Michael and Pam's Travels Our European Motorhome Adventures and other Travels
Michael and Pam's Travels

The Central Darling, New South Wales ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡บ 2020

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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 is more an outpost than a town although it does have a Police Station and several government services buildings. There are two pubs so it must be a town.

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.

Quick lakeside video from Copi Hollow.
  • The Menindee Broken Hill pipeline.
  • The channel between Copi Hollow and Menindee Lakes.
  • The causeway and rail bridge, the dry Menindee lakebed beyond.
The Weir
  • 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.
Views around Menindee from the weir.
Back on the road to Broken Hill.

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 itโ€™s doing there, Jenny has spies everywhere. Then nearly 3 more hours of driving.

Pam loves the road trains…
  • Low ridges and storm clouds all afternoon.
  • Finally Wilcannia.

We go straight over the bridge and turn into the caravan park. The pitches are concrete and grass, the ammenities are good and itโ€™s 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…
Wilcannia has some lovely old sandstone buildings. Some still in use as government buildings, others awaiting restoration.
Some shadow puppetry ?
  • Looking up the Darling from the bridge.
  • Wilcannia Weir
Sunset drink with Di and Ken, Sue and Wal

Michael + Pam

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