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Darling River Run
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Darling River Run

Difficulty: Trek rating 2.5 of 5 - Click for detailsTrek rating 2.5 of 5 - Click for detailsTrek rating 2.5 of 5 - Click for details   Suitable for: 4WD AWD 
The Darling River is one of the outback's most famous rivers. Starting near Bourke in central NSW and draining into the Murray in Victoria the Darling River Run snakes itself through black soil farming country.
StartClick to Reverse the Dynamic Map and Driving NotesBourke
Trek
FinishWentworth
Distance707.9 kmMinimum Days2
Article By: ExplorOz Team   Updated: 8 Oct 2008
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 Description

Although this fabulous 4WD adventure really begins in Bourke, there are some great spots to visit along the way. If you're coming from Sydney you can drive to Dubbo in a day and then head into the Warrumbungle National Park for some great bush camping and walking.

From the Warrumbungles you can take the dirt exit track that pops out on the western fringe of the park. Continue heading northwest towards Coonamble and then north up the tarred Castlereagh Highway to Walgett. It's tarred road all the way through Brewarrina to Bourke but from Bourke onwards this trek hits 4WD territory.

An alternative route from Coonamble is to cross the Castlereagh Highway and continue heading west to Quambone. Continue west at the junction, crossing the Marthaguy River and through the Macquarie Marshes region. There's some good bush camps along here. There are quite a few tracks here that will lead north up to Brewarrina - all are usually dry, dusty flat cattle roads and you should be able to travel around 80 - 90km/hr.

Warning: if there has been any rain north of Bourke you must check road conditions as the small rivers here can easily flood and roads can become blocked and impassable even if there's no rain in the immediate area. The Barwon and the Bulloo Rivers are the major feeders.

 Interactive Route Map

BourkeLouthWinbarPaddys Creek BridgeCompodor Creek BridgeBudjewarra BendTankarookaMurteeBarrier Highway and Darling River RunBillillaTintinallogyBarrarooWindalleTolarnoKaroolaChalkey WellPooncarieWentworth
Bourke
No description entered. Enter description or photos.
Features: Populated PlaceService Station,Roadhouse Caravan Park Rubbish Bin,Tip Fuel Water Supply Toilet Pub Food,Shopping Police Station Medical Services Resort,Motel
Position: 145.9380ºE   30.0894ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Louth
Distance: 36.95km
Average Speed: 0km/h
Louth
A 1 Pub 1 shop town . The camp ground is free but is about 8 k out of town on the Burke side There is a free camp on the northern side of the bridge with toilets and showers across from the road from the pub.
Features: Populated PlaceCamp Free Toilet Pub Cemetery,Grave Site
Position: 145.1154ºE   30.5339ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Winbar
Distance: 20.08km
Average Speed: 0km/h
Winbar
No description entered. Enter description or photos.
Features: Populated Place
Position: 144.9408ºE   30.6507ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Paddys Creek Bridge
Distance: 7.83km
Average Speed: 0km/h
Paddys Creek Bridge
Paddy's creek bridge one of the bridge crossings on the Darling River Run.
Features: River Crossing
Position: 144.9095ºE   30.6796ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Compodor Creek Bridge
Distance: 9.07km
Average Speed: 0km/h
Compodor Creek Bridge
Compodor creek crossing on the Darling River run.
Features: River Crossing
Position: 144.7800ºE   30.7875ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Budjewarra Bend
Distance: 3.63km
Average Speed: 0km/h
Features: Place Name
Position: 144.7503ºE   30.8386ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Tankarooka
Distance: 31.63km
Average Speed: 0km/h
Tankarooka
No description entered. Enter description or photos.
Features: Populated Place
Position: 144.3246ºE   31.0857ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Murtee
Distance: 34.17km
Average Speed: 0km/h
Murtee
No description entered. Enter description or photos.
Features: Populated Place
Position: 143.4894ºE   31.5824ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Barrier Highway and Darling River Run
Distance: 2.95km
Average Speed: 0km/h
Barrier Highway and Darling River Run
Junction of the Barrier Highway and the Darling River Run trek turn off.
Features: Junction,Intersection,Turn Off
Position: 143.4053ºE   31.6112ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Billilla
Distance: 217.75km
Average Speed: 0km/h
Billilla
No description entered. Enter description or photos.
Features: Populated Place
Position: 143.1515ºE   31.8289ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Tintinallogy
Distance: 32.63km
Average Speed: 0km/h
Tintinallogy
No description entered. Enter description or photos.
Features: Populated Place
Position: 142.9858ºE   32.0756ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Barraroo
Distance: 6.44km
Average Speed: 0km/h
Barraroo
No description entered. Enter description or photos.
Features: Populated PlaceCaravan Park
Position: 142.9570ºE   32.1117ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Windalle
Distance: 38.32km
Average Speed: 0km/h
Windalle
No description entered. Enter description or photos.
Features: Populated Place
Position: 142.6456ºE   32.2906ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Tolarno
Distance: 74.43km
Average Speed: 0km/h
Tolarno
The property is on the Darling River and they have goats and sheep. Accommodation: homestead, shearers' quarters and camping.
Features: Populated PlaceCamp Fee
Position: 142.3911ºE   32.7902ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Karoola
Distance: 16.19km
Average Speed: 0km/h
Karoola
No description entered. Enter description or photos.
Features: Populated Place
Position: 142.3797ºE   32.9266ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Chalkey Well
Distance: 20.77km
Average Speed: 0km/h
Chalkey Well
iMapPlot Database Merge - Population - mispopp.shp
Features: Populated Place
Position: 142.3817ºE   33.1051ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Pooncarie
Distance: 38.89km
Average Speed: 0km/h
Pooncarie
Pooncarie is a pretty township on the Darling River,between Wentworth and Menindee.
Features: Populated PlaceRubbish Bin,Tip Fuel Toilet Pub Water Body,River,Stream,Falls Point of Interest
Position: 142.5709ºE   33.3876ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Wentworth
Distance: 116.18km
Average Speed: 0km/h
Wentworth
No description entered. Enter description or photos.
Features: Populated PlaceService Station,Roadhouse Caravan Park River Crossing Rubbish Bin,Tip Fuel Water Supply Toilet Pub Food,Shopping Water Body,River,Stream,Falls Police Station Medical Services Resort,Motel
Position: 141.9232ºE   34.1060ºS (GDA 94)

