Drive Brisbane to Cameron Corner

Killarney - Warwick

Killarney to Warwick (34 km)

Route:

• Warwick Killarney Rd

Warwick Queensland

Often referred to as the capital of the Darling Downs, Warwick is located on the western side of the Great Dividing Range and near the headwaters of the Condamine River.

Characterized by elegant churches and some grand schools, Warwick is located in the southern Downs about 40 km south-west of Brisbane.

Warwick was settled over 150 years ago, with much of its great architecture preserved (The “Heritage and Historic Building Trails” feature many of the well-preserved churches, cottages, railway stations, schools and monuments – each with its own story.

One of Warwick's favourite sons is Thomas Byrnes, a talented son of poor Irish immigrants, he rose to be Queensland Premier in 1898, whose imposing statue stands in the main street.

Two must-see attractions along the trail are the Warwick and District Historical Museum and the Abbey of the Roses.

October is a great time to visit with the Warwick Rodeo and the Morgan Park Raceway; the main reasons Warwick refers to itself as the “Horsepower Capital of Australia”.

Warwick - Dalby

Warwick - Dalby (180 km)

Route:

• Cunningham Highway
• Leyburn Cunningham Rd
• Millmerran Leyburn Rd
• Pampas Horrane Rd
• Toowoomba Cecil Plains Rd
• Dalby Cecil Plains Rd

Along the Way

• Millmerran
• Cecil Plains

Dalby Queensland

Known as the hub of the Darling Downs, Dalby is a major regional commercial centre located in an area of fertile volcanic soil.

The town is surrounded by fields of wheat, cotton, mung beans, sunflowers, sorghum, millet, and barley. Dalby has the state's largest grain receival centre, but also produces stud cattle, sheep, pigs and angora goats.

The region's thriving cotton industry spreads from Dalby, south to Goondiwindi and west across to St George.

Dalby's importance one of the state's most important regional industrial, agricultural and manufacturing centres due to its natural gas, coal and power generation.

A wonderful place for the visitor, Dalby wonderful picnic spots beside the river, an attractive park in the centre of town, wide country town streets and plenty of other attractions.

Dalby - Surat

Dalby - Surat (270 km)

Route:

• Warrego Highway
• Chinchilla Tara Rd
• Kogan Condamine Rd
• Condamine Highway
• Yuleba Surat Rd
• Carnarvon Highway

Along the Way:

• Chinchilla
• Condamine

Surat Queensland

Surat is located 78 km to the south of Roma on the Carnarvon Highway - part of the Great Inland Way; the town was originally a Cobb & Co changing station.

Surat is just the place to immerse yourself in natural tranquillity on the banks of the beautiful Balonne River with the Surat Riverwalk which follows the Balonne River for approximately 2kms and features leisure equipment, excellent footbridges and a spectacular viewing platform overlooking the river.

Continue your stroll through the picturesque Lions Park to the main street businesses. Continue on and around the corner to walk by the grand 1930’s Shire Hall.

The Cobb & Co Changing Station Museum now houses an amazing 25,000L freshwater aquarium, social history museum, and regional art gallery.

Surat - Hebel

Surat - Hebel (278 km)

Route:

• Carnarvon Highway
• Castlereagh Highway/St George Dirranbandi Rd

Along the Way

• St George
• Dirranbandi

Hebel Queensland

With echos of stories of the Kelly Gang, the little town of Hebel on the border between New South Wales and Queensland is a wonderful place for s stopover.

With an iconic pub, complete with artwork of Lightning Ridge artist John Murray adorning the walls, it is a very quirky pub indeed; adding to the appeal is the recycled furniture made from reclaimed bush finds.

The Hebel General Store and RV Park has kept much of its original 1890s dancehall character and offers amazing home-cooked cakes, desserts, and meals. By night it's a restaurant under the stars complete with white tablecloths and flowers on the tables.

Accommodation at the RV park can be caravan site or cabin and makes for the perfect base to explore the Culgoa Floodplain National Park.

Hebel - North Bourke

Hebel - Bourke (278 km)

Route:

• Hebel Goodooga Rd
• Goodooga Rd
• Twin Rivers Rd
• West Culgoa Rd
• Mitchell Highway

Along the Way

• Goodooga
• Weilmoringle

Bourke NSW

Bourke, NSW, the legendary Darling River town in Outback Australia where it is easy to agree with famous Australian poet Henry Lawson when he wrote, "if you know Bourke, you know Australia" (1882); the iconic Darling River town such part of the fabric of outback Australia and is an RV’ers mecca for a true outback experience.

