Darling River Run

Hi Folks,
The Bride and I intend to do the Darling River Run - Bourke, down through Menindee to Mildura next month.

Not having travelled this area we would appreciate recommendations from members with regards the trip.

Any "must see", "must do" would be appreciated, together with any general feedback.

Our intention at the moment is Sydney to Walgett, Brewarrina, Bourke thence down the Darling. I get the impression from previous posts that one do well not to spend too much time in Wilcannia. We are on a tight budget and intend to free camp as much as possible with our soft floor camper.

Ian
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Reply By: DIO - Tuesday, Jun 24, 2008 at 10:26

Tuesday, Jun 24, 2008 at 10:26
Why not start with NSW Tourism. They have a package of maps and specific information regarding that drive. Very informative and helpful too. Weather can create problems for travellers owing to road closures. You would need to keep up to date with such info. RTA provide such info as does thgis site. Have you tried searching the archives of this site. You'll find quite a lot of info readily available. I always find it much more fulfilling if I've collected such info for trips etc.
AnswerID: 311967

Follow Up By: Member - Ian W (NSW) - Tuesday, Jun 24, 2008 at 13:09

Tuesday, Jun 24, 2008 at 13:09
Dio,
Never thought to try NSW Tourism. I have however Googled every town on the route and picked up lots of info, however I like to hear from those who have "done" it.
Ian
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Reply By: Member - William B (The Shire) - Tuesday, Jun 24, 2008 at 10:40

Tuesday, Jun 24, 2008 at 10:40
Hi Ian,
As a previous resident of Brewarrina and having travelled back a couple of times over the last 40 years I am sad to say Bre is like a lot of rural towns in these hard times and is only a shadow of its former self.
The ancient Aboriginal fish traps are well worth seeing and if I remember correctly there is a Cultural display as well.
There is a free camp ground just out of town and also a council run caravan park with basic ammenities.
Link to Brewarrina Accommadation
Please keep us informed of your travels as this is also a trip I would like to do.
William
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Follow Up By: Member - Ian W (NSW) - Tuesday, Jun 24, 2008 at 13:12

Tuesday, Jun 24, 2008 at 13:12
Thnks William,

I have the Fish Traps on my "to see" list. I found a fair bit of info on Bre and its river port past. Looking forward to the visit.

Will give some feedback when we return.

Ian

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Reply By: Member - Keith C (NSW) - Tuesday, Jun 24, 2008 at 11:35

Tuesday, Jun 24, 2008 at 11:35
G/day Ian,we did that trip last year,we left from Wentworth,Pooncarie has a nice freecamp by the river,hot showers etc., We went up the East side,it is closer to the river. Menindee is nice, also free camping at the weir.We went to Tilpa,free camping,we crossed to the west side there and went to Trilby station, fantastic,good fishing and yabbys,about $20 a night ,we stayed 3,give yourself plenty of time,there`lots to see.Don`t forget to air-down all the tyres including camper,the roads are all dirt from Pooncarie up to Bourke It`s all good country out there,you`ll have a great tri, we did.
Keith C.
AnswerID: 311975

Follow Up By: Member - Ian W (NSW) - Tuesday, Jun 24, 2008 at 13:15

Tuesday, Jun 24, 2008 at 13:15
Thanks Kieth,

I gather from the research I've done to date that the east side of the river is the better in general terms. At the moment I have nine days in total for the trip which is not nearly enough to do it in the way I wish. Am hoping that the bride can get a second week off work which will allow us fiteen days.

Ian
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Reply By: Member - John G- Tuesday, Jun 24, 2008 at 11:46

Tuesday, Jun 24, 2008 at 11:46
G'day Ian

At the risk of incurring the ire of the owners, check out the Trip Reports on www.campertrailers.org. There's a couple of trip reports that cover the Darling River Run.

The trip itself is an experience. Highlights for us were Bourke, a 4-day stop at Idalia Station, old Dunlop station just a few kms north of Idalia, lunch at the Tilpa pub, Lake Mungo.

Have a good trip

Cheers
John
AnswerID: 311978

Follow Up By: Member - John G- Tuesday, Jun 24, 2008 at 11:49

Tuesday, Jun 24, 2008 at 11:49
er . . .and obviously check the Treks on this wonderful site

Cheers
John
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Follow Up By: Member - Ian W (NSW) - Tuesday, Jun 24, 2008 at 13:18

Tuesday, Jun 24, 2008 at 13:18
John,
Thanks for the tip, I'll have a look at the Camper Trailer Forum. Yes! My incentive to do this trip came from this very site.

