Driving Route
 

We are taking a driving tour of southeast Australia and have to make a route decision from Broken Hill to Sydney. One option seems to be Hwy. 32 through Cobar, Dubbo and down into Sydney. The other option would seem to be Hwy. 79 down through Mildura and then across to Bathurst into Sydney. We are interested in seeing what life is like in the Outback along with interesting scenry. Any info would be greatly appreciated....Gary.

Hi, Gary!<BR>The best part of the "top" route is Dubbo, which is a surprisingly large town and hosts the Western Plains Zoo, a "drive-through" zoo seemingly without bars. Other than that, the Mildura route is probably more scenic. I think that it may be possible to have the best of both by driving the Mildura route first, as far as Cowra, then turning north-west to Forbes and on through Parkes to Dubbo. Is that possible for you? There are some great old hotels in the Grenfell-Forbes-Peak Hill area, as this was once, during the gold rush, quite a boom area, so don't be too eager to stay in one of the plastic motels on the outskirts of town!

I don't know how much time you have and how willing you are to travel dirt outback roads but here is my two bobs worth:<BR><BR>on the two routes you have proposed it would be entirely possible to set the cruise control and the a/c and proceed broken hill to sydney over two days.<BR><BR>However,I would drive broken hill to wilcannia and then follow the darling river right up to Lightning ridge (an opal town) This is mainly dirt road.I would stay at farmstay stations overnight.I would stop for a drink at every isolated outback pub.<BR><BR>I would take the baths at moree, stay at the cabins at Mt Kaputar and then take the waterfall way to the coast.Proceed to sydney via coast find a sleepy beach side town to stay overnight.<BR><BR>Keep your ears and eyes open and you will know more about the nsw outback than 90% of sydney siders when you finish this route.<BR>

John, I went from Wilcannia up to Lightening Ridge and was on bitumen all the way so I must have taken a different route. I most certainly would endorse a trip to Lightening Ridge and if possible a camp beside the Darling River. There is some pretty interesting country around that area and Lightening Ridge is a destination in itself. <BR>The worst part is the Gwydir Highway from Lightening Ridge to anywhere so if anyone was to do that trip take the word "highway" as a bit of a joke as we went on a "desert track" which was as good as the Highway which managed to pop most of the rivets in my husband's motorbike

I want to thank everyone for your responses. I think we have tentitively decided to take John's advice and take the Darling River route to Lighting Ridge and then down thru Dubbo to Sydney. Our time is somewhat limited so we cannot drive to the coast. Our only concern would be finding places to stay overnight along the route. John do you have any words of wisdom regarding that...Gary

I know you didn't ask me this question but I would do a Pub stay around these areas. Most Australian Pubs have accommodation which although you cannot call them 5 star they are usually very comfortable, have great prices - meaning cheap, give you are look at the locals better than anything else, are friendly and give a terrific breakfast. They will always let you check out the rooms first anyway so you can decide and by doing it this way you will have some really great times I am sure.

Gary<BR><BR>It might help to place it in context..how many travelling...when..what vehicle..where u r from..the rest of ur itinerary<BR><BR>I also assume you have heard the spiel on the risks of "off the beaten track" travel when u r "back 'o bourke"<BR><BR>Given ur time constraints i have substituted white cliffs for lightning ridge and the Warrumbungles for Kaputar and cut the coast (i do reckon places like Dorrigo national park and Smoky cape r special)<BR><BR>Day 1 Broken hill to white cliffs via mutawintji national park.Stay at PJ'S Underground B@B in White clifs (see www.babs.com.au)NSW outback section.<BR><BR>Day 2 White cliffs ,wilcannia,tilpa, Louth. Stay at Trilby Station on the Darling at Louth ( see website above)<BR>Day 3 Louth,Bourke,Nyngan or Brewarrina then Warrumbungles national park. Stay at converted railway carriages in park.<BR><BR>Proceed sydney via mudgee and blue mountains.