Some of us had coffee and cakes at the bakery others at the garage. After lunch at the caravan park we headed off for our paddle boat tour. Joyce got into trouble for standing on a box at the front of the boat to get a better view. Apparently the box was originally made for the captain to stand on as he was short, just like Joyce and couldn’t see the pier when the docked the boat. The Gateway Bridge has been left for visitors to walk on but you can see the wear and tear from all the years of use. Back to the camp for dinner and whatever the Mad Hatters are up for this evening.

Friday 01/05/2015 – Lightning Ridge

We left Bourke in the rain and headed for Lightning Ridge stopping at Brewarrina for morning tea and to check out the Fish Traps and Weir on the Darling River. Moving on again we stopped at Walgett for lunch. There were lots of Emus, Kangaroos and Wedge tail eagles along the route. It was a little overcast on our arrival at Lightning Ridge. “Fun Fine” Brian hit Scott’s car with his caravan.

Saturday 02/05/2015

We broke up into two groups again today with one group doing the 3 Pub Tour and the other doing the Car Door and the Black Hand Mine tours. Some of the most amazing coloured Opals were on view in the gallery at the mine. Just stunning!!

Sunday 03/05/2015

Finally our adventure had come to a close and we packed away our camper trailers and caravans and headed off home.

Our thanks must go to Trevor who took our group on this exciting tour of outback Australia. We all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and look forward to Trevor taking us on another adventure in the near future. Thanks Trevor.