The NSW Outback by rail, road and river.
• BATHURST • PARKES • BROKEN HILL • MENINDEE LAKES • LAKE MUNGO • MILDURA • GRIFFITH •
- Information
- Itinerary
- Gallery
- Tour Map
- Reviews
Top of the list is the hugely important Lake Mungo World Heritage site – not always accessible and tightly monitored – we are lucky enough to have our guide on hand to illuminate the significance of this amazing site and tell the story of the incredible discoveries made there. The Menindee Lakes, Broken Hill and the wild country around Pooncarie are all highlights of this Outback adventure, however it’s the excursions at each end of the tour that set the scene. First, on the Central Tablelands at Bathurst, Parkes and Millthorpe and then a week later in Griffith in the rich heart of the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area where our rural history and culture are on full display, confirming the fact that Australia is indeed a lucky country blessed with a rich agricultural heritage and an inspiring rural, mining and aboriginal legacy.
Take the train over the mountains to the wide-open plains, past the Darling River and back via the Murrumbidgee through Hay to our final hurrah in the wine and food bowl of Griffith, before taking the epic rail journey halfway across the state via the Great Southern Railway back to Sydney. Let Robert, and the characters you’ll meet along the way, be your hosts for a great Australian rail and road journey like no other, in the wonderful, timeless, colourful NSW Outback.
Some Details
15 Oct 2022 - 23 Oct 2022
- 4 great regional train journeys in a mix of trains
- 8 nights in comfortable, centrally located accommodation
- All excursions and entrance fees to attractions, as listed in the itinerary
- Breakfast daily, 2 lovely lunches and 7 fine dinners
- Comprehensive sightseeing with your hosts and local guides
- Drinks included with welcome and farewell dinners
- Luxury chartered coach, with luggage transport throughout the tour
- All other personal expenses such as drinks, phone calls, laundry services, camera fees where applicable
- Excursions/entrances listed as optional in the itinerary
- Meals and services not mentioned in itinerary
- Tour Plan
Day 1 • Saturday:
SYDNEY – BATHURST
We meet early at Central Station for a welcome briefing before boarding the XPT train to Bathurst. Your tour leader will share the background of the historic mountains line while riding first class over the mountains in the morning light. The Lithgow to Bathurst section of our journey is full of charming rural scenery, villages and stone arch remnants of the original 1860’s permanent way. On arrival in the mid-morning, we head across to the Bathurst Railway Museum to explore the wonderful collection housed in this new state-of-the-art museum, and you can also enjoy time for morning tea.
The next stop is another excellent Bathurst Museum; The Australian Fossils and Minerals Museum, featuring the world class Sommerville collection. You also have free time to explore the town centre and have lunch on your own before we meet our coach in the mid-afternoon and transfer to the hotel to check in and relax. You have the option this afternoon to take a wander across the way to view the stunning collection at the Bathurst Motor Racing Museum adjacent to our hotel. In the evening we head out of town to enjoy a special evening soiree at the grand baronial homestead of Abercrombie House.
Overnight: Rydges, Bathurst or similar (D)
Day 2 • Sunday:
BATHURST – PARKES
Our coach is on hand to take our luggage today and transfer us to the station where we board the XPT in the mid-morning which will take us the short distance to Millthorpe, a journey that rises almost 300m to the high open tableland country. Here we have free time to wander the heritage village and you’ll have time to graze for lunch on your own.
The next leg is by coach, heading off through the towns and villages of the Central West slopes to Parkes where we settle in for the evening with dinner provided at the nearby Coachman’s Inn Bistro.
Overnight: The Henry Parkes Motel or The Astro Dish, Parkes (B, D)
Day 3 • Monday:
PARKES – BROKEN HILL
The morning is free to enjoy the many museums in Parkes and check out the iconic Dish and the associated small museum there. Our coach is on hand for the morning to do a loop for us to hop on and hop off before taking us to the railway station for our trip west.
Our ‘Explorer’ train to Broken Hill departs at 12:48 and rolls across the plains past Condobolin, Ivanhoe and the Menindee Lakes where it crosses the Darling River and on to Broken Hill. Your train has an on-board buffet and arrival is scheduled for a bit after 7PM.
Our coach is on hand to transfer us to our centrally located hotel where we check in for the next two nights and relax, just a stone’s throw from your motel are pubs and restaurants and a cleansing ale at the grand and famous Palace Hotel may be just the ticket to settle the dust.
Overnight: Ibis Styles, Broken Hill (B)
Day 4 • Tuesday:
BROKEN HILL
Today is a full day of sightseeing in and around Broken Hill. We start by heading out to Silverton, billed as Australia’s liveliest ghost town.
We view the lookout to the Mundi Mundi Plains and take time at the excellent railway and heritage museum. Lunch is provided today at the Silverton Pub.
