In order to make your Outback NSW touring experience the best it can possibly be, we have produced an extensive "Darling River Run Map and Guide".
Bourke
“if you know Bourke, you know Australia” so wrote the famous Australian poet Henry Lawson in 1882. Bourke is not merely a town but a region that is the figurative demarcation between Outback Australia and the east. Anything to the west is colloquially referred to as the 'Back o Bourke'; a term etched deeply in the Australian psyche meaning to be a long way away from anything. On the contrary, Bourke may be a distance from 'civilisation' but the further out you go the closer you get to the essence of this land. Maybe that is what Lawson was alluding.
Originally named Prattenville, the town of Bourke was first ‘settled’ in the late 1820’s and its name was changed to Bourke, after Governor Richard Bourke of New South Wales, in the 1830s.
By the 1890's, Bourke was a major port for the transport of the southern Queensland and northern NSW wool clip that was transported down the Darling to the Murray River and onto Adelaide or up the Murray to Echuca for rail transport to Melbourne for ship transport overseas.
The Port of Bourke was the focus of the world’s wool industry with up to 80 riverboats servicing the region and at one time it was one of the largest in the world.
The opening of the rail system in Australia and the unreliability of the river flow saw the gradual demise of the 'River Highway' by the early 20th century.
This by no means spelt the end of Bourke and today it is a town that still, in essence, is the same it was back then; a town on the edge of the wilderness with great historical, cultural and geographic significance.
Located where the Kidman Way meets the Darling River, Bourke is a town firmly etched in Australian folklore and is the ideal access point for The Darling River Run. Bourke provides a true outback experience to all who visit Bourke.
The recently (re)opened 'Back of Bourke' Centre has been redeveloped as a world class facility nestled in a spectacular natural setting amongst the river red gums on the banks of the Darling River.
The Black Queen Experience is the Outback's most incredible 3-Act performance. With the greatest pleasure we welcome you to the Black Queen Experience. Be taken on a journey of discovery and mystique, as this 3- Act Performance unfolds.
Bogan Shire, in Western NSW, has an area of 14,610 square kilometres, about 1.8% of the State's land surface. The geographical centre of NSW lies within the Shire’s boundaries. Nyngan, the Administrative Centre, is located on the Bogan River at the junction of the Mitchell and Barrier Highways with an estimated population of 2500.
Brewarrina was one of the great inter-tribal meeting places of eastern Australia with the fish traps, sustaining thousands of Aboriginal people during tribal gatherings
There are many ‘must see’ destinations in Australia and Lightning Ridge is certainly that; home of the beautiful Black Opal and like the wonderful gem, Lightning Ridge shows its varying colors depending on how you look at it.
Chambers of the Black Hand offers an experience unlike any other. Ron Canlin the artist has created an amazing art galley carved in the sandstone 11 metres underground in a 100 year old mine.
The John Murray Art Gallery in Lightning Ridge is the exclusive outlet for original John Murray paintings. One of the bush's leading art galleries, you'll see a brilliant collection of outback landscapes and characters. This really is the quitessential outback art collection.
Lightning Ridge's largest showroom. In the middle of town, opposite the Post Office. Created to look like an underground mine. We have the largest range of opal, jewellery, souvenirs, gifts, art and pottery.
Gary and Liz Murray from Trilby Station, a 200,000 acres sheep and cattle property on the banks of the Darling River in Outback NSW, invite visitors from around the world to come and taste their unique lifestyle.