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Updated 4/07/2008
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Darling River Run
Difficulty:
Suitable for:
The Darling River is one of the outback's most famous rivers. Starting near Bourke in central NSW and draining into the Murray in Victoria the Darling River Run snakes itself through black soil farming country.
Start
Bourke
Finish
Wilcannia
Distance
334.4 km
Minimum Days
2
Average Speed
71.34 km/hr
Driving Time
4 hr 41 min
Article By: ExplorOz Team Updated: 4 Mar 2008
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Description
Camp Sites & Accomodation
Interactive Route Map
Driving Directions
Permits
Trek Feedback
Things to See & Do
Related Pages
Preparation
Recommended Reading
In this Trek Note
Description
Although this fabulous 4WD adventure really begins in Bourke, there are some great spots to visit along the way. If you're coming from Sydney you can drive to Dubbo in a day and then head into the Warrumbungle National Park for some great bush
camping
and walking.
From the Warrumbungles you can take the dirt exit track that pops out on the western fringe of the park. Continue heading northwest towards Coonamble and then north up the tarred Castlereagh Highway to Walgett. It's tarred road all the way through Brewarrina to Bourke but from Bourke onwards this trek hits 4WD territory.
An alternative route from Coonamble is to cross the Castlereagh Highway and continue heading west to Quambone. Continue west at the junction, crossing the Marthaguy River and through the Macquarie Marshes region. There's some good bush camps along here. There are quite a few tracks here that will lead north up to Brewarrina - all are usually dry, dusty flat cattle roads and you should be able to travel around 80 - 90km/hr.
Warning: if there has been any rain north of Bourke you must check
road conditions
as the small rivers here can easily flood and roads can become blocked and impassable even if there's no rain in the immediate area. The Barwon and the Bulloo Rivers are the major feeders.
Interactive Route Map
Bourke
No description entered.
Enter description or photos
.
Features:
Position: 145.9380ºE 30.0894ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place:
Louth
Distance:
98.42km
Average Speed:
85.87km/h
Louth
A 1 Pub 1 shop town . The camp ground is free but is about 8 k out of town on the Burke side There is a free camp on the northern side of the bridge with toilets and showers across from the road from the pub.
Features:
Position: 145.1154ºE 30.5339ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place:
Winbar
Distance:
25.73km
Average Speed:
78.54km/h
Winbar
No description entered.
Enter description or photos
.
Features: Place Name
Position: 144.9409ºE 30.6523ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place:
Paddys Creek Bridge
Distance:
4.15km
Average Speed:
66.07km/h
Paddys Creek Bridge
Paddy's creek bridge one of the bridge crossings on the Darling River Run.
Features:
Position: 144.9095ºE 30.6796ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place:
Compodor Creek Bridge
Distance:
19.12km
Average Speed:
87.76km/h
Compodor Creek Bridge
Compodor creek crossing on the Darling River run.
Features:
Position: 144.7800ºE 30.7875ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place:
Budjewarra Bend
Distance:
6.69km
Average Speed:
80.77km/h
Budjewarra Bend
No description entered.
Enter description or photos
.
Features: Place Name
Position: 144.7503ºE 30.8386ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place:
Tankarooka
Distance:
55.81km
Average Speed:
79.71km/h
Tankarooka
No description entered.
Enter description or photos
.
Features:
Position: 144.3246ºE 31.0857ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place:
Murtee
Distance:
108.26km
Average Speed:
80.44km/h
Murtee
No description entered.
Enter description or photos
.
Features:
Position: 143.4894ºE 31.5824ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place:
Barradale
Distance:
3.49km
Average Speed:
38.16km/h
Barradale
No description entered.
Enter description or photos
.
Features:
Position: 143.4580ºE 31.5988ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place:
Barrier Highway and Darling River Run
Distance:
6.33km
Average Speed:
58.04km/h
Barrier Highway and Darling River Run
Junction of the Barrier Highway and the Darling River Run trek turn off.
Features:
Position: 143.4053ºE 31.6112ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place:
Wilcannia
Distance:
6.41km
Average Speed:
58.04km/h
Wilcannia
Wilcannia is a small town with a population of 688, located within the Central Darling Shire in north western New South Wales,
Features:
Position: 143.3770ºE 31.5603ºS (GDA 94)
Route Control
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Permits
Camping
fees in National Parks along the way (Kinchega).
Things to See & Do
Louth
A 1 Pub 1 shop town . The camp ground is free but is about 8 k out of town on the Burke side There is a free camp on the northern side of the bridge with toilets and showers across from the road from the pub. The facilities are free but the publican asks for a donation to the RFDS.
Following the mighty Darling River through historic pioneering country, the Darling River Run starts on dirt tracks south of Bourke with Louth the first settlement 99km along. At Louth, take the track to Tilpa, which runs along the western bank of the Darling River. There is another track that follows the eastern bank to Wilcannia but it does not provide riverside camps quite as closely as on the western side. This is a great area to launch your tinnie (aluminium fishing dingy) and it's possible to tow a caravan or camper trailer along these tracks. The river is full of yabbies so bring a yabby pot, some lamb neck or bloody meat for bait and enjoy!
The track continues along the river and then heads into the township of Wilcannia. Keep heading south along the river track (again there are tracks on both sides of the river). About 30km before reaching Menindee are some great camps in the red sand hills. South of Menindee in the Kinchega National Park are some perfect campsites, some even with beaches.
