Best time to do the Darling River Run?

[gphcald Member Find all posts View Profile Close gphcald]

Looking at penciling it in for some time next year, Obviously not during summer (too hot) but also will try to avoid the rains (don't want to get caught with closed roads) Are there any reccomended times to do it and any reccomendations on what to see?
Will be swagging it and taking two cars
Also do it from north to south or vice versa? Start at Bourke or Louth? finish at Menindee Lakes.
All feedback appreciated

Rgds

Gerry

[Dobbo Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Dobbo]

We just got from doing the Run last week, Drove to Hay for o/n camp at Sandy Point Reserve then Balranald and on to Mungo NP for a couple days. Took the $50 sunset tour which we thought was a bit pricey but you get to see and learn more as you're not allowed on the Lunette by yourself these days. Treat yourself to dinner at the lodge just up the road from the main campground, good food and nice hosts.
At Menindee take your pick of the 34 river campsites along Riverside drive in Kinchega NP, take a fishing rod as I managed to catch a few Yellowbelly. Check out the historic Kinchega woolshed and old homestead ruins, visit Sunset Strip about 30km's out of town. The lakes have been dry for several years but Copi Hollow has plenty of water and a caravan park with grass on the lake shores to camp on.

Coach and Horse campground in the Paroo Darling NP east of Wilcannia is not a bad spot though no fires allowed there.

Tilpa and Louth don't have much to offer, there's a free camp about 4kms out of Tilpa on the weir. Trilby Station west of Louth is well worth a stay and a look around.

May's Bend at Bourke is a top spot to camp, get a mud map from the exhibition centre. Don't waste your 20 bucks visiting Mt Oxley unless you like looking at rocks.

Not much to see at Brewarrina except the old aboriginal fish traps, nothing at Walgett except to stock up on supplies.
If you have the time and haven't been there, have a look at Lightning Ridge. Some of the locals have been in the sun too long but otherwise it's quite interesting. Chambers of The Black Hand Mine is well worth the money to view the sculpture's the owner has carved into the walls and ceiling over the last 20 years. Watch out for the crazy woman at the Astronomers Monument, she doesn't like people taking pictures from the road and not paying the entry fee.

Temps average around 28 degrees in the day, dropping to around 6-7 at night. The river is pretty low in places and a lot of algae and duckweed about.
No problems picking up firewood anywhere.

Dobbo

[rob_macca67 Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close rob_macca67]

We are planning on heading down that way next year ourselves.... Sort of got to do it during the winter school holidays....

I also would be interested in hearing more about the Darling River Run (ie: what places to see or not to see)

Which side of the River is a better/more interesting to drive on - east or west side?

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

West side of the river is more of a track than a road, and my preferred side.

Best time really would be a few months after QLD has had a flood Then you get to see the river and the lakes at their best.

Cheers Andrew

[pradogang Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close pradogang]

We did part of it north to south, on the eastern side, enroute to the PP GTG last year. Just south of Bourke a look at the stockade built by the explorer Sturt is worthwhile. The road had just been graded so it was an easy run. Drop in for a drink and a chat at the Louth Pub, the lady there told us a bit about the history of the place. A visit to the cemetery is worthwhile.
You get into blacksoil country near Tilpa which has a great pub. We overnighted at Kallara Station which is not too far from Tilpa on the western side of the river. The modern cabins right on the bank of the river are great. We woke up to rain and were stuck there until after lunch and then had to make a run to the south-east and the safety of the Barrier Highway.
Hope to get back there one day and finish the run down to Menindee and Pooncarie.

Cheers

Jim

[Sunshine Member Find all posts View Profile Close Sunshine]

Hard to tell really when the best time is but do go in the cooler months. We only got back about 3 weeks ago from trying to do it. We got to Bourke about 11 August, stayed 5 nights, plenty to see there, stayed at Trilby station then Idalia station and after 2 nights there was told it was going to rain and we should head for Wilcannia where it is bitumen. We set up in the caravan park at Wilcannia and it did rain and they closed all the roads all the way from Bourke to Wentorth on the Murray. I think they were closed for about 2 weeks so we went on to other places. So next year we will be back to see the bottom half/two thirds from Wilcannia through Menindee to Wentworth.
Just avoid all rain is the advice and predict the weather!!