MELBOURNE TO MILDURA

Welcome to our 10 day tour to Broken Hill and the opal mining town of White Cliffs. There’s a tap on the door this morning from our chauffeur who’s here to take us to join our O’Shannessy’s Quality Tours coach and crew.  It’s a travel day today so sit back and enjoy the ride as we take the Western Freeway to Ballarat and then join the Sunraysia Highway into central western Victoria, stopping for lunch in Warracknabeal. This afternoon we push on north to Mildura.

OVERNIGHT:  Best Western Chaffey International Motor Inn, MILDURA

EXPLORING MILDURA

After breakfast, we will be met by our locally based guide for a morning of sightseeing - and to learn about the Canadian Chaffey Brothers (George and William Benjamin) who arrived in Mildura in 1886. Their goal was to establish the first irrigation scheme in Australia. The brothers had been approached by the Victorian Premier Alfred Deakin who was under pressure to open up more land for farming and settlement. Following the success of early irrigation development work William Chaffey began construction of Rio Vista in 1889 – our next stop. The Spanish name Rio Vista (River View) reflects the Californian influences found in the house. In 1889 the family moved into the completed Rio Vista. Although the Mildura scheme was a remarkable achievement, the Chaffey brothers encountered financial difficulties and never realised the dream of prosperity that Rio Vista symbolised. Now the home of the Mildura Arts Centre and Historical Museum the home features antique filled rooms of the 1890s, beautifully restored woodwork, exquisite hand painted stained glass windows and door panelling. While we are in this part of town we will take a look at Lock 11. Back in the centre of town, we now have some free time to explore the shopping area and purchase lunch. This afternoon, we will be taking a river cruise on the Paddle Vessel Rothbury. Built in 1891, the PS Rothbury is one of the last "working" Paddlesteamers on the Murray. Our cruise takes us downstream, through Lock 11. A comprehensive commentary is provided giving us further insight on the Murray Darling River system and the history of the paddleboats. This evening we cross on to Lock Island to view the spectacular Mildura Trail of Lights!

Lunch at own expense and arrangment

OVERNIGHT:  Best Western Chaffey International Motor Inn, MILDURA

MILDURA TO BROKEN HILL

Before departing Mildura, we make our way to Orange World where we embark on a guided tour through the Avocado trees and Citrus orchards. Hopping aboard the tractor train we’ll be entertained by our guide and his juicy sense of humour, then make our way to Wentworth. We look at the junction of the Murray and Darling Rivers, as well as Lock 10 before having lunch at the Lock 10 & Weir Restaurant in Wentworth. From Wentworth we now head to Broken Hill. Dominating this town is the “Line of Lode” – the seven-kilometre strip of what was the biggest deposit of silver, lead and zinc in the world. From here we can take in the best view in town – from the Miners Memorial. After spending some time here, we make our way to our motel where we can settle in for the next four nights.

OVERNIGHT:  Hilltop Motel, BROKEN HILL

EXPLORING BROKEN HILL

A local guide will join us today, describing the history of Broken Hill. Mining has been a part of Broken Hill since 1883 when the first sign of wealth was discovered by Charles Rasp. Since then, a total of 14 different mining companies have made Broken Hill their home and their fortune. Following our sightseeing tour, we visit the Pro Hart Gallery. Here we discover the spiritual quality of the outback in ways very few artists can emulate. Lunch today is at Bells Milk Bar. Next, visit the Sulphide Street Railway and Historical Museum followed by the Silver City Mint and Art Gallery for a self-guided tour of the Big Picture. The large acrylic painting will draw you into its huge skies and red rock earth of ancient riverbeds dotted with gums, leading to the distance Flinders Ranges.

OVERNIGHT: Hilltop Motel, BROKEN HILL

MENINDEE LAKES

To the south of “The Hill” are Menindee Lakes, the historic town of Menindee and the Kinchega National Park. We take a look at the lakes and the township which acts as an oasis for wildlife amidst the dry red sand plains of the surrounding semi-arid region. The serenity of the lakes is disturbed only by the multitudes of waterbirds and the wanderings of red kangaroos and emus. We have arranged to join the River Lady for a one hour cruise on the Menindee Lake and then enjoy lunch at Maidens Hotel. It was here Burke and Wills camped in 1860, prior to their ill-fated trip to the Cooper Creek and the Gulf of Carpentaria. We head back to Broken Hill mid-afternoon.

