At Tri State Safaris we know about so many incredible places to visit around the Outback of Australia, and we’re here to help you get out there and see all that our incredible homeland has to offer. Explore what’s right on our doorstep – let us help you discover all of those places that you’ve always wanted to visit. Whether it’s a weekend escape close to home or an adventure across Australia, show your support for our amazing country and holiday here this year!
Begin your adventure travelling east of Broken Hill towards the massive Menindee Lake system and Kinchega National Park. Morning tea on the banks of Lake Parmarmaroo is a great introduction to the spectacular Menindee Lakes System, which is many times larger than Sydney Harbour. Next stop is a relaxing cruise on Lake Wetherill in the ‘River Lady’ – enjoy the abundant birdlife that call the wetlands of the Menindee Lakes home and marvel at this spectacular outback waterway.
Leaving Menindee behind follow the meandering Darling River to the historic river port of Wilcannia where we take the time to explore the historic stone buildings which are vivid reminders of what used to be a bustling inland port. Whilst here, we’ll take the opportunity to learn more about the history of Wilcannia and delve more into the Indigenous culture of the area. Warrawong on the Darling, just a short distance from Wilcannia, is our home for the night. Sit back on the verandah of your lovely new cabins and enjoy the unspoilt tranquillity while watching the amazing variety of birdlife and the ever changing colours of the sunset.
The next stop on our journey is the nique outback opal-mining town of ‘White Cliffs’ – the first opal field in Australia. This tiny community lives underground, whilst above ground there is an eerie lunar landscape, which has been created by years of mining for the elusive opal. Our tour of White Cliffs gives us the opportunity to meet some great outback characters! Places of interest include the Solar Power Station and a variety of mines and museums (depending on seasonal availability). Why not try your luck ‘noodling’ for opal, or perhaps buy a special piece from an underground shop. Accommodation tonight is at the famous Underground Motel – an experience you will never forget. (share facilities).
Leaving your underground oasis, we travel along remote red dirt outback roads towards Mutawintji National Park. Enjoy a homemade morning tea along the way in a spectacular dry creekbed. Mutawintji National Park is within the rugged Byngnano Ranges, with its beautiful gorges and creeks lined with majestic River Red Gums. Mutawintji means ‘place of green grass and waterholes’. The presence of shelter and water means this idyllic place is home to a wide variety of birds and wildlife.
Among the gorges and cliffs are the secrets of an ancient culture. The Park reveals examples of rock carvings, paintings and stencils that provide evidence of aboriginal occupation of the area that dates back more than 8000 years. In September 1998 Mootwingee NP was formally handed back to its traditional owners. Today the area is called by its traditional name, Mutawintji. Our time at Mutawintji will be spent in the restricted access Historic Site. This area is where ceremonies and initiations took place. Listen to the story of Kullawarra, and learn about the creation of Mutawintji in the dreamtime. We then embark on interpretive bush walks to the Engravings Site and the Stencils Site. The remnants of fireplaces and stone toolmaking give us an insight into traditional life in the area. Enjoy a picnic lunch before commencing our return journey through the Barrier Ranges and back into Broken Hill, through more amazing outback scenery.
