Visit New South Wales

MINING TOWNS AND VAST DESERT LANDSCAPE
Outback New South Wales is not the rugged, desolate land so often portrayed. Visitors to the region will be amazed to see beautiful waterways and an abundance of wildlife.

The red-brown plains, mining towns, unique National Parks and Aboriginal culture all provide an enduring snapshot into what outback life is all about – but it's the sheer space and dazzling horizons that will make your spine tingle. And while there's little chance you'll bump into Crocodile Dundee himself in one of the region's many outback inns, the quirky locals are sure to please.

For more information, go to:
www.visitnsw.com.au
www.visitoutbacknsw.com.au

FAMOUS FOR...

One of the lesser-known stars of the Mad Max films.

Scenes from Mad Max Silverton, just outside Broken Hill, is the film capital of the Outback, renowned for images of red earth and camels in the main street; it was used as a location in the film Mad Max. Broken Hill itself is no stranger to being captured on film – perhaps most memorably in Priscilla: Queen of the Desert.

Opera singer June Bronhill Bronhill was born in Broken Hill and changed her name from Goff to Bronhill as a tribute to those in her hometown who helped her start up. Legendary actor Chips Rafferty. Rafferty, who has starred in many Hollywood films, was born in Broken Hill.

Pro Hart Gallery – Broken Hill Perhaps one of the unlikeliest spots to find a Picasso or Renoir, but renowned Aussie artist Pro Hart is reputed to have one of the largest private art collections in the country. It's open for visitors.

Lightning Ridge Visit the quirky mining town of Lightning Ridge, home to Australia's black opals. Don't pass up the chance to drink a beer in one of the town's pubs – you may just be privy to a Great Aussie Yarn told by one of the many eccentric locals.

The Darling River flows through the heart of Outback New South Wales The region features many classic outback towns with rich maritime histories such as Bourke, Louth and Tilpa. The Darling joins the Murray River in Wentworth, travelling down into South Australia.

DID YOU KNOW...?

Amazing rock formations can be found throughout the region.

Many outback children attend the School of the Air out of sheer necessity. Living too far away to attend school, teachers deliver lessons via radio to students spread across properties anywhere up to 500kms away.
Inhabitants of the opal mining town of White Cliffs have found a great way to keep cool – they build their houses (or 'dugouts') underground.
Indigenous Australian William Bates heads the Mutawintji Aboriginal Land Council and National Park. He and his brother Badger were the driving force behind the Mutawintji National Park handback in 1998; the first National Park in NSW to be returned to traditional owners.
Scattered in caves and overhangs in the Mutawintji National Park is an Aboriginal gallery of great significance. The paintings and engravings here reveal the importance of the region to many tribes of Aborigines, who came to Mutawintji for major ceremonies.
Another National Park of interest includes the lunar-like surface of the World Heritage Listed Mungo National Park and its Walls of China rock formations.

Images

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Climate

The best times to visit are between March and October with pleasant days in autumn, winter and spring. In summer, the region can be very hot when temperatures can reach 40 degrees Celsius at 10am. Winter nights can be chilly.

Distance from Sydney

Broken Hill, the region's unofficial capital, is located 1160km (722 miles) west of Sydney. Flights to Broken Hill are available, as are regular train services.

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