Rural Vic and Outback NSW Road Trip
Note: This trip will run subject to prevailing Covid-19 public health requirements in October.
Date and duration: 17 Oct to 14 Nov 2020. 29 days.
Description: Rural Vic and Outback NSW Road Trip – so much to see.
The trip is suited to off-road camper trailers and caravans.
We will depart Melbourne and stop overnight mainly in caravan parks or National Park Camping Grounds in order to enjoy their facilities.
Departing on a Saturday, we stop the first night at St Arnaud before travelling on to Rocket Lake in the Murray-Sunset country. Along the way we will visit Silo Art in the Sea Lake region which is said to be amazing and the subject of many tourist trips.
Then it’s off to Broken Hill for a couple of days. There are many sites worth seeing in Broken Hill including the Line of Lode Miners Memorial, Pro Hart Gallery, and the magnificent Palace Hotel, also not forgetting neighbouring Silverton with the Mad Max Museum. Heading further north, our next night is camping in the Paroo-Darling National Park before heading on to Milparinka where we will camp in the grounds of the 1882 Albert Hotel. This is a fascinating ghost town with time spent walking the deserted streets looking at the ruins.
From Milparinka, it is a short hop to the beautiful and remote Tibooburra where we will spend four nights exploring the district including the Sturt National Park and Cameron Corner where three states meet. The folks at Cameron Corner have said they will make sure they cook us a great meal if we phone ahead! Leaving Tibooburra, it’s on to Bourke with an overnight stop at Wanaaring along the way travelling “The Cut Line”. From Bourke we will travel to Charlotte Plains Station near Cunnamulla for two nights where we will take a day to explore the station’s history and relax in hot artesian bathtubs while soaking in the scenery.
Refreshed, it is off to the renowned Lightning Ridge for a look around and night’s sleep before moving on to Coonabarabran. Here we will take a day out to visit the Sliding Spring Observatory which should be fascinating. Then it’s on to Dubbo with plenty of time to wander the Western Plains Zoo before heading to Bathurst.
Leaving Bathurst, we make our way to the Nation’s Capital Canberra – there’s so much to see in Canberra. We have allowed two site seeing days to visit whatever takes our fancy including options such as the War Memorial, Science Museum, or a picturesque trip to the Tidbinbilla Tracking Station. Bidding farewell to Canberra, it’s a short hop to Lake Jindabyne followed by a chillout day doing nothing (or something).
Now we are getting closer to home and re-entering our beloved “Vic”. We will drive through burnt bush fire regions making our way to Buchan. We might even call in on Caroline and Graeme Allen if they are still there with BlazeAid. A day has been reserved to explore the region including the Buchan caves. By now it is day 29 and we will head for home.
A wonderful time should be had by all on our trip taking in lots of very different sites and countryside ranging from outback desert, to our Nation’s Capital, and the lush green pastures of Gippsland.
Weather: We should experience sunny days in the low to mid 30’s as we head into outback NSW. Being later in the year, the clear nights in the outback should be mild rather than freezing. Nights in the Canberra region, and of course Victoria, can be in the single digits toward the end of our trip.
Equipment: A well-maintained 4WD vehicle with good all terrain tyres, recovery points, standard recovery gear including dampener, rated snatch strap and shackles, shovel and UHF radio (or one borrowed from the club). A sat phone will be taken for emergency use. Mobile reception is typically available in all towns visited.
No pets or firearms please as we will be visiting National Parks.
Trip Standard: Easy to medium with outback dirt roads included.
Fuel: Fuel is readily available on the planned routes.
Distance: Approx. total distance is 4,500km of mainly bitumen driving.
Duration: 29 days
Convoy limit: 6 vehicles
Meeting arrangements: People are free to meet at strategic locations along the first day’s travel or alternatively meet at our first overnight stop in St Arnaud.
Trip Leader: Roland Hollingsworth - rolandjh@optusnet.com.au