Ian
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Reply By: Philip A - Tuesday, Jun 24, 2008 at 14:40

Tuesday, Jun 24, 2008 at 14:40
I cut across from The Cobar road north to the East side of the river about 5 weeks ago on station tracks. this was the best part with wildlife everywhere
First night Coach and Horses camping area about 50Km north of Wilcannia. OK with gas bbqs, but no fires and very aromatic long drops. Nice trees etc.
I drove down the east side to Menindee. Very rough with bulldust and bad grids every 5 Km. I met someone at Kopi Hollow van park who had done the west side which is vastly better as it has a road crew on it at the moment.
To me Kopi Hollow is great ( in winter) in summer it is the Broken Hill ski club . But beautiful sites fully grassed right on the water.
Kinchega woolshed worthwhile to see. I did not like the free sites around the lakes.
Do not buy petrol in Wilcannia. To see why look on the Shell site.
There is a roadhouse about 30-40 Km east of Wilcannia which is more reasonable, if run by a"different" person.
See if you can find out what the "ski jumps " are for on the flood plain east of Wilcannia on the Cobar road.
Regards Philip A

AnswerID: 312012

Follow Up By: Dave B (NSW) - Tuesday, Jun 24, 2008 at 20:50

Tuesday, Jun 24, 2008 at 20:50
Philip, the 'ski jumps' are the Telstra access points for the optic fibre cable across Australia.
That is all the Darling flood plain across there where they are.

Dave
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Follow Up By: Member - Duncs - Tuesday, Jun 24, 2008 at 21:14

Tuesday, Jun 24, 2008 at 21:14
Phillip A,

The roadhouse you speak of is Emmdale, a typical outback roadhouse. It is 100km east of Wilcannia and 160km west of Cobar. His fuel prices are as good as you will get west of Narromine and he makes a pretty reasonable coffee and a very nice bacon and egg roll. I have had many a breakfast with Henry.

Most people who have a problem with Henry are the ones who want everything done instantly.

He is almost always on his own he works 12 hours a day 7 days a week and never gets a day off. He keeps the fuel pumps locked because if he doesn't many, many people drive off without paying. He has times when he has no one in the shop for ages and then everyone comes at once and everyone is in a hurry. People get upset because he doesn't hurry.Well he doesn't have to. You are supposed to be on holidays, take your time too, you will enjoy it more.

If you treat him right you can pull in, get the tank topped up, get a cooked breakfast for 5 people, have a friendly chat and be out of there in about 30min. If that is too slow then you need to take more holidays.

Not intending to have a go at you Phillip A just putting up how I have found things at Emmdale. I have seen Henry in a bad mood, I also caught the tail end of what caused it. By the time we left he had calmed down and was back to being his normal self. Somewhat gruff on the outside, but friendly, helpful and informative if you give him a chance.

Duncs
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Follow Up By: Member - Ian W (NSW) - Wednesday, Jun 25, 2008 at 09:02

Wednesday, Jun 25, 2008 at 09:02
O.K.

Give my business to Henry at Emmdale and skip the refueling at Wilcannia.

I'm going to tell him that Duncs sent me.

Ian
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Follow Up By: Philip A - Wednesday, Jun 25, 2008 at 09:52

Wednesday, Jun 25, 2008 at 09:52
Dunc, I had no problem with him. I recommended Emmdale .
I think you have to agree he is "different"
He was busy when I got there but after while bustled out and served me after I saw he was making bacon and egg rolls for someone. I was in no particular hurry.
Maybe he was reacting to the confusion when I asked a young guy in an old Subaru to move forward a bit so I could get the hose to my car from the second pump. The young guy then proceeded to leave that pump, turned around to the second pump so that his filler was away from the pump and out of reach. ( and I moved to the first pump rather puzzled),
So the old bloke probably from experience refused to try to reach, and told him to turn around again.
The young woman companion then abused me telling me it was all my fault as I had told them to move! LOL

Its charaters like him that make the bush.
Regards Philip A
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Reply By: Philip A - Tuesday, Jun 24, 2008 at 14:44

Tuesday, Jun 24, 2008 at 14:44
By the way, another thread highlighted this.
You are not supposed to take fruit and veg to Minindee, however there are no bins on the east road anyway.
We ended up being good citizens and dumping ours in the hotel bins. Bit of a farce.
Then if you go to SA you have to do it again at the border. GRRRR.
Regard sPhilip A
AnswerID: 312013

Reply By: Member - Vince B (NSW) - Tuesday, Jun 24, 2008 at 15:36

Tuesday, Jun 24, 2008 at 15:36
Hi Ian.
When are you doing your trip.?

