Wow! Tiki Tourer has done some kms since the last Blog. We left Broken Hill and after being told how good it was at Menindee Lakes we decided to do a little detour and head South approx 110kms. It was well worth the trip. A lot of people had told us that before all the floods the lakes were dry. We got there and they were full.
First stop was Copi Hollow, there had been a Road Bike Rally there over the weekend and we had wondered why we passed so many bikes on the road. By the look of all the empty cans they sure did have a good time.
We were going to stay at the Caravan Park but decided to explore further, driving into Menindee, calling in at the Information centre then drove out to a free camp on one of the other lakes.
The lakes are fed by the Darling River. A water-storage project completed in the 1960s, now supplies farms and orchards producing such crops as grapes, rockmelons, tomatoes and apricots.
The combined expanse of the Menindee Lakes is considered to hold more than three times the volume of Sydney Harbour when full. Water sports such as sailing, swimming and skiing are popular on the Menindee Lakes. Fishing opportunities are plentiful, with anglers easily landing such prime catches as Murray cod, silver perch and catfish. Pity we never took the time to get a Fishing License and only stayed one night.
After checking with the Information Centre we decided to take the Menindee Wilcannia Road which was gravel but would cut our trip by 53kms. Pretty good road really.
Across to Cobar and then through Bourke, outback NSW.
We stopped at the last pub in NSW for a drink at Barringun (I had a beer & Tui a coke as he was driving). We met this enchanting lady, Mary, who had been running the Pub for 35 years.
We stopped the night at a little place called Wyandra. There is a free camp behind the school. Showers & toilets with a donation box. Fences lined with Bras to promote Breast Cancer awareness. Unfortunately I was too slow with the camera and didn’t get a photo.
Onto Charleville, through Augathella.
After talking with our friends Jock & Annie and also the Information Centre we decided to take another gravel road from Tambo to Alpha, camping at Tambo Rest Area the night. Tui had great delight in feeding the horses.
By this time we had slowed our travels down considerably and only drove as far as Sapphire, staying at the Sapphire Reserve. We took a stroll down to the river and watched people fossicking for Gems. Real interesting, don’t know how they tell the difference between the real thing and stones.
Once again Tui had fun feeding the wild life!
Another reasonably short day the next day as we headed to Theresa Creek Dam. Sealed road with a couple of river crossings.
Theresa Creek Dam was a great place. No power but showers & toilets $10 a night. Ended up staying 2 nights. Constructed in 1983 by the Blair Athol Coal Project to supply water for Clermont when the Blair Athol Coal Mine was developed. Covering an area of approximately 300 hectares. Nice lunch at the Kiosk too! Could have stayed there much longer!!
It was then off to Charters Towers but as it was getting late we camped at Cape River Rest Area the night. Not a Rest Area we would recommend as it is a Truck Stop so not the quietest place to be.
We are now with our Mates, Jock & Annie on their property at Charters Towers. Fantastic to catch up with them again but more on that in our next Blog.
Until then “Laugh more, live longer!”