Down the Darling to the Riverina - 13 days

Departing 27 October 2023 for 13 days from Canberra
$8150pp twin/double share | solo traveler on application.

Departing from Canberra, we travel north to Wellington and take in the view from Goobang National Park looking west towards the Darling. We meet the river at Brewarrina where the local Aboriginals constructed fish traps, thought to be the oldest man-made structures in the world. Our accommodation is comfortable, staying in boutique hotels and on outback sheep and cattle stations where we are hosted by the owners. We learn about the history of colonial settlement and begin to understand why it was said that Australia grew ‘on the sheep’s back’. The rivers of the Murray-Darling Basin were a major transport route for the clip, fought over by ambitious types who eyed a fortune and gave little regard for the landscape. 

We call into Broken Hill and see how the discovery of silver, lead and zinc gave rise to the mining giant BHP. We wander streets with names like Oxide and Chloride where 70 pubs and hotels once flourished. Just north of Broken Hill we will visit the spectacular Mutawintji National Park with its dry riverbed, Aboriginal paintings and deep gorges.

Driving south past the Menindee Lakes we reach Mungo National Park. Here ancient human remains were unearthed from 40,000 years before, leading to the establishment of the Willandra Lake UNESCO World Heritage listing. The area is home to three Aboriginal groups who are the traditional custodians of the area. 

From Mungo we head to the NSW Riverina, the food and wine bowl of Australia. There will be opportunities to taste some award-winning wine and food direct from the producers, and time to relax, unwind and meet the locals.