OVERNIGHT:  Hilltop Motel, BROKEN HILL

SILVERTON

This morning, we travel out of Broken Hill to visit the historic Daydream Silver Mine.  Located in a remote setting, it’s hard to imagine the 500 odd workers living and working here in its hey-day. We enjoy morning tea here today as well as a guided surface tour, hearing all about the smelter, township, how and who found the mine, plus stories about the Cornish Miners and their families and the area in general. From Daydream Mine we continue onto Silverton for a guided town tour. Today it’s a virtual ghost town but several of the historic buildings remain. More recently Silverton has hosted film crews who have produced many well-known movies such as Mad Max 2, A Town Like Alice and Priscilla Queen of the Desert. We have lunch at the Silverton Pub and take a look at the Mundi Mundi Lookout. On our return to Broken Hill, we visit The Living Desert to view the Sculpture Symposium, a nationally successful sculpture symposium situated on a majestic hilltop within the centre of the reserve. The Symposium was completed in 1993 by artists from around the world, under the direction of organiser and artist Lawrence Beck.

OVERNIGHT: Hilltop Motel, BROKEN HILL

BROKEN HILL TO WHITE CLIFFS

The White Cliffs Opal Fields were the first commercial fields in New South Wales. The first lease was granted in 1890 and by 1899 the fields were supporting 4,500 people. Today over 50,000 mine shafts dot the landscape around White Cliffs – a legacy of the relentless search for opal. In fact, after quite a number of years with very little success, a major opal find was confirmed in the area in September 2000. No doubt the digging will continue! In contrast to the mainly old-time hand methods of mining the town is today powered by a very modern solar power station. Our locally based guide will explain all the inner details of this interesting town.  Afterwards we head to the Red Earth Opal Showroom and Café where we enjoy lunch, then experience the adventure of going underground to learn all about the “day in the life of a miner.” We’ll wander through the showroom before checking into our motel.

OVERNIGHT:  Underground Motel, WHITE CLIFFS

WHITE CLIFFS TO COBAR

Leaving White Cliffs this morning we travel the Barrier Highway, passing through Wilcannia enroute to Cobar. On arrival we visit the Great Cobar Heritage Centre the former Administration Building (circa 1910) of the Great Cobar Copper Mine. The centre captures the essence of Cobar, housing an outstanding collection of exhibits which date from the early 1870s to the present day. Inside the amazing collection of artefacts reveals the extraordinary diverse local heritage of Cobar. Through the exhibits the rich history inherent in the everyday life of Cobar’s pioneers, and the culture of “making do” becomes apparent. We check in to our hotel with time to freshen up before dinner.

OVERNIGHT:  Copper City Motel, COBAR

COBAR TO GRIFFITH

On the road again, we follow the famous Kidman Way to Griffith. Our first stop is Mount Hope, copper ore was discovered here in 1873 on Coan Downs by a shepherd named MacDowall. This discovery led to the opening of the Grade Central, Mount Allen and Mount Solitary Mines.  Gold was also mined here.  Mount Hope now has a population of about 20, whereas in its heyday it boasted 3,000.  Now the village relies on the wheat and wool industries. We continue on to Hillston, situated on the banks of the Lachlan River and the town provides a wealth of water orientated activities. We travel through quite a few little outback towns like Goolgowi - the “Crossroads to the Outback”. It’s a relatively new town with settlement occurring in the 1920’s when the mid-western highway and the railway encouraged development. Today the town provides a welcome, restful stop for travellers. We arrive into Griffith in time to freshen up before dinner.

OVERNIGHT:  Kidman Wayside Inn, GRIFFITH

HEADING HOME

We depart Griffith this morning and travel south via Jerilderie and Deniliquin to Echuca, where we stop for a hearty lunch. This afternoon, we continue home to Melbourne, where our chauffeurs await to transfer us safely home with memories of a sensational outback tour!