Day 4 : Charleville to Longreach (morning)

Long stretches of sub-tropical savanna with low scrub,

punctuated by the occasional Queensland Bottle Tree and clump of prickly pear.

Notable public conveniences at Augathella.

The Australian Workers Heritage Centre and "Tree of Knowledge"

commemorate the foundation of the union movement and gaoling of a group of unionists in 1891.

Day 4 : Charleville to Longreach (Longreach - overnight)

The Australian Stockman's Hall of Fame was impressive but seemed to focus mostly on NSW and Qeensland.

R M Williams was almost incidental except for a well stocked R M Williams shop.

Qantas Museum is also at Longreach (but we didn't visit it).

Longreach impressed us as a town. Got the feeling that it was a place where we could live.

(Below) Main street scene - a tourist attraction.

Day 3 : Tilpa to Charleville (pm)

The run from Bourke to Charleville was just a long hard slog through seemingly endless grassland,

followed by a less than exciting campsite in an already crowded caravan park (albeit by the good will of the proprietors).

We were in the grip of Eastern States school holidays. Everything was completely booked out.

Our plan had been to use what looked like smaller "bush" campsites on our map, but they were full or non-existent.

Day 3 : Tilpa to Charleville (Bourke)

Some lovely old buildings.

Post Office - Bourke.

Court House court-yard.

Old North Bourke Bridge.

Darling and new North Bourke Bridge.

Day 3 : Tilpa to Charleville (Darling wetlands - Bourke)

Darling wetlands south of Bourke were beautiful and extensive.

Bourke stockade memorial.
The Bourke Stockade was built by Major Mitchell to defend settlers against Aborigines.

Open irrigation to cotton fields - what a waste of precious water.

Day 3 : Tilpa to Charleville (Louth)

Early morning road north of Tilpa.

Old Louth Post Office (now B & B)

The Darling at Louth.

Corella luncheon.

Day 2 : Pooncarie to Tilpa (Tilpa)

The road north from Wilcannia.


Unexpected signs of civilization above a bush road.

The campsite by the weir at Tilpa - a tiny bush town of a pub, a general store and an old bridge.
"Camp by the weir. It's the track to the left just before the first grid, after you cross the river."
... and you can sleep to the gentle flow of water over the weir. Wonderful!

Day 2 : Pooncarie to Tilpa (Wilcannia)

The Darling at Wilcannia - a memory of its former glory.
The bridge was opened in 1896 after some seven years in construction. The memorial plaque notes that 'Its lift span recalls the days when paddlewheelers were "so thick on the water" that Wilcannia became one of Australia's busiest inland ports'.

Only a few of Wilcannia's grand old buildings remain in good repair. Others are derelict.

Day 2 : Pooncarie to Tilpa (Menindie Lakes)

Tributary creek near Menindie Lakes.

Menindie Lakes - water as far as one can see, all fed by the Darling.

Yes, even waves along the sandy shores.

... and a weir to manage it all.

Day 2 : Pooncarie to Tilpa (Morning)

Following our disappointment at not being able to visit Lake Mungo, we decided to follow the Darling as closely as possible, checking out for ourselves the land and water use along its course.

Dawn on the Darling (little more than a waterhole at Pooncarie)

The road north from Pooncarie.

Interesting old farm buildings.

One of several trees that we found, festooned with fox carcases.

Day 1 : Adelaide to Pooncarie

(Note : Pictures have a signature B or J in the bottom right hand corner for ready identification of the photographer.)

Away!!! With a clean but fully laden vehicle.

Lunch by Lake Bonney at Barmera was visited by the Channel 10 News Team from Adelaide.

Muddy, closed roads prevented our visit to Lake Mungo, so we pushed on to Pooncarie on the River Darling for our first night.

Camp on the banks of the Darling.