Australia: Long road to Broken Hill NSW

The month of May presented to us the chance to roam around New South Wales and realise a long held dream to drive to Broken Hill.

This outback town located not far from the desert border of South Australia is a bit of an arts and historic mecca. Reason enough I figured to visit.

Our driving plan followed the coastal route from the Queensland border into New South Wales, then veered inland from Port Macquarie, with stops at Walcha and Gunnedah. After that, we headed further west to Gilgandra, Dubbo, Nyngan, Cobar, Wilcannia and White Cliffs to finally reach Broken Hill.

So, with our little Austrak camper trailer hitched to the car, our first stop was the seaside town of Urunga. A caravan park perched right on the river made the ideal stopover for a couple of nights.

Further south, we caught up with friends in their and our favourite NSW coastal camping spot – Hat Head. This little village has a good beach and plenty of hiking around the pictureque headlands.

Veering slightly inland along Waterfall Way, our next stop was beautiful Bellingen. George Negus and David Helfgott put Bellingen on the map when they bought into this bohemian, laid back area years ago. Landslides have closed the Waterfall Way further north, so be prepared to turn back.

A little further west, we arrived in Walcha, finding it much much cooler than our Queensland abode. Summer is officially over, so when the temps here plumetted to -2C, we didn’t hesitate in immersing ourselves in warm fires, hot coffee and plenty of bone warming rums. Waking up to an ice clad camper certainly added a whole ‘nother dimension to our camping experience, though our Arctic sleeping bags did their job admirably.

Gunnedah in Dorothea Mackellar country was our next stop. This beautifully painted silo features her well known poem ‘My Country’. I’m betting my first born that there wouldn’t be an Aussie out there who couldn’t recite parts of it and who hasn’t got a flood, drought or bushfire story to tell.

Agriculturally rich in wheat, beef, sheep, canola and maize, Gunnedah hosts Australia’s largest agricultural show. The Gunnedah Rural Museum is extensive and goes a long way to telling the district’s ag story.

More coming … couldn’t fit it all in one blog!