TEAR-OUT MAP #15

OUTBACK NSW NOT ONLY FOR THE MAD WORDS STUART WOODBURY PHOTOS CAIN MAITLAND

This month’s adventure map takes you to see some pretty and stunningly vast countryside. Just for the sheer excitement value, I recommend basing yourself at White Cliffs, at the Underground Motel.

But, depending on where you’re coming from you can base yourself in Wilcannia, Menindee or Broken Hill.

WHITE CLIFFS

White Cliffs is an opal-mining town in which residents mainly live underground to escape the heat. It’s 98km from Wilcannia in Outback NSW and set in bizarre moonscape like country comprising thousands of hillocks of earth dug and discarded in the quest for opals. When visiting the White Cliffs area, stay in unique cave and station-style accommodation for an authentic outback experience.

Fuel, including Premium, is available, along with most essentials. A great place to use as a touring base.

WILCANNIA

Wilcannia is a historic Darling River port town, 200km east of Broken Hill and part of the White Cliffs area.

The town’s role in the prosperous riverboat era is evident today in the many heritage buildings built from sandstone quarried locally. The Darling River, which cuts through the town, softens the surrounding semi-arid landscape. Stay in unique nearby accommodation, including underground caves, stations, caravan parks and even an old train compartment. Just be wary of the locals, they can be a bit rough. Fuel is available, and so are most essentials.

MENINDEE

Menindee is the gateway to Kinchega National Park, where the Darling forms a chain of natural lakes. Make sure you see this amazing sight as the sun sets over the dead river gums in the lakes. Or, as I have done, watch the sunrise with the thousands of birds flying around the lakes.

A very pretty place to experience.

Menindee has fuel, accommodation and basic essentials. I’ve stayed at Maidens Hotel and eaten breakfast at the Redsands Take Away.

BROKEN HILL

Broken Hill was built on the world’s largest silver, lead and zinc mine run by Broken Hill Proprietary Company Limited, now BHP Billiton, one of the world’s largest mining companies.

These days, Broken Hill offers much more than mining tours and museums. More than 30 art galleries exhibit work by artists inspired by the Broken Hill and its surrounding landscapes. It is a major outback town, so you can get all you’ll need in Broken Hill.

SILVERTON

Only 25km from Broken Hill, Silverton has for decades attracted filmmakers. The famous Silverton Hotel, circa 1880, and its surrounds have featured in Australian productions including Mad Max 2, A Town Like Alice and Dirty Deeds.

Drink in the atmosphere at the hotel with its exhibition of film and television memorabilia. Make sure you visit the Mad Max Museum and you’ll be passing the famous Mundi Mundi lookout, great for those Mad Max fans. No fuel is available, but you can stay at a couple of places in Silverton or camp if you don’t want to stay in Broken Hill.

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