The drive between Sydney and Brisbane is fittingly one of the most popular in Australia. The combination of beautiful beaches, national parks, Australian history and gourmet food and wine experiences make the drive an attractive option for many visitors.
The thought of driving over 3000km (1900 miles) in only twelve days was confronting. To my dismay I had agreed with my husband to go on a road trip to outback Australia with our three young children in tow.
Was our journey to outback New South Wales worthwhile? I had initially been unsure whether I wanted to travel such long distances. We had considered some other holiday options before committing to this trip.
When we drove to Mildura from Turlee Station we experienced bittersweet emotions. While we were looking forward to exploring Mildura we were also keenly aware that our outback New South Wales journey was almost at its end.
Sometimes you have an experience which is profound. You never know when those moments will strike so you can’t plan it. Our visit to Mungo National Park in outback New South Wales gifted me with one of these rare overpowering moments.
Staying at an outback station (or farm) is a great way to experience a small taste of what life is like in the remote outback. After researching several options we booked into Turlee Station near both Mildura and Mungo National Park.
The underpopulated township of Silverton near Broken Hill is an unlikely candidate to be a tourist destination.
Arriving in Broken Hill is an awe inspiring experience. As you drive in you are immediately struck by the vision of what on first glance appears to be a mountain towering over the middle of town. On second glance you realise that the behemoth is manmade.
In Australia there is also a long history of underground homes called dugouts, primarily in the opal mining towns of outback Australia. The most famous is Coober Pedy in South Australia, and the lesser known option is the township of White Cliffs in New South Wales.
Our outback Australia journey commenced with the lengthy 1000km (650 mile) drive from urbane Sydney to the isolated opal mining town of White Cliffs. We were unsure where the real outback began, and looked forward to exploring new territory.