The "outback" is Australia's vast and remote arid area in the centre of the large island. The term can also be used for any area that is located outside any urban area as well, beyond the "bush". The New South Wales Outback country is just beyond all the bushland that surrounds the urban areas of Sydney and Canberra, the mining country of old. It is an area of beauty and brings to life the drama that would have unfolded when those small towns were being set up. Filled with art, culture and history, the NSW Outback is sustained by the spectacular Darling River, the lifeblood of the region. The most popular places are Broken Hill, Lightning Ridge, Bourke, Wentworth and Corner Country.
Located about 695km northwest of Sydney is Walgett, the Gateway to the Opal Fields. The opal mining areas of Lightning Ridge, Grawin, Glengarry and Sheepyard are not too far from here. Walgett is situated on the banks of the Naomi River and is cattle country, the economy resting on the production of wool, beef, lamb and wheat. One of Australia's largest natural inland lakes, Narran Lake, is 96km from Walgett, and attracts bird-watchers by the car load.
Nyngan became popular throughout Australia in 1990 as the place that experienced a "once-in-a-century" flood. Another town that grew up around trade in cattle and dairy products, it is charming and easy-going and the buildings are a reminder of it's railroad history.
Lightning Ridge is home to the Black Opal, and a must-see destination in Australia. It is eccentric as it is welcoming, and most travelers decide to stay on for extra days. It is the perfect place to tour underground mines, underground sculptures, castles, astronomy monuments, gardens and explore hills with names like "Pig", Bald" and "Lunatic". Of course, not to miss a pub called "The Pub in the Scrub"!
Cobar got it's name from an Aborigine word that means the color of copper. This famous mining town has one of the best museums in rural Australia. It is also known for being visited by the ghost of a miner and now hosts the annual "Festival of the Miner's Ghost" each October. Cobar is also home to a lot of Aboriginal rock art.
Brewarrina is a must-see for those who want to experience the indigenous peoples connection to their land and their river. Fish traps, or rock structures forming labyrinths were built for corralling and catching fish, a system that fed thousands during the pre-European era. These structures are said to be more than 40,000 years old, the oldest man-made structures in the world. Sadly, most of these structures were removed when the Europeans arrived to enable the river boats to sail upstream.
Bourke is a little town on the Darling River that was the centre of the wool trade, a strategic point for transportation of wool from southern Queensland and northern New South Wales to Melbourne along the river networks . Any place to the west of Bourke is quite correctly described as the back of beyond, or as the Aussies say the "Back o' Bourke". Beyond this quaint town a traveler can truly understand the true essence of this large island continent. The Back O' Bourke Centre gives visitors a feel for life in the outback, brings to life the stories from it's past and reveals the true nature of the back country.
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Broken Hill is the largest town in Outback New South Wales, and came into existence as a silver mining town in 1885. Today, the town sits on the world's largest deposit of silver, zinc and lead. The town also boasts of artists, indigenous culture and sculptures. The "Living Desert" is a 2400 hectare reserve amongst the red hills of the Barrier Ranges that has many hiking trails, giving visitors an amazing insight into the regions flora and fauna. Within the reserve is the Sculpture Symposium, a collection of 12 sandstone sculptures by local and international artists, a most perfect sight to behold at sunset. Kevin "Pro" Hart's eclectic artworks are found around the town. A short drive away are the Menindee Lakes, the almost empty town of Silverton and the beautiful Darling River.
The little town of Hay lies on the plains of Riverina, on the banks of the Murrumbidgee, prime sheep and cattle grazing country. Hay's claim to fame is the establishment of the Shear Outback Centre, an exhibition centre that is home to the Australian Shearers' Hall of Fame. The hay gaol has been converted into a museum that is worth a visit. The sandy banks of the river allow for excellent swimming areas, canoeing, water skiing and fishing.
Wentworth is situated at the junction of the Darling River and the Murray, and was the centre where the wool was brought for transportation to Melbourne or Adelaide before the Darling River was open for trade. Wentworth became the first port on the Darling River once trade began and is still a very prosperous town. It is the perfect base to explore surrounding areas. It is also the start of the finish of the Darling River Run, a tourism initiative that is a drive along the outback roads on the banks of the Darling River.
Cameron Corner is where New South Wales meets South Australia and Queensland. The world's longest fence ever built, the Dog Fence that extends for a length of more than 5000km was constructed to keep the dingos out of the pastoral lands. The northern-most national park, the very arid Sturt National Park is the harsh taste of desert life of the Australian outback.
