Bourke - what's wrong with it?

Lynn2

Hi
No personal experience but heard plenty of horror stories. Basicly check your insurance papers because the chances of making a claim are pretty high.
Travelled through Wilcannia and when you see security grills on all the windows you just have to wonder?

Depending which way your going, Silverton (Broken Hill) is very good as is Tibooburra

Cheers

Bob L

Ta, we are heading towards Tibooburra - am still curious about Bourke. Have been to Wilcannia on last trip, know what you mean.... I guess it's the same story at Bourke. At Wilcannia, we needed petrol and a toilet stop. Got the petrol, but not the toilet stop, wasn't game to get out of the car.

Hi Lynn2,

We stayed in one of the caravan parks in Bourke last year and we had no problems. In fact we loved Bourke and wished that we had more time to spend there. We will definately be back. We were warned by the CP owner to lock the vehicle and leave nothing valuable on display, but the park was patrolled at night so we had no concerns.

Mitchell Caravan Park
Phone: 02 6872 2791
Deluxe Cabin: $60
Cash payment only

Lots of history in the area, and with the river having lots of water at the moment, Bourke would be well worth visiting. Drop into the visitors centre for more info.

If you don't feel like staying at a caravan park, then I think there were some B&B places as well.

Cheers

Well Willem, there was a big group of people at about 10.15 a.m armed with long necks, calling out to all and sundry. The garage owner was ignoring them, I wasn't!!!

Lynn2,
Never been to Bourke so can't comment.
When I travel Sydney - Cameron's Corner I go Sydney - Nyngan (1st night) - White Cliffs (2nd and 3rd nights) - Tibooburra or Sturt NP (4th night) - Cameron Corner / Innamincka or wherever (5th night) which seems logical and enjoyable.
Regards,
Brad.

Lynn2 (whose Lynn1 ?)
Bourke is worth a visit, but as they will tell you at the tourist office don't tempt fate by leaving valuables visible in your car. It's a lovely town with some beautiful old buildings and the jetty on the Darling worth spending time at. We just had a small incident on the river where the kids were having mud fight and I happened to get hit, I'm sure it was accidental, however I spoke courtesly but firmly to the kids and later one came over and apologised "Sorry Miser - didn mean t' hit ya, jus a crook shot".

It's worth visiting the big grape and citrus farms over the bridge at north Bourke, big time stuff. There is also a great caravan park on the river out that way, take the first right across the bridge, out a couple of K's on the RHS, think it was called the Kidman Way CP. Big strong young bushie chap runs it and can give you heaps of info. We spent a couple of relaxing days there, good camping also. Check at the info office in town.
Ask him also about the aboriginal museum/display at Brewarrina if you can get that way.
Walgett is a sorry looking town these days, same as Wilcannia, pity, don't judge them too harshly.

My husband calls me that when I'm in the good books, when I'm not..... it's Lynette! !!!!!!

Hi Lynny,
went thru Bourke last July and was told by a local not to leave any valuables visible in the the car. We didn't stay there overnight as we stayed at Trilby Station, near Louth on the Darling River Run. We just called in to deliver a message to a Bourke copper; we'd met his grandfather in Dubbo and promised.... then went to see Fred's Grave on the way out of town toward the Louth road.

Wilcannia was a worse place in my opinion, more threatening....

Hi Lynn2
We made it to Bourke by 6.10pm after leaving the Spirit of Tasmania at 7.20am. We travelled up the Kidman Way and after a brief stop in the Bourke township to purchase a few groceries, we headed approx 6 kms north to one of the caravan parks. There were not many people about in the township and we saw nothing to disturb us. The caravan park did not offer us any warnings and we found it was a pleasant overnight spot despite a few hoons zooming up and down the main road. We walked across a clear field to the river the following morning to view the river and paddle steamer and the only complaint I had was the magpies that kept swooping me. Must have been the clothes I was wearing!!!! I quite liked what I did see in Bourke and would like to have had more time to explore. I have not been to Wilcannia but I would heed all the warnings and stories you have heard about the place. I am travelling up that way through Wilcannia to White Cliffs to Cameron Corner again in May (last time, went through Broken Hill, Silver City Highway and turned off at Milparinka to Cameron Corner). I have been warned that it is okay to fill up with fuel at Wilcannia and then get out of the place - don't stay.
Hope you have a great trip
Cheers
Patsy

Lynn,
Stay in the caravan park at Cobar (south of bourke) very clean and green park with friendly hosts and none of the trouble you could get in bourke.

