Darling River Run in December?

We don't have a lot of options for when to travel. What do you think of the Darling River Run in the first half of December? Too hot?

Where should we plan to spend some extra time? We have just over a week to get to and from Sydney - we're assuming we will take two days to get to Bourke, and then two days to get back from Wentworth. We're thinking about a night near Tilpa, then three nights in Menindee/Kinchega, including a day trip to Broken Hill. Then a night in Mungo National Park. Finally a night in Wentworth before heading back to Sydney.

Any comments on that itinerary? And that time of year? Also, any special preparations needed? We plan to take an Engel, some basic cooking equipment, tent, hand-held radio, mobile phone (Telstra) and water. Anything else?

Any help/advice appreciated.
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Reply By: IvanTheTerrible - Tuesday, Sep 05, 2017 at 22:07

Tuesday, Sep 05, 2017 at 22:07
Mungo is a great spot. Allow at least a full day to do the self drive tour and camp at the remote camp.
AnswerID: 613555

Reply By: Member - rooster350 - Wednesday, Sep 06, 2017 at 10:41

Wednesday, Sep 06, 2017 at 10:41
You will spend more time traveling than seeing anything in that time frame, at least 2 days in Broken Hill or even twice that much...there is so much to see there ,Menindee/Kinchega not a lot to see...Mungo National Park. a good day , but go with a Ranger as you will learn a lot more about it than just looking at it by yourself. The actual Darling River run , if you were to see a bit of it should take 2-3 days and yes it will be hot,hot with umpteen millions of flies and Mungo has very little shade.
AnswerID: 613563

Reply By: braincell - Wednesday, Sep 06, 2017 at 11:16

Wednesday, Sep 06, 2017 at 11:16
Hi kimLoane,
expect the flies to real bad .Been up that way plenty ,we only go up there during the winter now .

Cheers
AnswerID: 613565

Reply By: phantom - Wednesday, Sep 06, 2017 at 12:49

Wednesday, Sep 06, 2017 at 12:49
Hi KimLoane,
We did it last Christmas time and went Bourke to Trilby Station near Louth, then onto White Cliffs to stay in the underground Hotel and then a couple of days at Menindee where we spent New Years eve. We were in an Ultimate Camper with no air conditioning
It was HOT in the high 30's to low 40's but lots of swims helped. Would do it again at the same time. Flies were not that much of an issue.
We stayed 2 nights at Bourke, 2 nights at Trilby, 1 night at White Cliffs 3 nights at Menindee then some more touring.
AnswerID: 613570

Reply By: Member -Dodger - Wednesday, Sep 06, 2017 at 16:26

Wednesday, Sep 06, 2017 at 16:26
Just go and do it. Take your time and swim a lot. Yes there will be some flies but the Aussie salute works. When you do it plan on only going as far as Menindee then you can really take it in withour rushing & next time start at Menindee visit the Hill enjoy the lakes and again take your time.
It took us 2 months to do the stretch from Wallgett to Wentworth and we had a ball.
I used to have a handle on life, but it broke.

Cheers Dodg.

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AnswerID: 613574

Reply By: gbc - Wednesday, Sep 06, 2017 at 16:44

Wednesday, Sep 06, 2017 at 16:44
It's a lot of black soil through there so watch the weather - they close the tracks very quickly.
You can stay on stations along the river pretty much the whole way and eat at pubs (louth/Tilpa/Menindee) if you want.
No all that remote, but a great run (In winter when the sane people do it haha)
AnswerID: 613575

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