We aim to be at Bourke on July 9 & head south along the Darling on our way to Broken Hill & Flinders Ranges.

Three vehicles(2 with campers) are leaving Tweed Heads on July 6 & heading to Bourke via Moree & Walgett.

If you require company on part of your trip send me a MM.

Cheers.
Vince
AnswerID: 312016

Follow Up By: Member - Ian W (NSW) - Wednesday, Jun 25, 2008 at 08:15

Wednesday, Jun 25, 2008 at 08:15
Vince,

Would love to catch up with an EO person/group, alas we can't leave Sydney July 12.

I have only had the pleasure of meeting up with one EO Member, Lindsay, a really lovely guy from Tuross Heads and his partner. This guy very generously gave me leads on some great camping spots on the Tuross River above Nerrigundah. My computer crashed and I lost everything on the hard drive so I've been unable to communicate with him and will now have to wait till I can get back down the Sth. Coast so I can knock on his door with a few tinnies and a bunch of flowers for his wife.


Ian
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Reply By: Member - Duncs - Tuesday, Jun 24, 2008 at 20:58

Tuesday, Jun 24, 2008 at 20:58
The trip is fantastic, take your time and talk to the locals. There used to be an information pack available from Tourism NSW giving details of places where you may be able to camp and contact numbers for stations. One great place to stay is Killara which is near Tilpa. The McClure's are typical outback people, very knowledgeable and very, very friendly.

If the bus tour around Bourke is still running it is well worth the bucks.

By far the highlight for me was in Louth. As the sun sets, just before it drops below the tree line it reflects off the grave stone of the woman who was one of the original settlers. She was from Louth in Ireland and her family were stone masons. They erected the stone to reflect the setting sun into her lounge room window. That happened over 100 years ago and without any maintenance other than the occasional shower it is still like a torch beam.

Ask at Shindy's in they should know about it. We were extremely lucky to break down in Louth and Wally (lives next door to Shindy's) in addition to enormous help took us out and showed us the phenomena and told us the story. It was fantastic.

Duncs
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Follow Up By: Member - Michael O (NSW) - Tuesday, Jun 24, 2008 at 21:45

Tuesday, Jun 24, 2008 at 21:45
That would be Wal Mitchell, former Mayor of Bourke Shire and the "Mouth from Louth", golf course builder, poet and raconteur...

If you met him in Louth, you're a lucky man! He can tell some stories!
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Follow Up By: Member - Ian W (NSW) - Wednesday, Jun 25, 2008 at 08:53

Wednesday, Jun 25, 2008 at 08:53
Thanks Duncs,

These are the sorts of leads I was hoping to pick up.

At this rate we will need to plan a return or an extra couple of weeks.

As mentioned I've Googled every town/locality on the route and picked up quite a bit of info, however reading between the lines I get the impression that there has been a certain amount of "creativity".

Ian
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Reply By: Waynepd (NSW) - Tuesday, Jun 24, 2008 at 23:21

Tuesday, Jun 24, 2008 at 23:21
Ian,
that was my first trip in a 4wd and apart from some worrying vibes in Wilcannia, the kids and i had a fantastic time. Dubbo Zoo breakfast with the animals is a treat, we did it in July too and it was bloody freezing.

Stayed at Trilby Station near Louth but there is also a camp area on the Darling in Louth. I think its a freebie a powered site in Trilby was about the going rate back then of $16/night in 2003

Be prepared to change plans if the rains come and it doesn't take much to close the roads. We had to stay an extra night at Trilby, bummer LOL

As you head out of Bourke to pick up the Louth Road make sure you stop off and pay your respects at Fred Hollows' Grave, one of our great heroes.

Have a great trip wish i was going again...
AnswerID: 312120

Follow Up By: Member - Ian W (NSW) - Wednesday, Jun 25, 2008 at 08:56

Wednesday, Jun 25, 2008 at 08:56
Thanks for that one.

I just learnt something new. Met Gabbi Hollows and children a couple of times when they were at Sydney Town Hall but was unaware of the grave site.

Ian
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Reply By: Member - Ross S (QLD) - Thursday, Jun 26, 2008 at 11:33

Thursday, Jun 26, 2008 at 11:33
Hi,



We'll be on the Darling River Run from Bourke about 29th July coming down from Charleville.

Just found this website:

Darling River Run

Regards
Ross
AnswerID: 312322

Follow Up By: Member - Ian W (NSW) - Friday, Jun 27, 2008 at 09:38

Friday, Jun 27, 2008 at 09:38
Ross,

Have thoroughly explored that website, quite helpfull.

Ian
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