Day 1:
Finally packed and on the road after flooding the engine and changing a blown fuse (crossing fingers that this was not a sign of things to come) meet up with the group at Lithgow 4.30am. Fuel up and stretch the legs in Dubbo arrive in Nyngan 1.15pm we watch the footy final at Nyngan RSL booo Melbourne.
Day 2:
Wake up to beautiful chorus of birds then leave Nyngan Caravan Park (the Nyngan floods were in 1990) 9am head down Barrier HWY. Stop in at Cobar, Fuel up again Wilcannia then onto White cliffs road and arrive at White Cliffs Underground Hotel 4pm. Truly awesome place to visit. Beautiful opal jewelry mined in the area in gallerys all around hotel.
Day 3:
Leave White cliffs at 9.30am. Couple hours on the Road Al’s trailer drops a shock mount, remove and head off. Stop in Tiboburra for lunch and fuel up. 5pm arrive at Sturt NP (Fort Grey campground). Our first taste of outback insects on mass.
Watch a glorious sunset and truly enjoy our beers under the stars.
Day 4:
Leave camp and arrive at Cameron Corner, here we tried to find a way to leave the kids on the over side of the feral fence, we take the usual corner photos then move on arriving at Moticolina Bore for lunch and a quick dip. Nobody warned us though about the algae in the bore that likes to stick to all body hair, umm interesting bunch of green monsters we all make. From here we head out to the Gammon Ranges. 6pm arrive at Balcanoona Rangers Hut were we receive information of a great campsite just down the Road. Arrive at Weetootla Gorge Camp Ground.
Day 5:
Some of the group go hiking then we all head out the Arkaroola village, we visit Glimans Hut. Back at camp the children all love playing in the dry riverbed making forts out of big round river stones and climbing every hill they can find. Half the group goes star gazing at the Arkaroola observatory.
Day 6:
We all go out and do the Echo Camp Back Track, Self Drive 4wd tour. The weather has been awesome not a cloud in the sky, no insect problems either more a bindi problem. Scenery in the Gammons is absolutely awesome.
Day 7:
Pack up camp and head off. Lunch stop in Chambers Gorge were one lonely mud puddle was all that was left of any water. I had a fright stepping out of the car to this hissing sound and moving back thinking it was a snake to find Max had a puncture. We move on and stop at the Blinman Pub for a cool beer. We arrive as the sun is setting at Rawnsly Park.
Day 8:
This day was set aside for all us girls to do a bit of washing and sorting things out. Very odd though as this was also Bathurst weekend and of course the park had a TV room and were do you think all the boys spent the whole day? Hass one flat tyre this morning also (just his car wishing him a happy birthday).
Day 9:
The whole group goes off and do the Sky Trek self drive tour (which was recommended to us by Roothy) after a slow start I must say this would easily be the most spectacular drive we have done as far as scenery goes. If you’re ever in the area you must do this awesome drive.
Day 10:
We decide not to stay an extra day at Rawnsley as planned as the last two nights had been blowing a gale so pack up. First we back track down to the Wilpenna Pound Resort to have a look and we manage to book ourselves into a scenic flight that takes up and over the Pound (beats walking) and what a magnificent thing to see. We stay the night a Petersborough C’ Park.
Day 11:
Leaving Peterborough half hour onto the road and Al’s trailer decided to throw a bearing. A bearing change on the side of the road and we set off again to arrive in Broken hill at 1.30 and it pours down rain. Just before sunset we head off to the Living Dessert Sculptures and watch the sun set. A must do (tip go early and get the key from the info center the climb up otherwise is a killer).
Day 12:
Make our way out to Day Dream Mine, on our way Max hears that hissing sound again tyre two for us. We all go down underground for a tour, the mine first started operation 101 years ago for silver, very interesting to see how it was down back then. We then headed out to Silverton for a beer at the pub, Silverton is famous for being the place were many outback movies and commercials were filmed like Mad Max 2 (a replica Interceptor sits out front), Town like Alice, Razorback, Dirty Deeds and many more. You could spend hours looking at all the memorabilia on the walls of the pub.
Day 13:
Pack up again we stop for fuel in Wilcannia, lunch in Cobar then stay the night at Endeavor Court Hotel Dubbo.
Day 14:
Leave Dubbo then the scenery starts to get greener as we stop in Bathurst for lunch then head off home.
Phew, lots of driving (4,200klms in total), lots and lots of dust, fuel ($1,500 worth, most paid was at Cameron Corner $1.85 litre) awesome scenery, very little if any water, lots of wildlife (kangaroo’s, heaps of emus, wedgetail eagles, lizards, wild goats, cattle) unimaginable history and hardship, warm and friendly people, great company and even though we’re glad to be home can’t wait to get out and see some more of this awesome country of ours.