Country Road, Broken HillCredit: Destination NSW
Hit the open road on an outback adventure with plenty of surprises.
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In New South Wales’s wild west, the Silver City Highway is a 683km stretch of road linking Buronga on the banks of the Murray River up to the state’s northern border. In years gone by the unsealed stretches of this highway were best suited to off-road vehicles, but it’s now bitumen all the way, opening it up to road -trippers in every kind of car ready for an outback adventure.
Day 1: Buronga to Broken Hill
Watch the landscape change from lush farmland to the red earth of the outback on the three-hour drive from the NSW border town of Buronga to the ‘Silver City’ of Broken Hill that gives the highway its name.
Just outside of Buronga, the Australian Inland Botanic Gardens is the first semi-arid botanic gardens in the southern hemisphere. Here you can visit the oldest mallee eucalypt, believed to be about 2,500 years old. And at Orange World you can take a tractor-train tour through the orchards.
When you arrive in Broken Hill, discover why it was Australia’s first heritage-listed city on a Heritage Walk Tour, before heading up to the Line of Lode Miners Memorial. This dramatic structure remembers more than 800 miners who perished on the job in the area and has sweeping views over the town below.
Art lovers should head for the Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery, where works by Aboriginal and other local artists are displayed. See iconic outback artist Pro Hart’s painted Rolls Royce, along with his paintings and sculptures, at the Pro Hart Gallery, then travel 9km out of town to the Living Desert Reserve to see a trail of 12 sandstone sculptures.
A trip to Broken Hill isn’t complete without a visit to Bells Milk Bar. Sip sodas, spiders and milkshakes amid the 1950s decor before visiting the museum out the back. And after appearing in iconic film The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, The Palace Hotel now has a glamorous Priscilla Suite that’s fit for a drag queen, along with more traditional rooms. (Note that for a couple of weeks each September, the Palace is usually booked out by visitors attending the Broken Heel Festival, which celebrates the Priscilla movie with a glittery drag festival.)
If you prefer somewhere all to yourself, check out the historic Miner’s Cottage, listed along with other heritage properties at Broken Hill Heritage Cottages.
Australian Inland Botanic Gardens, Buronga Credit: Destination NSW
The native Sturt's Desert Pea (Swainsona formosa) located at the Australian Inland Botanic Gardens in Buronga.
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Australian Inland Botanic Gardens, Buronga Credit: Destination NSW
The native Sturt's Desert Pea (Swainsona formosa) located at the Australian Inland Botanic Gardens in Buronga.
The Living Desert, Broken Hill Credit: Destination NSW
Man watching the sunset from The Living Desert Reserve in Broken Hill.
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The Living Desert, Broken Hill Credit: Destination NSW
Man watching the sunset from The Living Desert Reserve in Broken Hill.
Day 2: Broken Hill to Tibooburra
Watch the outback roll by as you head towards Corner Country in the far northwest of the state. Keep an eye out for wild goats and their cute kids. If you’re lucky you may even spot an emu or two.
The drive to Tibooburra will take around 3.5 hours. The only fuel stop along the way is the Packsaddle Roadhouse, 175km from Broken Hill, where you can grab a bite in its outback-themed dining room replete with corrugated iron, lights decorated with cowboy hats and old saddles adorning the walls.
Just over an hour (120km) from the roadhouse, imagine gold rush life in the 1880s in Milparinka as you visit the heritage precinct. The last of the four gold rush hotels still standing in town, the Milparinka Hotel (which is also known as the Albert Hotel), opened its doors in 1882 and offers cold beer and tasty pub meals. You can also overnight here in the original rooms or motel-style cabins.
In Tibooburra, the Family Hotel is famous for its murals by renowned Australian artists who came to stay in the 1960s, including Russell Drysdale, Eric Minchin and Clifton Pugh. Just 20 minutes out of Tibooburra in Sturt National Park, the Mount Wood Homestead offers self-catering accommodation from March to November each year.
Spare a thought for Captain Charles Sturt and his expedition team in Tibooburra’s Pioneer Park when you see a replica of their whaleboat. They dragged the original whaleboat all the way from Adelaide so they could cross the inland sea before realising it didn’t exist.
Day 3: Tibooburra area
If you’re travelling in a car that can leave sealed roads behind (ideally a four-wheel-drive), now’s the time to explore the far western corner of NSW. Just remember to check the conditions before you set off for the day, as some roads can be cut off in wet weather.
In Sturt National Park, you can see 450-million-year-old granite boulders and rolling red sand dunes as you look for red kangaroos, emus and wedge-tailed eagles. The park also has a section of one of the world’s longest structures, the historic Dingo Fence that stretches more than 5,000km. This fence was built in the 1880s to keep dingos (native dogs) out of sheep grazing territory.
And keep an eye out for the planned opening of the 153,682-hectare Narriearra Caryapundy Swamp National Park. It’s the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service’s largest-ever private land purchase, home to sprawling, semi-permanent lakes filled with waterbirds.
The Family Lodge Motel, Tibooburra Credit: Destination NSW
Sun rising over the Family Lodge Motel in Tibooburra.
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The Family Lodge Motel, Tibooburra Credit: Destination NSW
Sun rising over the Family Lodge Motel in Tibooburra.
Sturt National Park, Tibooburra Credit: Destination NSW
Mob of emus at Sturt National Park, Tibooburra.
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Sturt National Park, Tibooburra Credit: Destination NSW
Mob of emus at Sturt National Park, Tibooburra.
