Darling River run

Hi Lesley,
we bush camped on two cattle/sheep stations along the west side of the Darling on a recent trip. We picked up a poster at one of the tourist information centres that was produced by www.outbackbeds.com.au . Both properties provided firewood, toilets and a hot shower for a minimal charge. The first was Nelia Gaari b/w Wincannia and Menindee. The other was Bindara which was b/w Menindee and Pooncarie.
I can highly recommend these properties and I know that there are plenty more available.

It depends which section of the river you intend to travel. Almost the the entire length of the river is bounded by private property. Very few owners of that property will allow you to free camp for all sorts of reasons. Usually safety concerns, stock movement, fire risk, unauthorised use of firearms etc. However you will usually find around the towns and villages dotted along the river there will be areas set aside for free camping of varying standards. There are a number of stations that have 'farm stay' accommodation from cabins to unpowered sites at varying rates. All of these places have contact details at local tourist info points and pubs. Which side of the river is a personal choice. I have travelled both sides and prefer the eastern side.

Hi Thank you for the replies .I did find that brochure (poster) that you mentioned Farms. It gives a good reference with all the Black Cockatoo leading the way .Hope thats the same one you had otherwise you wont understand the Black Cockatoo reference ha ha ha. We have booked into Trilby station near Louth for a week .they have camp sites all along the river.:) We also have decided to go visit Nelia Gaari as well :)
Thank you also Dindy for replying it is nice to know you can still ask and get an answer on this site :)

Tilpa weir.
About 5 or 6km from Tilpa on the East side toward Louth, beside a grid, there is a yellow sign post on the side of the road. Someone has stolen the sign that points to the weir!!! Turn opposite this & follow the track to the weir.
Excellent camping here. (good yabbies too)
I came through there a week ago. (20/10/12) There was a pile of white gravel at the base of the sign post ready to be spread on the road.
I travelled from Bourke to Menindee on the East side towing a caravan.
There is lots of free camps on the lakes at Menindee.
I was considering camping at the stations but the one I looked at was, in my opinion, way over priced so I never looked at any others.

Then from Menindee to Mungo National Park & on to Balranald.

This article was published in the Westprint Newsletter 19 Oct 2012

"I want to bring something to the attention of all travellers intending to head down this way via the Eastern side of the Darling, and perhaps the Western side also. A very new and well made fence has been erected most of the way to Wilcannia, quite close to the River, closing off access to the River for travellers, unless you have made prior arrangements to camp on one of the "Station Stays" Bed and Breakfast on the way. I saw two. I was only able to access the River to free- camp in two places, one near Bourke, one near Wilcannia. The Publicans (Louth) and Tourist people (Bourke) refuse to tell anyone about this fence, as they do not want to lose casual customers. Or maybe they do not know. The fence has only been erected since the change of State Government in NSW.

The road on the Western side has no direct access to the River in any case, and you can only access it with Property Owner consent and a long drive in, I am told. Lots of 'Farm Stays' on the Western Side. "

What a load of BS ... people need to see and experience the drive down the Darling River themselves, not take notice of one disgruntled traveller, who busted his back window between Bourke and Louth... and nothing was right after that. (I saw this post on another forum late last week, not all of it is pasted here on Explore Oz)

We travelled the east side last week from Bourke to Louth to Tilpa, and then the west side on to Wilcannia and didn't see a great long fence blocking off the river. I also saw some vans free camping right beside the river about 50km down from Louth ( where the road comes right into the river). A beautiful spot, accessible with about a 100 metre track. And the Tilpa wier is a beaut spot.

We have also recently travelled the west side from Wilcannia - Tilpa - Louth - Bourke ( on our way north). While you don't see the river as much it is also a lovely drive through the outback. No great long fence here either, and some very good farmstays between Tilpa and Louth. We've stayed at all three - Kallara, Idalia and Trilby, Trilby being our favourite. They have beaut private campsites along the river and a huge billabong ( circumference about 5km) with campsites dotted along the edge. Great canoeing here and the birdlife is amazing. The yabbies are almost in plague proportions.

The Govt changing hands in NSW has nothing to do with anything. That was only last year!! Wow, quick fencers out that way, and why would the Govt be fencing people's private property?? Some graziers are fencing sections of the river off to stop stock getting bogged or crossing to the other side once the river gets low or even worse, dries up in places. Logical and a sound business practice as the river is the boundary fence.
By spending a few bob and staying at one of the farmstays along the Darling you actually have the opportunity to learn about life outback and what practices they use for successful business practices.

Thanks to all that replied with all your info. At the moment we are at Trilby and loving it and don't mind paying the $ they are asking for such a beautiful spot. We will be travelling at a slow pace so will just see where we get to on a daily weekly basis :) .Thanks all again :)