South of Kinchega National Park you can drive south to Mildura via the tiny settlement of Pooncarrie. The dirt track from Kinchega follows the western bank of the Darling through cattle farming country along the Old Pooncarrie Road before crossing the bridge into town where you turn right onto bitumen 122km north of Mildura or just 29km north of the turn-off to the fascinating Mungo National Park.
If you're making a round trip of it back to eastern NSW, then from Mungo, head north through strangely beautiful and remote farming country to Mossgiel, Hillston, Lake Cargelligo, Condobolin, Parkes, Orange, Bathurst and finally Sydney.
Preparation
Fuel Supplies & Usage
Bourke
,
Wilcannia
Diesel
4cyl 52 litres *
ULP
4cyl 54 litres
LPG
4cyl 67 litres
6cyl 38 litres *
6cyl 54 litres *
6cyl 59 litres
8cyl 57 litres
8cyl 55 litres
Usage is averaged from
TrekFuel
(* specific to trek) submissions and calculated based on trek distance.
Best Time To Visit
Closest Climatic Station
Cobar Mo
Distance from Trek Mid Point 132.51km SE
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Mean Max. °C
33.9
33.4
30.0
25.2
20.0
16.5
15.8
17.9
21.8
25.8
29.4
32.6
Mean Min. °C
20.4
20.1
17.1
12.9
9.1
6.1
5.0
6.2
9.0
12.6
15.7
18.7
Mean Rain mm
44.7
41.9
34.2
27.2
33.8
26.1
29.4
28.7
25.4
36.5
32.5
35.4
Best time to travel
Ok time to travel
Travel NOT recommended
Services & Supplies
The following locations have various services and supplies:
Bourke
,
Louth
,
Wilcannia
Camp Sites & Accomodation
Bourke
No description entered.
Enter description or photos
.
Louth
A 1 Pub 1 shop town . The camp ground is free but is about 8 k out of town on the Burke side There is a free camp on the northern side of the bridge with toilets and showers across from the road from the pub. The facilities are free but the publican asks for a donation to the RFDS.
Wilcannia
Wilcannia is a small town with a population of 688, located within the Central Darling Shire in north western New South Wales,
Bourke
Louth
Wilcannia
Driving Directions
Time
Direction
Distance
Bourke to Louth
98.42 km
SW
238°
1 hr 8 min
Louth to Winbar
25.73 km
SW
232°
19 min
Winbar to Paddys Creek Bridge
4.15 km
SW
225°
3 min
Paddys Creek Bridge to Compodor Creek Bridge
19.12 km
SW
226°
13 min
Compodor Creek Bridge to Budjewarra Bend
6.69 km
SW
207°
4 min
Budjewarra Bend to Tankarooka
55.81 km
SW
236°
42 min
Tankarooka to Murtee
108.26 km
SW
235°
1 hr 20 min
Murtee to Barradale
3.49 km
SW
239°
5 min
Barradale to Barrier Highway and Darling River Run
6.33 km
W
255°
6 min
Barrier Highway and Darling River Run to Wilcannia
6.41 km
NW
335°
6 min
Bourke to Wilcannia
334.4 km
4 hr 41 min
Distance is GPS recorded driving distance (not straight line), Direction is straight line from start to end, Time is calculated from actual GPS driving data.
Trek Feedback
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What Others have Posted
Member - Ian W (NSW) : 24 Jun 08 10:22
Hi Folks, The Bride and I intend to do the Darling River Run - Bour...
Hi Folks,
The Bride and I intend to do the Darling River Run - Bourke, down through Menindee to Mildura next month.
Not having travelled this area we would appreciate recommendations from members with regards the trip.
Any "must see", "must do" would be appreciated, together with any general feedback.
Our intention at the moment is Sydney to Walgett, Brewarrina, Bourke thence down the Darling. I get the impression from previous posts that one do well not to spend too much time in Wilcannia. We are on a tight budget and intend to free camp as much as possible with our soft floor camper.
Ian
Read Full Thread...
Latest: 27 Jun 08 09:38 Replies:
10
FollowUps:
14
Views:
557
Hide
Member - Magic (VIC) : 8 May 08 07:50
Hi there, We are planning to do this trip in September school hol...
Hi there,
We are planning to do this trip in September school holidays and are in the planning stages just now. I have searched the archives and got lots of useful information, but wondered if we could get some advice about road conditions.
We are travelling in a 4wd with camper trailer, but have friends who may be joining us, who would be travelling in a 2wd sedan with CT.
Do you think this is possible for a 2wd - obviously taking wet weather out of the equation, we've read all the warnings about the roads in the wet.
We would be travelling up from Wentworth, through Menindee, Wilcannia, Louth, Bourke and then down through Dubbo.
Any thoughts and advice would be welcome.
Read Full Thread...
Latest: 8 May 08 21:21 Replies:
6
FollowUps:
None
Views:
364
Hide
phil : 21 Apr 08 15:09
Hi, I am thinking of doing the Darling River Run from Lightning R...
Hi,
I am thinking of doing the Darling River Run from Lightning Ridge down to the Murray later this year. I will be starting from Armidale, NSW
.
I am finding it difficult to get any useful information for planning, eg. places to camp, places of interest, best route etc. Is it worthwhile to do a loop detour through White Cliffs?
I would really appreciate pointers to useful sources and any other useful info.
Phil I
Read Full Thread...
Latest: 23 Apr 08 11:07 Replies:
9
FollowUps:
2
Views:
536
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