There’s so much to see and do in the NSW outback city of Broken Hill. You can renew your love of art and discover a thriving gallery scene. Ignite your sense of wonder with an unforgettable stargazing experience. Recharge in a glamorous hotel suite inspired by an iconic movie. Or strike out on your own desert adventures. The choice – and the endless horizon – is yours.

Recharge in the Priscilla Suite 

Broken Hill has been associated with drag culture ever since the Australian movie The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert was released in 1994 – several crucial scenes were filmed in the historic Palace Hotel. Catch yourself grinning as you step into the Priscilla Suite and put down your bags – it’s the very room that the movie’s characters stayed in, although it’s been redecorated in flamboyant style. Join in the fun at the pub’s regular drag bingo nights, and try to snag a room in September when colourful queens from around the country descend on the town for the popular Broken Heel Festival. Relish the dramatic contrast to the Priscilla vibe at the Mad Max 2 Museum in Silverton, a 20-minute drive out of town, where the filming of 1981’s Mad Max II in the area is celebrated with passion. 

Discover outback art 

The Broken Hill region has a long history of producing and attracting artists who find inspiration in the surreal landscape. Two of the best known local painters were Pro Hart and Jack Absalom: each has a retrospective gallery that’s part of the diverse offering of more than 20 art galleries around town. Feast your eyes on the remarkable collection of Aboriginal art at the Broken Hill City Art Gallery, which an excellent calendar of exhibitions, including the annual Maari Ma Indigenous Art Awards, displayed from November to February. Then step across the road from Broken Hill City Art Gallery to browse the paintings of local artist Amanda Johnson at Willy Nilly Art. If you’re driving to Broken Hill via Wilcannia, stop in to see the works of past, present and emerging artists alongside artefacts and oral histories of the local Barkintji people at the town’s Baaka Cultural and Art Centre. 

Head to the Living Desert 

Photography enthusiasts will love capturing the golden light in the Broken Hill area – especially at the Living Desert State Park, with its 12 sandstone artworks created by artists from all over the world. Create your own timeless images of the old prospector’s mine site and quartz outcrops on the 2.2km cultural walk trail through the reserve’s John Simons Flora and Fauna Sanctuary, which covers 180 hectares of native plants and wildlife and features a Sturt’s desert pea wildflower display. Feel the desert air cool with the setting sun when you stay overnight at the park’s Starview Campsite.

Satiate your hunger 

Refuel for a big day in the desert with breakfast at The Silly Goat café, where the frequently changing menu might include granola bowls and smoked salmon bagels. Put some pep in your step with a stiff espresso and Italian-style treats at Giovanni and Co. Step back in time and grab a milkshake at Bells Milk Bar – it’s been open since 1892 and much of the décor remains the same as it was in the 1950s. Go behind the scenes on a tour of Broken Hill Distillery before sampling the spirits at the distillery door. Settle in for a cocktail at Red Lush, the sister bar to The Astra’s Trinders Restaurant, which offers a modern Australian menu as well as more casual tapas and gourmet pizza. Or mark the end of a memorable day of sightseeing with a meal of upmarket pub fare at The Palace Hotel or the Broken Hill Pub.

Soak up the night skies 

Outback skies are something to behold: make sense of what you see with one of Outback Astronomy’s Sky Shows at its sky dome just outside Broken Hill. Peer into a pitch-black sky as knowledgeable guides point out individual stars and constellations. Gaze and graze on a hearty curry or stew and dessert during a Dinner with the Stars evening, and sleep in a glamping tent made for two with the stars for nightlights (loan of binoculars included) in the cooler months. 

Dream outback dreams 

Find a charming home to stay in among the selection of Broken Hill Heritage Cottages’ historic properties; enjoy deluxe or superior rooms at the Art Deco Royal Exchange Hotel; sleep at The Astra, a restored 1890s heritage building in the centre of town; or in Broken Hill Outback Church Stay’s restored 1911 church. Or settle in to one of the spa cabins and caravan and camping sites at the Broken Hill Outback Resort, just out of town. 

Further afield, have a night to remember by staying at the iconic Silverton Hotel, 20 minutes out of town; continue another 25 minutes past Silverton to enjoy views over the Mundi Mundi Plains and the Southern Barrier Ranges at the Eldee Station farm stay; or enjoy an authentic outback experience at Mt Gipps StationStay, a working sheep station around a 40-minute drive north of town. 

After getting to know Broken Hill, buckle up to explore the wider region and its national parks. Gain a fascinating insight into Australia’s pastoral history by staying at the Kinchega Shearer’s Quarters in Kinchega National Park, an 80-minute drive southeast of Broken Hill – the guest rooms are basic but air-conditioned. Find a shady spot among the gum trees at the Coach and Horses campground, beside the Darling River in Paroo-Darling National Park, three hours northeast of Broken Hill. 

Be prepared for visiting remote outback NSW national parks by checking the latest updates from the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service before you set off. And remember to check the conditions before you set off for the day, as some roads can be cut off in wet weather. 

Slip underground at White Cliffs 

Take a three-hour drive northeast of Broken Hill to roam across White Cliffs, in the heart of opal country. Admire the ‘pineapple’ opals – so named for their spiky shapes – found in Australia’s oldest commercial opal field, and marvel at the way many dwellings here have been built underground to escape the heat. Get a feel for the town and learn about its colourful history on a White Cliffs Bus Tour, and sleep deeply in the subterranean White Cliffs Underground Motel, which has a honeycomb of whitewashed rooms.