More than just an outback river town, Bourke is a region that, figurative, is a demarcation between the outback and the east; anything further inland is known as the 'Back o Bourke' which is a colloquial term deeply etched in Australian vernacular meaning to be a long way away from anything.

On the contrary, and this is probably what Henry Lawson meant, the further inland you go, the closer you get to the true essence of Australia.

Bourke to Louth

Bourke to Louth

Travelling The Darling River Run from Bourke to Louth is normally via the Bourke-Wilcannia rd on the east of the river past Gundabooka NP. An alternative route is possible on the west as it passes through some wonderful red soil country and across the Warrego River.

Louth NSW

Louth, NSW, the iconic Darling River town between Bourke and Tilpa. Visit Louth and connect with famous Australian poet Henry Lawson lived and worked for a period in and around Louth and referred to it as, 'a place that loved a drink, a party and a punt.'

Lawson's adage perfectly summed up the town and its people; his impressions from that period are even more relevant today if one is to experience the famous outback race event known as the Louth races whereby the normally sleepy Darling River hamlet swells by the thousands for, well, a drink, a party and a punt (gamble).

Unique to Louth is an amazing and poignant structure known as 'The Celtic Cross'; an eight-metre high polished granite cross that dominates the cemetery on the hill overlooking the town. The monument was constructed by the founder of Louth Thomas Matthews as a perpetual memorial to his wife, Mary Mathews, who died in 1866.

This granite monument was so skilfully designed and positioned that at sunset each day it reflects the sun's light into the village of Louth.

Louth to Tilpa

Louth to Tilpa

The Louth to Tilpa section of along the Darling is one of the best with 2 great options; the east route provides some great access to the river along the way while the western route passes some great historic properties like Trilby Station, Idalia Station, and Kallara Station. (all providing camping and farm stay facilities)

Tilpa, NSW

Tilpa, NSW, located on the western bank of the Darling River, is a must for a stopover, whether you have a few hours or a few days for camping and fishing on the Darling River. The area of the west was once referred to by Henry Lawson by "Tis said the land out west is grand, do not care who says it", ('The Paroo River' 1893). Mr Lawson certainly knew how to eloquently sum up the outback and those that venture down the Darling River and through Outback NSW cannot help but agree, the land out west IS grand.

The old pub is a true classic and has been welcoming travellers and locals for over 100 years. The walls of this timber and corrugated iron pub are covered with graffiti of written by visitors who make a gold coin donation to the Royal Flying Doctor Service for the privilege. The graffiti which makes for an intriguing read while having a cold beer and a chat to the locals and other fellow travellers.

Tilpa to Wilcannia

Tilpa to Wilcannia

With the choice of an eastern and western route, the Tilpa-Wilcannia section of the Darling River Run passes through some wonderful country of the Central Darling.

The eastern route passes through the Paroo-Darling National Park (and the wonderful Coaches and Horses Campsite) while the western route tracks through the Paroo-Darling conservation area.

Wilcannia, NSW

Wilcannia, the Darling River town on the Barrier Highway between Cobar and Broken Hill, is a largely undisturbed port on the Darling River. Cross the bridge driving from Sydney to Broken Hill and turn either to your right or left when you enter the town and you will be amazed at the richness of the architecture.

It is easy to see that Wilcannia was once a very important Outback NSW town and Darling River port and the remnants of a once-important inland port are evident. Some of the town's historic treasures include the National Trust classified old centre-lift bridge (1896), the beautiful 1880 post office, the Athenaeum Library (1883) and the impressive courthouse (1880), police station (1881), and the police residence (1880), which were all built of locally quarried sandstone and designed by James Barnet.

Wilcannia - Menindee

Wilcannia to Menindee

Two great routes for the run to Menindee from Wilcannia… at a good distance to experience the remoteness of Outback NSW.

The western side of the Darling is a popular route as it passes Nelia Gaari Station, a GREAT place to stay with some of the best Darling River camping - helped as it is at the upper reach of the water that is backed up from the Menindee Lakes.

Menindee, NSW

Menindee and the wonderful Menindee Lakes is a beautiful central Darling River destination where you can experience the best of what the Darling River can offer.

An iconic Darling River town, an hour south-east of Broken Hill, Menindee a perfect base to explore the Darling River, the Lakes and one of the best National Parks in Outback NSW, Kinchega National Park.

Discover also that the beautifully penned 'The Man from Snowy River' by Banjo Paterson is an immortal Australian poem there is a line, "There was Harrison, who made his pile when Pardon won the cup".

While many assume it was the famous Melbourne Cup being referred to, it is actually the Presidents Cup at held at Menindee.

There is a story to tell and something to learn in most outback towns, and Menindee on the Darling River is no exception.