Murray-Darling River Run

DAY 1  GYMPIE TO DALBY

Saturday 20 August, 2011  (LD)

Welcome to our Murray-Darling River Run tour – two weeks exploring Australia's major river systems.  With the recent breaking of the drought, now is an ideal time to experience their might and beauty. Today we travel through Kingaroy and onto Dalby.

Accom:  Dalby Manor Motor Inn

DAY 2  DALBY TO ST GEORGE

Sunday 21 August, 2011  (BD)

Our morning touring takes us south to Moonie and then onto St George on the New South Wales Border. After lunch we are joined on the coach by a local guide for a town tour before checking into our motel.

Accom:  Riverland Motor Inn, St George

DAY 3  LIGHTNING RIDGE VIA CUBBIE STATION

Monday 22 August, 2011  (BLD)

After a pub lunch in Dirranbandi we travel to the famous Cubbie Station for a guided tour. We’ll be shown around by a representative from the Cubbie Group and spend the morning touring this giant farming operation. This afternoon we travel to Lightning Ridge.

Accom:  Wallangulla Motel, Lightning Ridge

DAY 4  LIGHTNING RIDGE TO BOURKE

Tuesday 23 August, 2011  (BLD)

This morning we have a special experience in store at the Chambers of the Black Hand, a unique tourist mine. More than 11 metres underground, it features awesome paintings and sculptures, with a mine on the second level. After returning to town we meet our local opal expert at the Opal Cave. After lunch at the Lightning Ridge Club we travel to Bourke on the Darling River – our base for the next 2 nights.

Accom:  Major Mitchell Motel Bourke

DAY 5  EXPLORING THE DARLING

Wednesday 24 August, 2011  (BD)

After breakfast we are joined by a local guide who will introduce us to the town. Also on our itinerary is the “Back of Bourke Exhibition” and the Bourke Cemetery to see the grave of Dr Fred Hollows.  After our sight-seeing we have some free time for lunch before a 2 hour cruise on the paddleboat Jandra.

Accom:  Major Mitchell Motel Bourke

DAY 6  FOLLOWING THE DARLING

Thursday 25 August, 2011  (BLD)

After breakfast we travel west to Louth, following the course of the Darling River. The Darling meanders through Outback New South Wales – from its origins in Queensland's Darling Downs till it meets the mighty Murray at Wentworth. We make our way to Wilcannia with a stop along the way at the famous Tilpa Pub. From here we join the Barrier Highway and travel through to Broken Hill.

Accom:  Comfort Inn Hilltop, Broken Hill

DAY 7  EXPLORING THE HILL

Friday 26 August, 2011  (BLD)

Following breakfast we pay a visit to the School of the Air to get an insight into life in a rural community. Next is the Silver City Mint and Art Centre, known as one of the newest and best galleries in town. We then travel to nearby Silverton, once the largest town in the Barrier Ranges but a virtual ghost town. More recently Silverton has featured in well known movies such as Mad Max 2, A Town Like Alice and Priscilla Queen of the Desert. We have lunch at the Silverton Pub, then our guide will give us a brief history and tell us some more interesting facts before we return to Broken Hill. On our return to Broken hill we visit the Living Desert and Sculpture Symposium on the western outskirts of the town, an unusual attraction sculptured from large pieces of Wilcannia Sandstone.

Accom:  Comfort Inn Hilltop, Broken Hill

DAY 8  THE MENINDEE LAKES

Saturday 27 August, 2011  (BLD)

We depart Broken Hill for Menindee Lakes, the historic town of Menindee and the Kinchega National Park. First stop is at the weir where we join the River Lady for a one hour cruise. Then, after a BBQ lunch, we drive into the township of Menindee to collect our guide who will take us into the Kinchega National Park – an oasis for wildlife amidst the dry red sand plains. We inspect the historic shearing shed before heading back to Menindee for a break and perhaps a drink at the Maidens Hotel. This afternoon we travel to Mildura.

Accom:  Best Western Boulevard Mildura

DAY 9  FOLLOWING THE MURRAY

Sunday 28 August, 2011  (BLD)

We depart Mildura this morning and follow the Murray River on our way to Swan Hill, home to the Pioneer Settlement. Located on the Little Murray River, it contains over 50 historic buildings, many of which carry on the business of 90 years ago. We enjoy a visit and lunch at the Settlement before continuing to Echuca via the Murray Valley Highway. We pass through Lake Boga and onto Echuca/Moama for a two night stay.

Accom:  Comfort Resort Echuca Moama.

DAY 10  THE MURRAY AT ECHUCA

Monday 29 August, 2011  (BD)

This morning we meet a local character who will help us understand the history and stories of the area of the Echuca Port.  We spend some time at the Information Centre, explore an escape tunnel from the Star Hotels illegal bar and look through Sharps Magic Movie House & Penny Arcade. This evening we embark on our dinner cruise on the Pride of the Murray.

Accom:  Comfort Resort Echuca Moama.

DAY 11  ECHUCA TO GRIFFITH

Tuesday 30 August, 2011  (BLD)

This morning we are going to tour north to Deniliquin on the Riverina Highway. We visit Peppin Heritage Centre which incorporates the Crossing Café and the Visitor Information Centre. After morning tea and the chance to wander through the Centre, we are joined on the coach by a local guide for a sight-see around town. After lunch at the famous Conargo Pub we travel to Jerilderie and onto Griffith.

Accom:  Bagtown Inn Griffith

DAY 12  GRIFFITH TO DUBBO

Wednesday 31 August, 2011  (BLD)

After an informative visit to the Griffith Visitors Centre we are met by our local guide for a tour of the town. Our tour takes in the history of the Griffith area, with a viewing of the Soft Sculptured Artistic Curtain at the Regional Theatre, recreational and scenic sites of Griffith, as well as the new housing and industrial estates. On the road again, we head to Dubbo with a lunch stop at West Wyalong and a brief stop at the CSIRO Radio Telescope complex, north of Parkes. The visitor centre features many hands on displays and exhibits and our visit also includes a 30 minute audio visual called “The Invisible Universe”.

Accom:  Golden West Motor Inn Dubbo

DAY 13  TARONGA WESTERN PLAINS ZOO

Thursday 1 September, 2011  (BLD)

After a leisurely breakfast, we take a city-sights tour of Dubbo and make a stop at the Old Dubbo Gaol, a stark reminder of our harsh and often violent past. Then we transfer to the Western Plains Zoo, where we are joined by a guide who will provide us with an insight into the animals and zoo. After our tour, we rejoin the coach for our afternoon drive along the Newell Highway – through Coonabarabran and onto Narrabri.

Accom:  Nandewar Motor Inn Narrabri

DAY 14  NARRABRI TO TENTERFIELD

Friday 2 September, 2011  (BLD)

Our touring today takes us north through Moree. Our morning tea stop is just to the east of Moree at the Trawalla Pecan Farm, the largest in the Southern Hemisphere. From here we head into the New England Ranges through Glen Innes and onto Tenterfield for our final night.

Accom:  Tally Ho Motel Tenterfield

DAY 15  HOME

Saturday 3 September, 2011  (BL)

We enjoy a brief guided tour of Tenterfield this morning before crossing the Queensland Border to Stanthorpe. Our morning tea stop is at the Aloomba Lavender Farm, part of a 4000 acre cattle property with the lavender covering about 6 acres. We travel home via Warwick, saying goodbye to new friends after a sensational 15 day tour.