Back O’ Bourke – Corner Country

Introducing Back O’ Bourke – Corner Country

Out here, it’s a different world; both harsh and peaceful, stretching forever to the endless sky. This far-western corner of NSW is a semidesert of red plains, heat, dust and flies. But it’s also pastoral lands, with huge properties running beef cattle and sheep.

West of Bourke, the 413km to Tibooburra via Wanaaring is a challenging, unsealed road; north on the Silver City Hwy it’s mostly sealed but monstrous after rain. Along the Queensland border is the dingo-proof fence, patrolled daily by boundary riders.

Tiny Tibooburra, the hottest town in the state, boasts two fine sandstone pubs and a small outdoor cinema. The large NPWS office (08-8091 3308; Briscoe St; 8.30am-4.30pm Mon-Fri) is a good source for information on many things local as well as Sturt National Park, on the northern edge of town. Keeping Place (08-8091 3435) features indigenous artefacts and art from the Wadigali, Wangkumara and Malyangaba peoples.

Granites Motel & Caravan Park (08-8091 3305; Brown St; sites $18, cabins $50-60, motel s/d $56/70; ) has cheery rooms, pleasant cabins and virtually no shade.

The Family Hotel (08-8091 3314; motel unit s/d $60/70; ) has practical rooms.

Dead Horse Gully (sites $7) is a basic NPWS camping ground 2km north of town; you’ll need to bring drinking water (as you should everywhere).

You can normally reach Tibooburra (driving slowly and carefully) from Bourke or Broken Hill in a conventional vehicle, except after rain (which is pretty rare). The road from Broken Hill is partly sealed.

South of Tibooburra, Milparinka, once a gold town, now consists of little more than a solitary hotel and some old sandstone buildings.

Last updated: Feb 17, 2009