Our trip to the corner country, 2009

We left Murwillumbah at about 0615 and we called into Ballina to say goodbye to Mum before heading for Tenterfield via Coraki & Casino. We arrived at about midday and set up camp in the Tenterfield caravan park near the railway museum. $22.50 per night. We have spent the afternoon looking at real estate in the area. Our thoughts are that we may like to live in this area in the not to distant future. After looking around we are leaving our options open at the moment.Tenterfield looks beautiful at the moment with all of the trees changing colour for the winter. It's quite cold out of the sun and I think tonight is going to be freezing.

Day 2: We continued via Glenlyon Dam up to Texas. the road through there was really good, some gravel but not rough. The scenery was really nice as we travelled along the river. From Texas we travelled to Goondiwindi via Yetman, then onto Mungindi via Boomi. There was some gravel but quite good going. We set up camp on the Barwon River at Mungindi. Fantastic FREE camping area, however there is a bridge with cotton trucks going over it all night. We still managed to sleep well though. It was great to have a campfire. the toilets were clean, and you could have a shower if you like them cold. We didn't bother.

Day 3: Today we decided to have a game of golf at Mungindi before we headed off. By the time we got to the 4th hole we had lost 6 balls. Crows kept pinching them as we hit them. We gave up as we would not have had any balls left if we had kept going. We headed for Lightning ridge via Gundablouie & Birrah.The bush track had been recently graded and the trip was very good through that area and also a good shortcut. We are now camped in the Lightning ridge caravan park, basic but very nice $20.00 per night.

Day 4: We explored Lightning Ridge and managed to play 9 holes of golf only loosing 1 ball to a crow. It is a lovely outback course and well worth packing your clubs for. The afternoon was spent at the artesian baths (FREE) which were very hot at first but definitely relaxing after you got used to the temperature.

Day 5: After leaving Lightning Ridge we headed to Goodooga which was bitumen all the way and then down to Brewarrina which was mostly gravel but quite easy going, then onto Bourke where we got a few supplies and travelled onto Wanaaring. This road was also gravel and as long as you travelled at a sensible speed there were no problems. The scenery along this road was really very nice and well worth the dusty road. We set up camp on the western side of town about 2 kms out on the banks of the Paroo river. What a fabulous bush camp. I didn't want to pack up it was so lovely.

Day 6: Reluctantly, we left Wanaaring and travelled down the river road to White Cliffs. We stopped from smoko at King Charles Water Hole in the Nocoleche Nature Reserve, very nice, and then later for lunch at the Peery Lake in the Paroo-Darling National Park, also nice. No camping in these area's, day use only. The road was fairly rough in parts and quite a bit of bulldust but again if you take it slowly it is not a problem. We are staying in White Cliffs for 5 nights as I am working in the clinic for a few days.

Day 7: Up bright and early for a game of golf with the locals. Played like crap but had a good time. There was a mothers day lunch at the sports club and we ate far too much and am now veging out in the quaters at the clinic contemplating starting work tomorrow while Neil takes in the sights. I am still trying to work out how to up load my photo's.......

Days 8-10:White Cliffs is a great outback community full of very friendly people. There are plenty of great opal shops, a photo gallery, underground motel, underground B&B, Pub, Shop & coffee shop and all will make you more than welcome if you want to have a look around. The camping ground is good with clean amenities.Well worth stopping for a few days to look around. It also has a great golf course.

Days 11 -12:Wilcannia caravan park on the banks of the Darling River is a must. The bush setting is beautiful, the amenities are basic , but very clean with nice hot showers. We spent two nights there and we thoughly enjoyed it. The park has plenty of fireplaces as well. $10.00 per night. Don't forget to have a look around at some of the old buildings and the cemetery. Wilcannia has plenty of history to explore.

Days 13: After leaving Wilcannia we travelled to Milparinka via White Cliffs. The road from White Cliffs is gravel and fairly corrugated in parts but the scenery more than makes up for the bumpy road.Milparinka is very historical and some lovely old buildings to explore. We camped on Evelyn Creek (dry) which was very nice. Plenty of bush camping in this area.

Day 14-17: We travelled to Tibooburra via Depot Glen and Poole's Grave then up through a property and came out on the Silver City highway.Tibooburra is a really great place. It's surrounded by granite boulders. There are two pubs, and a roadhouse where you can get supplies. We went up to Cameron's corner via the middle road and fort grey in the Sturt National Park. The camp ground at Fort Grey is quite nice but you are not allowed to have a camp fire. They supply gas BBQ's but they do not quite cut the grade. We returned to Tibooburra via Olive Downs. A really nice drive through the park. Definitely a dry weather road. We got a shower of rain and the red dust quickly turned to red mud.

Days 18 - 19: We travelled back down to Milparinka and drove out to Mount Browne on the edge of the. A truly beautiful place. We camped on the banks of the river (dry), and explored the old ruins. It's amazing how the pioneers even got there let alone lived out there. We didn't find gold either.......

Day 19: Reluctantly we packed up and drove to Silverton via Veldt. This road was through private property and it was a beautiful drive. Much better than the highway. The only drawback was that every 5-10 kms I had to open and close the gates....
Silverton is quaint... The caravan park is very nice and good clean amenities.

Day 20: Broken Hill to stock up on supplies and the back to White Cliffs via........National park. this route is gravel all the way but it beats the monotonous drive on the bitumen.