Route Control

Run Moving Map
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 Permits

Camping fees in National Parks along the way (Kinchega).

 Things to See & Do

Pooncarie   RatingRatingRatingRatingRating
Populated Place Rubbish Bin,Tip Fuel Toilet Pub Water Body,River,Stream,Falls Point of Interest
Pooncarie is a pretty township on the Darling River,between Wentworth and Menindee.
Wentworth   
Populated Place Service Station,Roadhouse Caravan Park River Crossing Rubbish Bin,Tip Fuel Water Supply Toilet Pub Food,Shopping Water Body,River,Stream,Falls Police Station Medical Services Resort,Motel
No description entered. Enter description or photos.
Louth   
Populated Place Camp Free Toilet Pub Cemetery,Grave Site
A 1 Pub 1 shop town . The camp ground is free but is about 8 k out of town on the Burke side There is a free camp on the northern side of the bridge with toilets and showers across from the road from the pub. The facilities are free but the publican asks for a donation to the RFDS.
Following the mighty Darling River through historic pioneering country, the Darling River Run starts on dirt tracks south of Bourke with Louth the first settlement 99km along. At Louth, take the track to Tilpa, which runs along the western bank of the Darling River. There is another track that follows the eastern bank to Wilcannia but it does not provide riverside camps quite as closely as on the western side. This is a great area to launch your tinnie (aluminium fishing dingy) and it's possible to tow a caravan or camper trailer along these tracks. The river is full of yabbies so bring a yabby pot, some lamb neck or bloody meat for bait and enjoy!

The track continues along the river and then heads into the township of Wilcannia. Keep heading south along the river track (again there are tracks on both sides of the river). About 30km before reaching Menindee are some great camps in the red sand hills. South of Menindee in the Kinchega National Park are some perfect campsites, some even with beaches.

South of Kinchega National Park you can drive south to Mildura via the tiny settlement of Pooncarrie. The dirt track from Kinchega follows the western bank of the Darling through cattle farming country along the Old Pooncarrie Road before crossing the bridge into town where you turn right onto bitumen 122km north of Mildura or just 29km north of the turn-off to the fascinating Mungo National Park.

If you're making a round trip of it back to eastern NSW, then from Mungo, head north through strangely beautiful and remote farming country to Mossgiel, Hillston, Lake Cargelligo, Condobolin, Parkes, Orange, Bathurst and finally Sydney.

