Darling River Run

Check with western division NSW RTA LINK prior to leaving as they are the only people who can advise with any certainty if the roads are closed or open. As for camping spots, the distance between the two towns is about 120 km easily travelled in a few hours. West side was always a lot rougher (stony outcrops). Best see if anyone with more recent knowledge can advise.

From Wilcannia to Menindie Lakes the western road is the one the locals use. It is graded each season AFAIK.

I went down the eastern track 2 years ago which is just graded and not gravelled and can get very chopped up.

There are also raised grids every few kilometers. AFAIK there are no good campsites there , but you could just drive into the scrub, although you would have to go a long way to be not visible, and there was evidence of lots of mud traps when I was there. It is all private property.

There is a moderately good campsite about 60? Ks North of the Broken Hill road on the eastern track called "Coach and Horses" which has an eco toilet which smelled badly when we were there and a gas barby!!. You are not allowed fires and the ants are something to behold but really didn't bite us.

BTW Menindie is a quarantine area but there are no bins on the eastern track, so we dumped out fruit concientiously in the pub bin.

Regards Philip A

Great run,

We enjoyed every minute and wished for more time.

I suggest that from Burke to Wilcannia you do the eastern side, you can drive of the road and actually get river side access at quite a few places where you can camp. Just be aware that it's still private property and should be treated with respect. You may camp at the weir at Tilpa or paid camping on a property a few k's south of Tilpa, sorry, although we stayed there the name escapes me at the moment.

Coach and Horses was in good condition when we went through however I have an aversion to the iniquitous charges imposed by NPW.

From Wilcannia on down to Menindee the general concensus is that the West side is the better road. We found it to be well graded and a pleasant drive.