Broken Hill to Woomera

10 April to 17 April
The countryside is getting flatter, and the vegetation more sparse and arid looking, however there is still plenty of water about in the rivers. We'd originally planned to do the Darling River run from Wilcannia to Menindee lakes, but both sides of the Darling River were flooded, so instead we headed to Broken Hill and Silverton.

Plains Driving

Both towns owe their existence to mining, Broken Hill is still thriving and is the regional hub, whilst Silverton's mines have been worked out and they rely on their heritage of old building, galleries and pub to gain the tourist dollar.

We had a drink in the pub, which has featured in many beer tvc's over the years, and Silverton is well known as the place they made the movie 'Mad Max'. Still plenty of photo's of Mel about! The days are now hitting 30C, but the nights are a pleasant 17C.

Main weir 

Menindee lakes were dry for about 7 years and only started filling with the QLD floods in 2011. The Lake system is full, and was being reduced to 80% when we were there, as they were expecting the flood peak in 2 weeks.

We wandered around the historic Kinchega Woolshed which was part of a pastoral lease Station from 1850 to 1967, before becoming a national park. The Darling is usually over a km from the old woolshed but was lapping at the edge of the old holding paddocks on our visit.


We camped at the Broken Hill speed boat club caravan park at Copi Hollow ...  lakes edge!  It was the last of the waterfront camping with our next stops a road side pull off outside Orroroo in SA, a dusty site in Port Augusta and another bush camp outside Woomera.

camping at Menindee

Until the early 1980's you couldn't enter the Woomera township without security clearance, and it continues to be managed by the Department of Defence. It's a very interesting but military looking town still... very orderly. A lot of the surrounding lands are still a Prohibited area. If you like military history, rockets, weapons development or are a War War 2 buff it's defiantly worth a look.

Woomera Park

Next stop Coober Pedy to find an opal, then crossing into the NT for a few days at Uluru.