Outback / desert tour closest to Sydney

Maybe the deserts in north west Victoria but the sand isn't red. I reckon out around Broken Hill is where it starts to feel like Outback. Any of them is a few days drive from Sydney. Perhaps go up to Stockton dunes and pretend it's a desert? It looks like Arabia does in the movies. :-)

G'day yagon,

I think Stockton's still closed from the weather damage they copped earlier this year.

If you can spare a few days, even better a week, head up to Bourke. Keep going west towards Tibooburra, down to Broken Hill and home.

You'd need 7 days minimum - 2 days to get to Tibooburra, spend a day driving out to Camerons Corner and back to Tibooburra, 1 day to Broken Hill, 1 day in Broken Hill and 2 days to get home.

A lot of people would say it's too rushed but if you're time poor it's very doable. The country out there is spectacular and you'll be thanking the kids for watching all the DVDs and reading the mags.

It's getting pretty warm out that way from now until about Easter and your vehicle must be able to take a bit of a pounding for a long time.

Another option, which might be more suitable, is to head up to Bourke, keep going to Hungerford and spend some time in Currawinya NP. You can camp in the park, or camp at Hungerford in the Council owned CP and do day trips.
Again it's spectacular country that will give you all a taste of the outback and spot some wildlife.
4WD Action Issue 190 has a story on Currawinya NP you might find informative.

I hope this helps a bit,

Steve

Drive to Bourke and then head west.......the further you go the better it feels

Hi Yagon,

Maybe a good start would be to explain that "the desert" isn't just about red sand dunes, that its a very long drive to get to the red dunes, but that there are all sorts of wonderful places to go - desert or otherwise - where you can have fun camping. Have you been camping before with the children? If not a few camps closer to home might be a good start.

Your desire to show your children the outback is commendable. But I don't think that setting out on such a trip because a 3 or even 6 year old has "seen too many camping / 4wd dvds" is a very sound basis for a trip - they are too young to comprehend what is involved.

But to answer your question, how about a trip to Lake Mungo a bit north of Hay and Balranald. There is plenty of red sand (though from memory not much in the way of red sand dunes). But there are some wonderful white dunes and of course the Walls of China. Plenty of flat horizons and wide open empty spaces, old buildings including the old shearing shed.

But I'm inclined to agree with other posters that Stockton would be a good start. After all its where a lot of much bigger kids (who maybe have seen too many 4WD DVDs too) go for their first sand dune experience.

Cheers,

Val.

I did the Camerons Corner to Bourke trip last year (in a day) at the end of our Simpson Desert crossing. I think to see Dunes you'll have to go out as far as Innamincka (and make sure you camp beside the Cooper Creek at the Dig Tree...great spot). I seem to remember some smalllish Dunes between Innamincka and Camerons Corner.

I'd say about 8-10 days if you can take that long and you'll gve them a real outback experience...but as someone esle has said...NOT in summer.

I'd agree out to Bourke, then Camerons Corner, then Innamincka, and maybe back through Broken Hill is going to give them what I think you want.

Thanks for everyone's feedback.

I think I'll plan a trip to Bourke, then down the Darling River for a bit. Then across from Tilpa/Louth to Cobar. Red dirt roads and sand, but no dunes.

I'll probably arrange this for next winter, for about 5 to 7 days total. It will be 2 long days in the car, then a few days with only modest amounts of driving. This should be manageable for the kids, who will be 7 and 4 years old at that time.

It won't be true outback/desert, but it will be a great adventure for the kids (and me). I might also be able to bring my dog (with the possible exception of Gundabooka National Park).

We've done plenty of beach driving at Stockton and Myall Lakes and that's not what we're looking for on this occasion.