Outback New South Wales
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Wentworth in the far south west of NSW is an old river port situated on the river banks where the Murray and Darling rivers meet. In the past it was a significant inland for the boats that plied up and down the Murray and Darling Rivers carying produce and supplies in and out of the area. The main street has been tastefully restored and the town has several well maintained parks and gardens. The junction of the two rivers is a short distance out of town where there is an observation platform from which to observe the scenery. Cobar is a copper mining area where mines were first established around 1870. East of the town is what was once the richest copper deposit in the state, the Canbelego mining area. There is an excellent vantage area south east of Cobar at Fort Bourke Hill where the present day open cut mines can be observed. The town has several museums that will be of great interest to those interested in the past of the area and at the Commonwealth Meterological Station a short distance out of town you can see weather baloons being released. Lightning Ridge Still today Lightning Ridge is home to opal mining and, in particular, the famous black opal. It is a town that many have come to and gone from hoping to make their fortune mining. Visitors to Lightning Ridge have several options to view the opal mining process from visiting tradional opal mines to watching the processes of cutting and polishing the stones. For those that want to try their hand a finding a stone of their own do a bit of fossicking, which is very popular in the area. Lightning Ridge, Burren Junction and Walgett each have hot artisan bore baths where you can relax and unwind. There are several smaller towns in the vicinity that make interesting places to visit, so, if you can, try and spend several days in the area. Broken Hill The home of the late artist, Pro Hart, Broken Hill is often known as the Second City of the Arts. It has been home to other well known artists and is, today, home to 'The Big Picture' which is the worlds largest landscape on canvas. Perhaps Broken Hill is best known as being the start of and home to the the mining giant BHP. The company was originally established to extract some of the regions mineral wealth. Broken Hill is also home to the Royal Flying Doctor Service and the School of The Air, that broadcasts school lessons to children living on remote properties. There is much to see in the area with its mining museums and tours of the open cut and underground mines. On the outskirts of Broken Hill are The Pinnacles, an area of rocky knolls. Much of the area surrounding the Pinnacles has restricted access because of mining leases but there are good vantage points nevertheless. A little north west is the old mining village of Silverton with its excellently restored buildings. Silverton was the centre of attraction for mining before Broken Hill was settled. If you are into bush walking then visit The Living Desert and Sundowner Trails, to the north of Broken Hill. Here you can observe the natural fauna and flora in a semi-desert environment. Bourke Fort Bourke, not far from the present day Bourke, was established by Sir Thomas Mitchell in 1835, although Charles Sturt had passed throug the area in 1824. Adjacent to the Darling River the town became a popular area for pastoralist who stared settling in the area in the 1850's. In its heyday Bourke was a major river port where tens of thousands of bales of wool were loaded on the river ports for transportation out of the area. The phrase Back of Bouke, which is still used today, was coined in the early days as Bourke was regarded as being at the extremities of civilisation, beyond which little was known. Today the river still plays a major role in the economy of Bourke as it is the major water source for the cotton farms and orchards. Summer months can bring searing heat to the area which make autumn and spring pleasant times to visit. There is lots to do and see in Burke, simply go walking and observe the beautiful, old, colonial buildings or why not take a trip on the Darling River on a paddle boat and if you feel like a drive go out to Mount Gundabooks National Park and see the Aboriginal rock art. Mount Gundabooks is about 50 km of of town. If you happen to be around in May you can experience a truely outback event with the Bourke Show, whilst September see the staging of the Yamma Festival, a celebration of indigenous culture. Brewarina, was for thousands of years an Aboriginal meeting place when 10's of thousand used to gather from time to time, is situated on the Barwon-Darling River. Some 800 km NW of Sydney Brewarina is a true outback town. The first european explorers passed through the area in the 1840's but the town was not established until 1863 when it became a pastoral centre. As with so many town along the Murray and Darling river system, Brewarina became a loading port for wool produced in the area. Cobb & Co, of stage coach fame, also made the town a regular resting point. Whilst in town enjoy the historical buildings, visit the Aboriginal Cultural Museum or simply go fishing. White Cliffs Fancy staying in an underground hotel ? well this is the place to do it. First settled towards the end of the 1800's White Cliffs was a popular opal mining spot where, as with Lighning Ridge, many came to seek their fortune, few made it though. The landscape today, which is very flat and dry, is literaly a mass of abandoned opal mines, many of which today are home to the local inhabitants. Whilst in town give fossicking a go, you never know your luck, meet the locals at the only pub in town or simply explore the area. Balranald, situated on the banks of the Murrumbidgee River towards the south west of the state and a little north of the border with Victoria. Balranald is where one of the main access roads from NSW to South Australia, The Sturt Highway, crosses the Murrumbidgee. The town has all of the modern conveniences, including a small airport. Visited by explorers in the early 1800's it was not until 1851 that the town was settled. Today Balranald is often used as a base for those visiting the Mungo Nationbal Park some 150 km or so north of the town which is World Heritage Listed. The area is a very popular fishing spot due to its close proximity to several rivers. Camerons Corner, situated in the extreme north west corner of New South Wales, in an area known as The Corner Country, is an area only accessable by four wheel drive. There is a page on this website that describes the area and the trip - Camerons Corner |
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