OUTBACK NSW DAY 11 SUNDAY 26 MAY 2019

WHITE CLIFFS TO MUTAWINTJI

Breaking camp at White Cliffs we realised that the house over the road was an old place that had been modernised, not a new one. It would have to be the best home above ground in the town.

The drive from White Cliffs to Mutawintji passes through a variety of sand and gibber plain to eventually reach the range that has been sitting on the horizon.

Before making camp we hiked up the gorge to the lookout and drove most of the old mail road through the park.

 An old dam well back in the gorge used to provide water for the sheep station that was taken over to establish the National Park.

Beth thought this was just some dry grass until she saw it move.

There were several sites where rock carvings could be seen.

One wonders at what this person was thinking when they placed this exploration marker right over some rock art.

Along the old mail road - the old Rockholes Hotel site.

Mutawintji was a memorable campsite for us, both for its location and for the entertainment that arrived during the evening - a group of locals playing guitars, singing and dancing nearby though not intrusively.

 

OUTBACK NSW DAY 10 SATURDAY 25 MAY 2019

COBAR, WILCANNIA, WHITE CLIFFFS

Our original plans to follow the Darling down to Tilpa then use back tracks to reach White Cliffs had to change because of flooding. This meant a rather long day travelling via Cobar and Wilcannia but entirely on sealed roads.

Country towards Cobar was better vegetated. Cobar was a very pleasant town with a lot of old buildings and some pleasant parks.

 

For John there was a reminder of his earlier work with Family Life - Interrelate in Sydney. Cobar was one of their service locations. A toilet break placed us right outside their office.

Taller scrub land near Cobar gave way to more arid conditions near Wilcannia

Wilcannia has some great old buildings, more of which have been restored and put into use since our last visit.

The Darling at Wilcannia is no more than a string of pools at present.

On towards White Cliffs the country becomes more arid again - open sheep station country.

First glimpse of White Cliffs is not impressive. It is isolated and has few facilities - smaller and different from Coober Pedy, to our mind lacking the character of Andamooka. The mines are located on two hills that define the community - Turleys Hill and Smiths Hill.

The Anglican Church was notable as was a large new building for the Paroo-Darling Information Centre. There is also an underground motel.

 A solar farm provides electricity.

The cemetery is small and mostly in poor repair but we found this treasure - obviously someone who had an impact in their time.

Evening ... We camped in the town camping ground with a number of up-market caravans /mobile homes and a group of cyclists who we had already met at Tibooburra (all of quite senior years - but riding the bush together in an organised group with support vehicles and personnel).

OUTBACK NSW DAY 9 FRIDAY 24 MAY 2019

BOURKE

A day in Bourke was both rewarding and relaxing after our bush travels.

First stop for the morning was the Darling at North Bourke.

The old bridge with its raising provision for paddle steamers is now only a footbridge alongside the newer elevated road bridge. The Darling was not as low as we had anticipated, although we were told that the wetlands we had visited previously are all dry

 

 Some interesting street art and a wonderful art gallery where we purchased an original picture and a print - our first such purchases for some years.

 

Seen outside the visitor information centre when we revisited for some more information.

A visit to the cemetery was specifically to check out the Fred Hollows grave but included some other interests including this grave and the Afghan section of the cemetery with what is claimed to be the smallest mosque in Australia.

 

The old town wharf precinct.