The New South Wales Outback

After breakfast, our coach will take us the short distance to Millthorpe, a picturesque and historic village classified by the National Trust; it has managed to retain a 19th century charm with its cobbled, bluestone-bordered streets. Here we have free time to wander the heritage village and time for lunch, on your own, before 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, Parkes (B, D)

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 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)

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 Miners 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 of the world’s leading sculptures are on show in a magical outback setting.

Overnight: Ibis Styles, Broken Hill (B, L, D)

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)

After a light Breakfast we depart Menindee heading south following the course of the Darling River to Pooncarie and on to Lake Mungo. Lunch is provided at 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 the heart of the isolated Outback.

Overnight: Lake Mungo Lodge (B, L, D)

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 into 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 before boarding a relaxing cruise on the mighty Murray River. The rest of the evening is at leisure in the hotel.

Overnight: The Grand or similar, Mildura (B, D)

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 into our hotel for some down time. Later on, wander across the road to a popular Italian restaurant for our special farewell dinner.

Overnight: Gem Hotel, Griffith (B, D)

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. (B)