Bourke-Hungerford-Thargomindah-Innamincka-Cameron Corner-White Cliffs

Haven't done the Bourke/Hungerford bit and I did the rest of it 18 months ago so I can only tell you so much...
We did this trek in a very souped up 2007 Kia Sorento, the model that has low range 4WD etc. No, we didn't use the low range.
Thargomindah was a fascinating little isolated town with a reasonable range of groceries etc. Try not too carry too much from home and support the economy of these little places, eh? I read a lot about the town's history and saw incredible pictures of its flooding history in a booklet in the camp kitchen of the caravan park. This caravan park was well set out with little hedges, a beaut camp kitchen, a track down to the river...We liked it.
Innamincka had expensive fuel but that's the nature of the beast. We have large distances and we have to fill up. Simple. We're on ULP so I'm not sure about diesel. There was a basic store at the Trading Post (frozen bread etc) because their supplies aren't exactly delivered daily! There were meals available and it looked good but we didn't eat there. We camped out by the river and paid something like $26 for a site with a pit loo. Showers were in town (you can't miss them in the middle of the carpark in front of the fuel pumps!) or swim in the river with wildlife-friendly soaps. The site was lovely, on the river and with trees between us and the nearest neighbours. The slope down to the river wasn't horrendous but it would be a workout to get a kayak in and out with the reeds etc on the waterfront. Maybe it was just our site like that and maybe other sites weren't as weedy or as steep...although we did enjoy lying on the weed "mats" in the edge of the water...!
It was a gorgeous spot at sunrise and sunset with pelicans etc coming in.
It was reasonably easy to gather firewood.
There were lots of trees along the river bank and it was historically amazing because of Burke and Wills' trek-don't miss the grave just out of town. With the squarking cockatoos etc it was a terrific walk!
I assume you're calling in to the Dig Tree... Camping looked good there, but we did it as a day trip from our camp site on the river near Innamincka. Honesty box system. Watch the dips in the road in to the Dig Tree...we all went airborne in the car on one of the dips!
The road from Tibooburra to Cameron Corner was lovely. You soon realised that the ridges and dips on the other side were because you were going over a sand dune! There were very resilient clumps of wildflowers on the gravelly roadside and beautiful colours.
Cameron Corner has no real supplies apart from fuel and meals, accommodation...A fascinating stop-off.
The roads were gravel and in decent nick and we never hit low range or had a puncture...but you're right-roads and weather change.
Well, this only part answers your questions but it's at least a start.
We did the trip in the September school holidays and the weather wasn't too uncomfortable. It was 37 in Tibooburra and hot again the next day as we drove to Cameron Corner (but air con eliminates that problem!). A cool change/enormous storm hit while we were in Innamincka and after that, we averaged out at about 27-30 degrees for the rest of the fortnight. 37 out west is more bearable than 37 on the Qld coast!

For the bits that I haven't been to, I do know that Bourke's got decent groceries (I have a colleague who lived there for 3 years) but Hungerford's a blip on the map so I don't know how extensive their supplies would be.

Have a lovely trip!

Robyn :)

Hi all,
I'm about to do part of the trip mentioned above, I just wanted to say thanks for the question and the reply. I'm searching for as much info as possible for my trip.
Sharon

Hi kg, I think robin has covered most of the answers really well.... We did Thargomindah - innamincka and beyond about 6 weeks ago.

Thargomindah was absolutley gorgeous, right on the Buloo river. We camped in the explorers caravan park in unpowered spot right down the back of the park, which was absolute bush setting, fires allowed etc. Fuel was 1.57 at the Toyota dealership because the roadhouse was closed indefinitely and Toyota was the only other place you could get fuel. There was a small grocery shop, a very yummy cafe, and an excellent visitors centre. The town has tons of historical buildings, tours of an old hospital, tour of the hydro plant and two excellent short (couple of kms) easy bush walks along the river. We also had a go at yabbying in the river, had no luck though.

The road to innamincka was single lane tar for a while then turned to gravel, which was a pretty good road, minor corrugations, loose rocks, dusty. Stop in at lake bindegolly on the way and have a walk around as well. Yes you should definitely stop at the dig tree, there is a turn off to the right which is not really well signposted just before the coopers creek bridge ( I can't remember the name of the bridge).

At innamincka we camped right on the river, just past the town common. It cost $5 night, honesty box, there were drop toilets spread along the river . Have a look through the old innamincka hospital, it was pretty interesting, ( more interesting than Thargomindah old hospital). Fuel was 1.82, there was also a small grocery/ hardware shop attached to the servo and prices were reasonable... I bought a new yabby trap, two soft drinks and pkt of chips, total was about 25 bucks.

Take tons of water, it will be pretty hot. If it rains, roads get closed very quickly as well. I can't comment on the rest of your route, because the last time I was out Cameron's corner way was about 15 years ago. Have a great trip,