SIDE TRIP — WHITE CLIFFS

The trip from Wilcannia to White Cliffs takes you through the Paroo Darling National Park and delivers you into one of the most amazing opal havens of Australia . White Cliffs is famous for its crystal opal and is home to many miners who live in underground homes called dugouts . Pick up a self-guided map of town .

SIDE TRIP — CORNER COUNTRY

Where three states meet - the biggest side trip for the Darling River Run takes in the Corner Country including Milparinka , Tibooburra and Sturt National Park . Tibooburra to White Cliffs is 265km so you can re-join the Darling River Run at Wilcannia or Tilpa . Broken Hill to Tibooburra is 335km or about 4 hours .

WILCANNIA TO MENINDEE

West Route : West Wilcannia Road ( Unsealed ) 153km

The western side is the more frequently used road and will extend your trip by only a few kilometres .

East Route : Wilcannia-Menindee Road East ( Unsealed ) 145km

Menindee is a great base for enjoying the natural attractions and regional history . Dine in Maidens Menindee Hotel - the second oldest pub in NSW , visit Kinchega National Park , Kinchega woolshed and the Old Kinchega Homestead . The mesmerising Menindee Lake system has a wonderful array of birdlife and haunting river red gums rising from the water . Kinchega National Park offers visitors a unique experience of the Australian outback . With its ever-changing colours – the green lake bed as the water retreats and beautiful reflections in the flood – and rich pastoral and Aboriginal history , a visit to Kinchega will restore your sense of wonder . Enjoy one of our self- guided tours or take a cruise on the River Lady along the Darling River and Lake Wetherell . Come and spend a couple of nights to really take

in what we have and our history as the first established town on the Darling River .

MENINDEE TO POONCARIE

Pooncarie Road ( 85Km Unsealed ) 123km

The Burke and Wills expedition camped in the area in 1860 after their trek from Swan Hill via Balranald . By 1889 Pooncarie boasted a General Store , Post Office , Police Station , School , two Hotels and a number of houses . Although land was set aside for a church it was never built . Paddle steamers brought supplies to Pooncarie and other towns along the Darling and transported wool onto major ports .

The old wharf is an interesting reminder of the past paddle steamer times which ended in the 1920 ’ s with the move to trains and trucks .

SIDE TRIP — MUNGO NATIONAL PARK

The village of Pooncarie is located on the eastern side of the Darling River and is the ideal location for a visit to wonderful Mungo National Park part of the Willandra Lakes Region World Heritage Area ( 88 km ). The breathtaking Mungo is one of the world ’ s most significant national parks with archaeological finds including an extensive collection of fossilised human footprints .

Artefacts have been found from this ancient culture dating back 40,000 years across the expanses of the last ice age . This makes Mungo one of the oldest places outside of Africa to have been occupied by modern humans since ancient times . Booking a guided tour with an Aboriginal guide to see the extraordinary Walls of China is highly recommended .

POONCARIE TO WENTWORTH

West Route : High Darling Road / Low Darling Road ( Unsealed ) 123km East Route : Pooncarie Road 118km

The meeting of the waters - situated at the confluence of the Darling and Murray Rivers , Wentworth is the region ’ s oldest town , with a fascinating history that includes explorers and the colourful river-boat trade . Captain Charles Sturt arrived at the confluence on the 23rd of January 1830 , and named the Murray River after recognising the end of the Darling . He had in 1829 renamed the Darling River after Governor Ralph Darling .

WENTWORTH ATTRACTIONS

Say ‘ Hello , Darling ’ from the observation tower , where Australia ’ s two greatest rivers – the Darling and the Murray – meet .

Climb the red dunes of the prehistoric Perry Sandhills , the backdrop for many films and commercials .

Stand beneath the canopy of ‘ The God Tree ’, an ancient river red gum that has survived the centuries , now stranded amid rolling red sand dunes .

Experience a cruise on the PS Ruby that reminds us of the colourful past of the riverboat trade . Discover Thegoa Lagoon with its proximity to the river junction was a natural ‘ meeting place ’ where indigenous people gathered for Corroborees .

Visit Lock 10 which is one of 13 locks and 15 weirs situated along the Murray River .

See the first tractor monument in the world that was established by the people of Wentworth . Built in honour of the TEA20 Harry Ferguson tractors ’ involvement in the building of the massive levee banks that protected Wentworth against the devastating 1956 floods .

Learn about a man called “ Possum ”.

Design and supply by Progress Printing Condobolin – Rural and regional print specialists

Brewarrina Visitor Information Centre Bathurst St , Brewarrina NSW 2839 P : 0268305152 vic @ brewarrina . nsw . gov . au www . brewarrina . nsw . gov . au

Back O Bourke Exhibition Centre Kidman Way Bourke NSW 2840 P : 02 6872 1321 E : info @ backobourke . com . au www . visitbourke . com . au

Bourke National Parks and Wildlife Office 51 Oxley St , Bourke NSW P : 02 6830 0200 www . nationalparks . nsw . gov . au