 Preparation

Fuel Supplies & Usage

Fuel SymbolBourke, Pooncarie, Wentworth Diesel4cyl 110 litres * ULP4cyl 115 litres LPG4cyl 142 litres
6cyl 81 litres *6cyl 114 litres *6cyl 125 litres
8cyl 114 litres8cyl 117 litres
Usage is averaged from TrekFuel (* specific to trek) submissions and calculated based on trek distance.

Best Time To Visit

Closest Climatic Station

Wilcannia (Reid St)
Distance from Trek Mid Point 79.06km NW
 JanFebMarAprMayJun JulAugSepOctNovDec
Mean Max. °C 35.334.731.426.2 21.217.717.119.4 23.427.431.234.0
Mean Min. °C 19.819.316.211.7 7.95.44.25.6 8.512.215.618.2
Mean Rain mm 24.825.222.417.3 24.122.518.317.9 16.125.319.626.0
    Best time to travel      Ok time to travel      Travel NOT recommended

Services & Supplies

The following locations have various services and supplies: Bourke, Louth, Pooncarie, Wentworth

 Camp Sites & Accomodation

Bourke   RatingRatingRating
Populated Place Service Station,Roadhouse Caravan Park Rubbish Bin,Tip Fuel Water Supply Toilet Pub Food,Shopping Police Station Medical Services Resort,Motel
No description entered. Enter description or photos.
Wentworth   
Populated Place Service Station,Roadhouse Caravan Park River Crossing Rubbish Bin,Tip Fuel Water Supply Toilet Pub Food,Shopping Water Body,River,Stream,Falls Police Station Medical Services Resort,Motel
No description entered. Enter description or photos.
Tolarno   
Populated Place Camp Fee
The property is on the Darling River and they have goats and sheep. Accommodation: homestead, shearers' quarters and camping.
Louth   
Populated Place Camp Free Toilet Pub Cemetery,Grave Site
A 1 Pub 1 shop town . The camp ground is free but is about 8 k out of town on the Burke side There is a free camp on the northern side of the bridge with toilets and showers across from the road from the pub. The facilities are free but the publican asks for a donation to the RFDS.
Barraroo   
Populated Place Caravan Park
No description entered. Enter description or photos.

 Driving Directions

Time
Direction
Distance
Bourke to Louth 36.95 km SW 238° N/A
Louth to Winbar 20.08 km SW 232° N/A
Winbar to Paddys Creek Bridge 7.83 km SW 223° N/A
Paddys Creek Bridge to Compodor Creek Bridge 9.07 km SW 226° N/A
Compodor Creek Bridge to Budjewarra Bend 3.63 km SW 207° N/A
Budjewarra Bend to Tankarooka 31.63 km SW 236° N/A
Tankarooka to Murtee 34.17 km SW 235° N/A
Murtee to Barrier Highway and Darling River Run 2.95 km W 248° N/A
Barrier Highway and Darling River Run to Billilla 217.75 km SW 225° N/A
Billilla to Tintinallogy 32.63 km SW 210° N/A
Tintinallogy to Barraroo 6.44 km SW 214° N/A
Barraroo to Windalle 38.32 km SW 236° N/A
Windalle to Tolarno 74.43 km SW 203° N/A
Tolarno to Karoola 16.19 km S 184° N/A
Karoola to Chalkey Well 20.77 km S 179° N/A
Chalkey Well to Pooncarie 38.89 km SE 151° N/A
Pooncarie to Wentworth 116.18 km SW 217° N/A
Bourke to Wentworth 707.9 km     N/A
Distance is GPS recorded driving distance (not straight line), Direction is straight line from start to end, Time is calculated from actual GPS driving data.

 Trek Feedback

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What Others have Posted

Dave B (NSW) : 19 Sep 08 08:38
G'day all, there has been quite a few posts recently concerning trav...
Teago : 3 Sep 08 16:59
Good day , love the site. Is the Darling run suitable in good weathe...
ryno : 17 Aug 08 16:41
G'day planning to do the darling river run at christmas with my son....
Member - Willie , Sydney. : 8 Aug 08 14:49
Which way is the most scenic ? Can anybody recommend any particular ...
Member - Ian W (NSW) : 24 Jun 08 10:22
Hi Folks, The Bride and I intend to do the Darling River Run - Bour...

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