The Route
- Departure time in the mornings will be 7.30 - 9.30 am; longer days 7.30 - 9.00 am
- There will be a briefing for all participants each night at 5.30 pm prior to dinner at 6.00 pm
- All dinners are included in the trip and we aim to use local community groups and local businesses wherever possible with the aim of supporting local communities
| Day & Date | Location | Trip Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 Sunday 3 June | Rose Isle Station The starting point for all vehicles | Situated on the on the western banks of the Darling River some 70 km downstream (South) of Bourke, Rose Isle is a sheep & cattle grazing property owned by Garry & Samantha Mooring, our hosts for the next 3 nights. Historic Rose Isle homestead was built in 1897 by the Faulkhaguan family and the Mooring family are its second owners. The Bourke area is the country of the cattle king – Sir Sidney Kidman. What better place to start the trip – only 30km from Louth and central to many fabulous outback attractions. No matter how many times you have been in the area before there’s always a different sight to see and a different experience waiting to be found.
We will be camping (unless you’ve booked a room in the Shearer’s Quarters) at Rose Isle Station where we will share a tasty dinner followed by an evening of campfire frivolity. Briefing 5.30 pm Dinner 6.00 pm – pizza styled provided by Rose Isle Station |
| Day 2 Monday 4 June | Rose Isle Station | We’ll get straight into it this morning - and sit back and relax over a leisurely breakfast. Later we’ll take a drive out to Dunlop Station for morning tea and tours of the homestead, store and historic shearing shed – the first shed to use the new Wolseley mechanical shears in Australia (in 1888). Morning tea and the tours are provided by the owner’s of Dunlop Station and the cost is included in your registration fee.
We’ll all end up at Louth for our daily briefing followed by a fantastic dinner put on by the local branch of the Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association.
Briefing 5.30 pm – at Shindy’s Inn, Louth Dinner 6.00 pm – at Louth provided by ICPA |
| Day 3 Tuesday 5 June | Rose Isle Station | We had such a great day yesterday – what will we do today??
Maybe some station experiences or hiking or bird watching or garden tours or 4WD tracks or …. There is lots to see and do (have we got enough time?). This is a relaxed day so take your time and enjoy this fantastic part of our world. There is lots to see and enjoy. Self-Enjoy Day Briefing 5.30 pm Dinner 6.00 pm – 3 course roast dinner provided by Rose Isle Station |
| Day 4 Wednesday 6 June | Warrawong on the Darling | It’s off to Wilcannia today (250 km). We travel along the West Tilpa Road for 120 km to Tilpa on the banks of the Darling. Take the opportunity to take a break and refuel here if you like, then back in the vehicles for 130 km to Wilcannia. Check out the town and enjoy a great coffee at Miss Barretts.
We camp at Warrawong on the Darling tonight, just outside Wilcannia. You can look forward to a warm welcome and a great night. Camp Fire Nibbles 5.00 pm Briefing 5.30 pm Dinner 6.00 pm - provided by Warrawong on the Darling |
| Day 5 Thursday 7 June | Bindara Station | We’ll head of towards Menindee (160 km) this morning taking either the West route or the East Route or maybe some of us on each. Menindee is a great place to spend some time at before heading off on the final 70 km run to today’s destination and home for the next 2 nights - Bindara Station.
Briefing 5.30 pm Dinner 6.00 pm – roast lamb & chicken + desert provided by Bindara Station |
| Day 6 Friday 8 June | Bindara Station | We’ve had a couple of busy days – maybe today is a good time to chill out and smell the roses!
Or maybe take in some station experiences or go hiking or bird watching or ….. There is lots to see and enjoy but do take your time and enjoy this fantastic part of our world. Self-Enjoy Day Briefing 5.30 pm Dinner 6.00 pm – corned beef, cabbage & vegetables + desert provided by Bindara Station |
| Day 7 Saturday 9 June | Penrose Park | OK! We’re all fresh and rearing to go after our wonderful rest day so we’ll bid farewell to Bindara on the Darling and set sail for ‘The Black Top’ – the Silver City Highway about 80 km away. And after another 80 km we’ll arrive in the Silver City itself - Broken Hill. It will be hard to stay focussed on the job at hand given the myriad of distractions available but remember – we can come back tomorrow because for the next 2 nights we’re staying in the area, only 25 km away at Penrose Park in Silverton. Within walking distance of the famed Silverton Hotel.
Briefing 5.30 pm at the pub Dinner 6.00 pm – Soup of the day and bread roll, lasagne, chicken satay & rice, chips & salad - at the Silverton Hotel |
| Day 8 Sunday 10 June | Penrose Park | Briefing 5.30 pm at the pub Dinner 6.00 pm – Rissoles in onion gravy, chicken casserole, vegetables, bread & butter pudding, apple crumble, with ice cream or cream - at the Silverton Hotel |
| Day 9 Monday 11 June | Packsaddle Roadhouse | Back on the dirt today! We’re off to Packsaddle the back way, via Westwood Downs – about 240 km all up. Should be a very interesting drive through some very remote and arid country. Briefing 5.30 pm Dinner 6.00 pm – mixed roast meat & vegetables + desert at the Packsaddle Roadhouse |
| Day 10 Tuesday 12 June | Tibooburra | A big 320 km today. We backtrack to Westwood Downs before heading north towards Border Downs and then we’ll follow the Dog Fence to Hawker Gate before swinging east to Milparinka. Then it’s a short northerly run to Tibooburra and our camp for the next 2 nights at the Tibooburra Aboriginal Reserve Camping Ground.
Briefing 5.30 pm at the Family Hotel Dinner 6.00 pm – Hot Pots & Soup at The Family Hotel |
| Day 11 Wednesday 13 June | Tibooburra | What you do today is totally up to you! Lot’s to see and do around Tibooburra but if you’re stuck we’ve got the solution – come with us for a little (only 260 km) loop drive taking in the area’s historical and scenic sights. We’ll visit Milparinka, Depot Glen, Poole’s Grave & Sturt’s Cairn – all before lunch! And then back via some of the most magnificent desert country you’ll see.
Briefing 5.30 pm at the 2 storey Tibooburra Hotel Dinner 6.00 pm – selection of hot dishes & homemade apple crumble at The Tibooburra Hotel |
| Day 12 Thursday 14 June | White Cliffs | This morning we travel about 190 km from Tibooburra to Reola Station, partly along the “cut line” – the route of the original telegraph line between Bourke and Tibooburra. Reola’s owners, Deidre & Graham Brown, will give us a tour of the “Big Shed” – the Opera House of Australian woolsheds and thought by some to be the largest in the country. We’ll have our lunch in the station grounds before continuing for another 100 km to White Cliffs and our camp for the night at the White Cliffs Opal Pioneer Reserve
Briefing 5.30 pm Dinner 6.00 pm – Italian night at the White Cliffs Hotel |
| Day 13 Friday 15 June | Cobar Finish point | This is it – our last driving day of the 2018 Drive. From White Cliffs we take the Opal Miner’s Way to Wilcannia – about 80 km. Plenty of time for a coffee in Wilcannia before tackling the last 260 km on the black top to our final campground - the Cobar Caravan Park. From the caravan park it’s about a 15-minute stroll to our briefing and dinner venue. Briefing 5.30 pm Dinner 6.00 pm – Chinese night at the The Golfie |
| Day 14 Saturday 16 June | Somewhere | Well it’s been fun, but all good things have to come to an end. SAFE JOURNEY HOME AND SEE YOU NEXT TIME. |
*Approximate route and distances only. These may vary depending on road and weather conditions.