When gold was first discovered in Milparinka, it became a thriving town despite red dusty plains stretching to the horizon. Today, it is but a ghostly form of what it used to be. A small group of hardy locals call it home and strive to preserve the history of the place. The north-western corner of New South Wales may seem isolated, and yet it is has a place like Tibooburra, a small and friendly place where many Australian artists have left something on the walls of a pub. There is also a sculpture of a 27-foot-long whaleboat atop some poles in Pioneer Park. Tibooburra is the closest town to the Sturt National Park and driving out of town gives visitors a glimpse of the geological structures of the desert outback. Booking.com
Upper Darling
Located about 695km northwest of Sydney is Walgett, the Gateway to the Opal Fields. The opal mining areas of Lightning Ridge, Grawin, Glengarry and Sheepyard are not too far from here. Walgett is situated on the banks of the Naomi River and is cattle country, the economy resting on the production of wool, beef, lamb and wheat. One of Australia's largest natural inland lakes, Narran Lake, is 96km from Walgett, and attracts bird-watchers by the car load.
Nyngan became popular throughout Australia in 1990 as the place that experienced a "once-in-a-century" flood. Another town that grew up around trade in cattle and dairy products, it is charming and easy-going and the buildings are a reminder of it's railroad history.
Lightning Ridge is home to the Black Opal, and a must-see destination in Australia. It is eccentric as it is welcoming, and most travelers decide to stay on for extra days. It is the perfect place to tour underground mines, underground sculptures, castles, astronomy monuments, gardens and explore hills with names like "Pig", Bald" and "Lunatic". Of course, not to miss a pub called "The Pub in the Scrub"!
Cobar got it's name from an Aborigine word that means the color of copper. This famous mining town has one of the best museums in rural Australia. It is also known for being visited by the ghost of a miner and now hosts the annual "Festival of the Miner's Ghost" each October. Cobar is also home to a lot of Aboriginal rock art.
Brewarrina is a must-see for those who want to experience the indigenous peoples connection to their land and their river. Fish traps, or rock structures forming labyrinths were built for corralling and catching fish, a system that fed thousands during the pre-European era. These structures are said to be more than 40,000 years old, the oldest man-made structures in the world. Sadly, most of these structures were removed when the Europeans arrived to enable the river boats to sail upstream.
Bourke is a little town on the Darling River that was the centre of the wool trade, a strategic point for transportation of wool from southern Queensland and northern New South Wales to Melbourne along the river networks . Any place to the west of Bourke is quite correctly described as the back of beyond, or as the Aussies say the "Back o' Bourke". Beyond this quaint town a traveler can truly understand the true essence of this large island continent. The Back O' Bourke Centre gives visitors a feel for life in the outback, brings to life the stories from it's past and reveals the true nature of the back country.
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Central Darling
Broken Hill is the largest town in Outback New South Wales, and came into existence as a silver mining town in 1885. Today, the town sits on the world's largest deposit of silver, zinc and lead. The town also boasts of artists, indigenous culture and sculptures. The "Living Desert" is a 2400 hectare reserve amongst the red hills of the Barrier Ranges that has many hiking trails, giving visitors an amazing insight into the regions flora and fauna. Within the reserve is the Sculpture Symposium, a collection of 12 sandstone sculptures by local and international artists, a most perfect sight to behold at sunset. Kevin "Pro" Hart's eclectic artworks are found around the town. A short drive away are the Menindee Lakes, the almost empty town of Silverton and the beautiful Darling River.
Lower Darling
The little town of Hay lies on the plains of Riverina, on the banks of the Murrumbidgee, prime sheep and cattle grazing country. Hay's claim to fame is the establishment of the Shear Outback Centre, an exhibition centre that is home to the Australian Shearers' Hall of Fame. The hay gaol has been converted into a museum that is worth a visit. The sandy banks of the river allow for excellent swimming areas, canoeing, water skiing and fishing.
Wentworth is situated at the junction of the Darling River and the Murray, and was the centre where the wool was brought for transportation to Melbourne or Adelaide before the Darling River was open for trade. Wentworth became the first port on the Darling River once trade began and is still a very prosperous town. It is the perfect base to explore surrounding areas. It is also the start of the finish of the Darling River Run, a tourism initiative that is a drive along the outback roads on the banks of the Darling River.
Corner Country
Cameron Corner is where New South Wales meets South Australia and Queensland. The world's longest fence ever built, the Dog Fence that extends for a length of more than 5000km was constructed to keep the dingos out of the pastoral lands. The northern-most national park, the very arid Sturt National Park is the harsh taste of desert life of the Australian outback.
When gold was first discovered in Milparinka, it became a thriving town despite red dusty plains stretching to the horizon. Today, it is but a ghostly form of what it used to be. A small group of hardy locals call it home and strive to preserve the history of the place. The north-western corner of New South Wales may seem isolated, and yet it is has a place like Tibooburra, a small and friendly place where many Australian artists have left something on the walls of a pub. There is also a sculpture of a 27-foot-long whaleboat atop some poles in Pioneer Park. Tibooburra is the closest town to the Sturt National Park and driving out of town gives visitors a glimpse of the geological structures of the desert outback. Booking.com
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