Cheers,
Hughesy

Hi Lynn2,

Stayed at Kidman CP in Bourke April last year and had no problems at all - good facilities and great people - only potential threat we came across was about a dozen kangaroos hanging around the perimeter in the morning, all watching us eat breakfast - what a joy. As for Wilcannia, yes it has a reputation which in some cases is warranted based on an experience that my son in law experienced there but we got fuel at the BP depot and there were no problems at all. Yes the CP at Cobar is also very nice.

David.

I had $1000 damage done to my Jack in Bourke by bored kids.. They were seen and identified but nothing was done because of the " sensitivities" involved. Not covered by insurance either... Next stop was Cobar & at a servo the guy asked what had happened to the car & I told him & he said thet those "problems" were few & far between in Cobar because there was employment for all at the mine... The towns folk in Bourke were very generous with oofers of free accomodation and help...they were genuinely upset because this sort of thing gives the town a bad name... if I go to Bourke again I wont stop downtown.. there is a nice van park about 7km north.

G'day Lynn,

The correct name of the CP in North Bourke that others have referred to is Kidmans Camp - a very spacious park with a track that leads down to the river, camp kitchen, clean amenities and friendly hosts. It's far enough out of town that you are not bothered with any of the problems that Bourke is notorious for.

Diesel 1

Thanks to everyone for their posts. Have decided to head off thru' Bourke regardless. However, I will take your advice and be careful where we stay. The Kidman CP sounds like the one. Thanks again!!
Lynn2

Lynn2,
I've always found Bourke ok, but the last trip we stayed at Byrock, 70k this side of Bourke .The Mulga Creek Hotel has the best camping spot right out the back.The friendliest publican and plenty of free fire wood and good hot showers.
cheers.

Lynn,
There's nothing wrong with Burke. They have some problems, just like any other regional town. The kids can be a concern for a first time visitor, but if you engage them, you will get a completely different response. The town has a lot of history and you shoundn't be put off by negativity.
Have a good trip
Kim

Hi Lynn2

We did the Corner Country trip last Sept/Oct and stayed at Bourke on the way back home (Nowra). I was born at Bourke and lived there for years so was well aware of history. We stayed at Kidman Camp at North Bourke - great park - we liked to so much we stayed 2 nights!! There's quite a lot to see nowadays - treat yourself to a bus tour of the town - I learnt so much!!!!

On our trip we started from White Cliffs then Tibooburra, Cameron Corner, up the Bore Track to Innamincka where we camped on Cooper Creek (great spot), visited Coongie Lake (couldn't get there for a few days due to road closed) then saw The Dig Tree, Noccundra and Thargomindah in SW Qld and then to Bourke via Hungerford. Good trip all round. There's a great little stop before Cameron Corner - Fort Grey its only a few kms off the main road but a nice break for lunch - they have loos and free bbqs!!!! & water not for drinking. We had a fantastic seafood banquet at Tibooburra for $12 a head - beautiful fresh seafood from Port Augusta!!!!! Cooper Creek is beautiful to camp at - amenities are in town and the laundromat has the best showers it you happen to go that far.

Enjoy your trip.

We went with a group of friends (8 vehicles, 16 people). We made it a point well before our trip, to let all our stops in the outback know that we were coming, or on the way. The reason being two fold - for all of us to be camping in the park (or somewhere) together and secondly, (probably more importantly) so that we didn't 'eat' the locals out of precious supplies - bread, milk, fresh vegies and beer etc, or they could order more in before we got there!!!!! We stayed at the T'burra CP and walked to the pub. The pub knew we were coming as we had previously decided that we would all book in tea. T'burra had had the night before, a community gathering of somesort and this is where the fresh seafood came in. Beautiful!!! We did not have to have the banquet - but when we saw the seafood - we couldn't resist. It looked great and tasted better, considering we come from the coast - the stuff we got out there, I think, was fresher and nicer! I still wonder if that can happen!!!!! Maybe, it was how many beers cleansed the dirt off the palate beforehand (just joking!!)

Are you going with a group or by yourselves?? Would love to go again!

Regards

John