Where to go?

[Retreads Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Retreads]

Hi all, I have been told to take some leave from work in July for two weeks to get my leave balance down (a first world problem I know). I need some help with ideas on where to go? I will be taking the Mrs and the two young kids from Canberra and I am keen on camping for a couple of weeks but a little wary of how much "fun" it could be at that time of year when the temps are below zero at night?

Anyone have any good trip suggestions on where you would go if you had two weeks off in winter and lived in Canberra?

[Pugaree Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pugaree]

You have plenty of choices, High Country (might be too cold though), up or down the coasts, inland Victoria including the Murray.

Me, I love the outback and if you haven’t done it I can I can recommend this trip. Leave Canberra head to Broken Hill via Hillston and Ivanhoe, long haul for one day so might pay to break this up with a stop in Ivanhoe or thereabouts. An alternative is to head via Wagga/Hay and have a camp at Lake Mungo (well worth seeing) then up to BH via Pooncarrie, (if the road is open) or back on the highway and up the Silver City Hwy via Wentworth.

Camp a day or two to unwind at Menindee Lakes, then a day or two in Broken Hill (love this town) and one night at Silverton. Don't go to Wilcannia.
Then from Broken Hill to Tibooburra, an easy day’s drive, stopping at Milparinka for a look, in fact you could camp here also. In Tibooburra itself, there are excellent camp sites about two k's out of town (no showers though) and full shopping and fuel amenities. There is also a campground with showers etc right in the middle of Tibooburra.

Then across from Tibooburra to Camerons Corner, camp either at the Corner or Fort Grey campgrounds just short of the Corner (highly recommend this spot).
From the Corner here you can head south down the Flinders, north to the Dig Tree or back to Tibooburra and on to White Cliffs and look at the underground mines etc. I quite enjoyed White Cliffs, it's a pretty little town with excellent camp facilities with hot showers etc for a few bucks per night.

From there its up to you, head east to the coast or continue to explore the Darling River, there is a track called the Darling River Run that I haven't done but would be well worth it.

I have all the brochures from NPWS, local tourist bureaus etc and would be happy to give them to you to assist in planning if you do consider this trip. I'm in Canberra also so would be easy to get them to you. If you wanted to have a chat, please PM and I’ll give you my phone number. I too am taking leave, the first three weeks in July and heading off on my Pat, leaving the wife and kids at home. I love camping this time of the year and will probably head this way myself.

[glen_ep Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close glen_ep]

Well I love the mountains but if temperature is an important factor, then like above, I would suggest the outback. Pugaree's suggestions are spot on. Although I'll point out that half the attraction (and half the time spent) in those regions is related to history, ruins, grave sites, etc. I don't find those things very fascinating, so for me, the highlights of those areas were more in relation to the landscapes and roads, for example the road immediately west of Cameron Corner was great fun - up and down dunes at considerable speed. Walkers Crossing offered a large variety of scenery and road conditions, including sand, salt lakes and rocky plains. The painted desert has amazing scenery if you can get that far. I didn't visit Flinders Ranges this time but that's an obvious one to include.

An entirely different option would be to head into north NSW. Many people skip NSW as they head to QLD for beaches, VIC for mountains, or SA/NT for outback, but there are some great places to see. North NSW offers Barrington Tops (very cold, so skip that), Oxley Wild Rivers/Macleay River, New England NP, Guy Fawkes NP, Dorrigo NP, Washpool NP, and more as you go further. You could mix it up with coast one way, and inland the other way.

[Retreads Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Retreads]

Thanks for the suggestions guys, this has really helped the planning. Looks like the outback it is.

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

Don't go to Wilcannia.

On the contrary, definitely stop in for a visit at Wilcannia, its maybe the most underrated town in the whole of Australia. spend a bit of time looking around at all the wonderful old buildings. I have never camped there, but have camped just a few km's out of town without issue.


Cheers Andrew

[Pugaree Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pugaree]

On the contrary, definitely stop in for a visit at Wilcannia, its maybe the most underrated town in the whole of Australia. spend a bit of time looking around at all the wonderful old buildings. I have never camped there, but have camped just a few km's out of town without issue.


Cheers Andrew

Agree, the old buildings, courthouse and police station, were great and I should probably say proceed with caution. I have never been made to feel more unwelcome anywhere than I was there,(been there twice now) and I've been to a few dodgy places over the years.

Where did you camp?

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

Interestingly a little town in Tasmania called Fingal is the place I felt the most unwelcome, I didn't really get that feeling in Wilcannia and I have been through there at least 4 times.

We camped just off the side of the road around 5 k out of town SW heading for Menindee Lakes.

Cheers Andrew

[NatSX Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close NatSX]

Cameron corner, Innaminka, coongie lakes, back down the darling or east to carnarvon gorge.
Or.... mad dash to Flinders Ranges, spend all your time there (both south end and Arkaroola end) mad dash home!

[Brisey Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Brisey]

Agree, most definitely not made to feel welcome in Wilcannia, don't accidently step foot in the "wrong" pub either.

[r4ndll Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close r4ndll]

Are you looking for touring or camping somewhere for longer? How far do you want to drive? Bush Camping/ Caravan Parks? What interests you? I love history so could spend hours poring over ruins/historic sites. My wife and kids, not so much

Heading to the South Coast of NSW is also an option. Lost of empty beaches and National Parks and cute towns and the weather is not too bad or cold. Certainly not near freezing at night

Back roads to camp at Bendethra or Berlang and go visit the Big Hole and the Marble Arch and the Bendethra Caves. Go visit Merry Beach/Narooma/Tathra/Tilba/ Whale museum at Eden/Merimbula.
Remote National Park camping in Ben Boyd National Park at Saltwater Creek Campground.

[Retreads Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Retreads]

Ended up going North. Was lucky to miss most of the cold (except that one night of snow)

Had a great time and thank to everyone for the suggestions.

[Retreads Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Retreads]

Sorry, double post