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Van Trip 2007
Cobar to Broken Hill
Days 9 to 12
459 km Travelled
We departed Cobar at 7:30am and headed back onto the Barrier Highway for todays journey to Broken Hill, a distance of 459 kilometres, after a leisurely morning drive we stopped at Emmdale Roadhouse, Wilcannia and Little Topar Roadhouse, situated 80 kilometers east of Broken Hill. The roadhouse services the busy tourist traffic between Broken Hill and the north/west pastoral district including Wilcannia and White Cliffs.
Emmdale is about 157km west of Cobar, and 100 kilometres east of Wilcannia.
Wilcannia is located on the Barrier Highway where it crosses the Darling River, 965 kilometres from Sydney. This was the third largest inland port in the country during the great river boat era of the mid-19th century. The town has a population of 596. The environment is borderline semi-arid to desert, with an annual rainfall of 255 millimetres The name Wilcannia is said to be derived from an Aboriginal term for either 'gap in the bank where floodwaters escape' or 'wild dog'. Neither meaning has been verified.
Leo had a small fright just short of Broken Hill when his fuel light indicated that his petrol was low. It was a very nervous drive until he found a service station. We arrived in Broken Hill at 2:30 pm and checked into the Broken Hill City Van Park, sites 4 and 5 at $22.50 per night. This was to be our home for 4 nights.
Broken Hill is an isolated mining city in the far west of outback New South Wales. The world's largest mining company, BHP Billiton, has roots in the town. Broken Hill is located near the border with South Australia on the crossing of the Barrier and Silver City Highways in the Barrier Range. It is 220 metres above sea level, has an average rainfall of 235 mm and summer temperatures that reach well over 40 degrees The closest major city is Adelaide, which is more than 500 km to the southwest. .Broken Hill has been called The Silver City, the Oasis of the West, and the Capital of the Outback. Although over 1,100 km west of Sydney, and surrounded by semi-desert, the town still manages colourful park and garden displays, and offers a number of attractions.
During our stay we visited the Pro Hart Museum, The Miners Memorial Lookout, The Royal Flying Doctor Service and the Big Picture.
The Big Picture is the world's largest painting on canvas, it is 100 metres long and 12 metres high. The painter was Peter Anderson and it took 2 years to complete the massive canvas. He used up 9 tonnes of paint.
On our last day in Broken Hill we travelled to Silverton, a round trip of approx. 75 kms where we crossed the Mundi Mundi plain and had morning tea in the Cafe in Silverton. We also did a side trip to Umberumberka.
Upon our return to Broken Hill we had to prepare for our departure the next morning. Leo & Maureen to Mildura & Jude & I to Peterborough in South Australia.
It was sad to part company with our travelling mates, we enjoyed their company immensely.
Days 9 to 12
459 km Travelled
We departed Cobar at 7:30am and headed back onto the Barrier Highway for todays journey to Broken Hill, a distance of 459 kilometres, after a leisurely morning drive we stopped at Emmdale Roadhouse, Wilcannia and Little Topar Roadhouse, situated 80 kilometers east of Broken Hill. The roadhouse services the busy tourist traffic between Broken Hill and the north/west pastoral district including Wilcannia and White Cliffs.
Emmdale is about 157km west of Cobar, and 100 kilometres east of Wilcannia.
Wilcannia is located on the Barrier Highway where it crosses the Darling River, 965 kilometres from Sydney. This was the third largest inland port in the country during the great river boat era of the mid-19th century. The town has a population of 596. The environment is borderline semi-arid to desert, with an annual rainfall of 255 millimetres The name Wilcannia is said to be derived from an Aboriginal term for either 'gap in the bank where floodwaters escape' or 'wild dog'. Neither meaning has been verified.
Leo had a small fright just short of Broken Hill when his fuel light indicated that his petrol was low. It was a very nervous drive until he found a service station. We arrived in Broken Hill at 2:30 pm and checked into the Broken Hill City Van Park, sites 4 and 5 at $22.50 per night. This was to be our home for 4 nights.
Broken Hill is an isolated mining city in the far west of outback New South Wales. The world's largest mining company, BHP Billiton, has roots in the town. Broken Hill is located near the border with South Australia on the crossing of the Barrier and Silver City Highways in the Barrier Range. It is 220 metres above sea level, has an average rainfall of 235 mm and summer temperatures that reach well over 40 degrees The closest major city is Adelaide, which is more than 500 km to the southwest. .Broken Hill has been called The Silver City, the Oasis of the West, and the Capital of the Outback. Although over 1,100 km west of Sydney, and surrounded by semi-desert, the town still manages colourful park and garden displays, and offers a number of attractions.
During our stay we visited the Pro Hart Museum, The Miners Memorial Lookout, The Royal Flying Doctor Service and the Big Picture.
The Big Picture is the world's largest painting on canvas, it is 100 metres long and 12 metres high. The painter was Peter Anderson and it took 2 years to complete the massive canvas. He used up 9 tonnes of paint.
On our last day in Broken Hill we travelled to Silverton, a round trip of approx. 75 kms where we crossed the Mundi Mundi plain and had morning tea in the Cafe in Silverton. We also did a side trip to Umberumberka.
Upon our return to Broken Hill we had to prepare for our departure the next morning. Leo & Maureen to Mildura & Jude & I to Peterborough in South Australia.
It was sad to part company with our travelling mates, we enjoyed their company immensely.
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