Date: 21st September 2020
Travelled: 388 kms Menindee to Wilcannia on the Darling River
Visited: Menindee Lakes and Wilcannia
Stayed: Victory Park Caravan Park, Wilcannia. $15 with services. S31.56012, E143.38132
Budget: NA
After a quiet evening in Menindee we have coffee and some fruit, service the camper and get ready for the day. With the roads closed to the south we have no choice but to return to Broken Hill and head east to Wilcannia. But first we will catch some sights around the lakes.
Menindee, New South Wales, Australia
Whilst servicing the Winnebago a guy in some uniform walks past. He was something to do with the water resources authority. Anyway he told us the best spots to get a view of the lakes, and some background about the current water levels.
Our first stop is Copi Hollow 
A view across the Lake.
Copi Hollow is back up the road about 10 kms. Copi is the only lake in the system with any water, it is full. We gather Copi is maintained for tourism and the local wildlife.
The Menindee Broken Hill pipeline. 
The channel between Copi Hollow and Menindee Lakes. 
The causeway and rail bridge, the dry Menindee lakebed beyond.
The rail line obviously. 
Looking over Lake Menindee, the water only extends for a few hundred metres. 
From the weir looking back up the channel to the rail and road bridges.
Given our forced detour we aim for Wilcannia for the night, so we head back into Broken Hill for a coffee and fuel stop. We get a text from Jenny someone has spotted their motorhome in Broken Hill wondering what itโs doing there, Jenny has spies everywhere. Then nearly 3 more hours of driving.
Low ridges and storm clouds all afternoon. 
Finally Wilcannia.
Wilcannia, New South Wales, Australia
We go straight over the bridge and turn into the caravan park. The pitches are concrete and grass, the ammenities are good and itโs only $15. Almost immediately we are accosted by Wal, a friend of Jenny and Daves from Nelson Bay. Now we know who sent a text to Jenny this morning about her motorhome being in Broken Hill.
After saying hello we set off to explore Wilcannia.
Everyone loves a traction engine, well I do…
Looking up the Darling from the bridge. 
Wilcannia Weir 
Michael + Pam
2 thoughts on “The Central Darling, New South Wales ๐ฆ๐บ 2020”
Did you find the gaol at Wilcannia also water is/was piped from Menindee to Broken Hill
Have included some picture of Wentworth Goal in the next blog.