Back in Broken Hill we continue our tour covering the main sights of the city starting with the Line of Lode Miner’s Memorial, where we hear about the enormous impact the ‘Silver City’ had on the development of our great country.
We take in the array of heritage buildings, churches, hotels, miner’s cottages and modern homes. before heading out to one of Broken Hill’s most popular sights, the Sculpture Symposium where some ofthe world’s leading sculptures are on show in a magical outback setting.
Overnight: Ibis Styles, Broken Hill (B, L, D)
Day 5 • Wednesday:
BROKEN HILL – MENINDEE
Enjoy a late start today with the option of visiting a couple of excellent art galleries and free time for an early lunch before we depart Broken Hill.
We head East, taking our coach off the beaten track to Menindee Lakes and Kinchega National Park located on the banks of the Darling River.
Here we have a break to settle into our motel and then head out for a sunset Wetlands cruise on the River Lady, soaking up the atmosphere and the abundant bird life on the extraordinary Lake system, which is more than three times the size of Sydney Harbour. Tonight we rest up back at Menindee at our rustic motel and you’re also invited to head over to the Maidens Hotel across the road for a drink and dinner from their good old pub menu.
Overnight: Burke and Wills Menindee Motel (B, D)
Day 6 • Thursday:
MENINDEE – LAKE MUNGO
After a light Breakfast at the motel we depart Menindee heading south following the course of the Darling River to Pooncarie and on to Lake Mungo.
Lunch is provided at the Lake Mungo Lodge before we check in and then later we head out with our guide to explore this World Heritage area and enjoy a sunset at the serene Wall of China, the site of so many momentous discoveries.
Back at the lodge enjoy a hearty dinner and a relaxing evening at the Lodge in the heart of the isolated Outback.
Overnight: Lake Mungo Lodge (B, L, D)
Day 7 • Friday:
LAKE MUNGO – MILDURA
Today we take the drive from Lake Mungo heading south to the border of Victoria and the vibrant city of Mildura.
We arrive and have free time for lunch before checking in to our hotel and enjoying some free time to relax.
We’ll then head out to explore some of the sights of the city on a town tour.
Explore the Arts Centre and its Rio Vista Historic house, before boarding a relaxing sunset paddleboat dinner cruise on the mighty Murray River.
The rest of the evening is at leisure in the hotel.
Overnight: Comfort Inn Deakin Palms or similar, Mildura (B, D)
Day 8 • Saturday:
MILDURA – GRIFFITH
We depart Mildura early, heading first to Balranald where we’ll have a coffee break and view the Murrumbidgee River.
The rest of our drive is tempered with stops along the way, including some time to explore Hay and learn about its important place in our colonial history as a transport hub for the river trade and later in the nineteenth century, the railway. Enjoy free time for lunch at the excellent ‘Shear Outback’.
Further along the drive we come to Darlington Point, a quiet little town on the Murrumbidgee which was an important river crossing place for pastoralists and a base for the paddle steamers.
Once in Griffith we take a short city tour before checking in to our hotel for some down time.
Later on, wander across the road to a popular Italian restaurant for our special farewell dinner.
Overnight: Quest Griffith (B, D)
Day 9 • Sunday:
GRIFFITH – SYDNEY (B)
We transfer in the morning by coach to the railway station.
Our Explorer train departs Griffith at 7:25am, taking the day to traverse a great chunk of NSW on its way back to Sydney.
The changing landscape reveals the extraordinary nature of NSW from the plains up the slopes and over the highlands to the coast. Lunch can be purchased on board and your first-class seats offer a comfortable journey along the line.
We arrive in Sydney in the late afternoon, where we say goodbye to our fellow travellers until the next great journey.
Top of the list is the hugely important Lake Mungo World Heritage site – not always accessible and tightly monitored – we are lucky enough to have our guide on hand to illuminate the significance of this amazing site and tell the story of the incredible discoveries made there. The Menindee Lakes, Broken Hill and the wild country around Pooncarie are all highlights of this Outback adventure, however it’s the excursions at each end of the tour that set the scene. First, on the Central Tablelands at Bathurst, Parkes and Millthorpe and then a week later in Griffith in the rich heart of the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area where our rural history and culture are on full display, confirming the fact that Australia is indeed a lucky country blessed with a rich agricultural heritage and an inspiring rural, mining and aboriginal legacy.
Take the train over the mountains to the wide-open plains, past the Darling River and back via the Murrumbidgee through Hay to our final hurrah in the wine and food bowl of Griffith, before taking the epic rail journey halfway across the state via the Great Southern Railway back to Sydney. Let Robert, and the characters you’ll meet along the way, be your hosts for a great Australian rail and road journey like no other, in the wonderful, timeless, colourful NSW Outback.
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