More Inspirational Stories
Horse Riding, Jindabyne, Snowy MountainsCredit: Destination NSW
Horse riding in Jindabyne, Snowy Mountains. For media use only in Australian markets to promote NSW.
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Set course for adventure in Jindabyne, a quaint lakeside town in the foothills of New South Wales’ Snowy Mountains, and a great base camp for an energising, nature-based holiday. Delight in a range of exciting seasonal experiences, from action-packed days on the snow to summertime hikes that will leave you feeling fresh.
Pick your own adventure
There's an array of activities on your doorstep in Jindabyne – a five-hour drive southwest of Sydney. In warm weather, get your blood pumping on a mountain bike ride, or try your hand at rock climbing with K7 Adventures. Travelling when the mercury drops? Relish in the wintry scenery on one of K7’s snow-shoe expeditions. Alternatively, get a natural high on a guided horse trek at Snowy Wilderness Resort, set on more than 6,500 acres of awe-inspiring alpine high country just south of Jindabyne.
There’s also a whole lot of adventure to uncover in Kosciuszko National Park during summer. Revel in the sense of achievement hiking the summit of Mount Kosciuszko, Australia’s highest point at 2,228m elevation – it’s an 18.6km return trail from Charlotte Pass, so plan on spending a full day (six to eight hours) out in nature. If you’d prefer a shorter walk, the serene Rainbow Lake walk is a 2.4km-return trail that boasts stunning wildflowers during springtime.
Post-activity, take a deep breath and calm your mind during a hatha yoga session at Jai Yoga. Then further reward your day’s efforts with a celebratory schnapps made at Wildbrumby, which has a distillery door and restaurant overlooking a sculpture garden. Prefer a beer? Jindabyne Brewing bar and tasting room has views across Lake Jindabyne – find a scenic perch and enjoy the ultimate taste of the region as you sip. Another option for a refreshing swig of beer is Kosciuszko Brewery. Located at Jindabyne’s Banjo Patterson Inn, it’s the perfect spot to unwind after an exhilarating day of adventure activities.
Jindabyne, Snowy Mountains Credit: Destination NSW
Hiking in Jindabyne, Snowy Mountains For media use only in Australian markets to promote NSW.
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Jindabyne, Snowy Mountains Credit: Destination NSW
Hiking in Jindabyne, Snowy Mountains For media use only in Australian markets to promote NSW.
Wildbrumby Schnapps Distillery, Crackenback Credit: Destination NSW
The Wildbrumby Distillery & Cafe is a unique, boutique schnapps distillery located on the Alpine Way in the picturesque Thredbo Valley,
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Wildbrumby Schnapps Distillery, Crackenback Credit: Destination NSW
The Wildbrumby Distillery & Cafe is a unique, boutique schnapps distillery located on the Alpine Way in the picturesque Thredbo Valley,
Try out the local dining scene
Follow your nose to the delectable range of oven-fresh breakfast pastries on offer at Nimmitabel Bakery. The aroma of freshly brewed Axis Roasters coffee is just as difficult to resist at Birchwood, where you can also fill up before a big day in the great outdoors on cheese toasties, muesli bowls, moreish breakfast salads and more.
Self-catering? Head to The Market. At this part café, part market, you can choose between sinking your teeth into wholesome dishes or grabbing organic fruit and veggies and specialty grocery items to take away.
Cosy up at the end of the day at Bacco Italian Restaurant, which has been preparing pizzas and pastas for more than 25 years; kids are well catered for with a dedicated menu of tasty bites. Or take your palate on its own adventure at much-loved Cafe Darya, which dishes up welcoming Persian favourites including dips, pastries and stews. Pair zingy tacos with lip-smacking margaritas at Cucina Grill & Cantina, and treat your travelling companion to an intimate Japanese dinner at Takayama; kick off a memorable meal with a serving of succulent pork gyoza with ponzu dipping sauce.
Stay in quintessential Snowies lodging
Lean into farm life at Avonside Alpine Estate, a dreamy off-grid farm stay with a vegetable garden, chickens, sheep and highland cattle. The two- and three-bedroom cottages unite Scandi style with sustainable design, and boast calming country vistas, too.
Be soothed by the snow gums surrounding Ecocrackenback, just outside of Jindabyne, as you warm up by the fire in one of its 18 self-contained cabins. Or soak up the similarly scenic setting at Moonbah Hut, which offers two charming timber cottages near Jindabyne that sleep four or five guests. With one hut set on a lake and the other by a river, you can begin or end a summer's day with an invigorating dip, while the stone fireplaces, underfloor heating and exposed beams make the cottages feel particularly snug during the winter months.
The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service manages a number of lodges throughout Kosciuszko National Park, including Creel Lodge. Here you can bask in serene Lake Jindabyne views from the breakfast table. As the moon rises over the lake, indulge in the nostalgic pastime of roasting marshmallows over the outdoor fireplace for dessert.
Lake Crackenback, Thredbo Credit: Destination NSW
Kangaroos at Lake Crackenback, Thredbo.
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Lake Crackenback, Thredbo Credit: Destination NSW
Kangaroos at Lake Crackenback, Thredbo.
Lake Jindabyne, Snowy Mountains Credit: Destination NSW
Scenic views of Lake Jindabyne in the Snowy Mountains.
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Lake Jindabyne, Snowy Mountains Credit: Destination NSW
Scenic views of Lake Jindabyne in the Snowy Mountains.