Outback Australia

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Next stop Cunnamulla a town made famous by Slim Dusty and his song The Cunnamulla Fella, once a thriving town, now like a lot of others is home to only a few thousand people.It was Sunday and the town was closed.Even the famous Cunnamulla Pub was shut until 4pm. The area is the largest wool producing area in Australia,beef is also farmed here,ferrel goats are also rounded up and sold for their meat(a little known fact, Goat meat is the most eaten meat in the world)Cunnamulla is also home to one of the oldest gun clubs in Australia.We stayed at the Cunnamulla caravan park which boasts being hosts to Slim Dusty on many occasions.

Bourke was our next town to visit, a place steeped in history.The good people of Bourke have developed a tourist attraction called The Back O'Bourke which is housed in a purpose built exhibition centre. The exhibition show cases the history of Bourke and the surrounding outback dating back to the first explorers.Names synonymous with the Back O'Bourke are Henry Lawson,Will Ogilvie,Henry breaker Morant,The remarkable Fred Hallows and the famous Captain Charles Sturt to name a few.A hour or more spent here lets you see and understand the struggle of the outback.For an extra $2 entry fee you can ride on a replica paddle steamer down the Darling river reported to be the longest river in Australia.The PV Jandra leaves from the Kidman camp, which so happens is where we stayed for two nights.The river trip was sedate with little animal life apart from a brown snake swimming across the river, the taped commentary however was very interesting giving a history lesson about this part of the river.

We were looking forward to the famous Kidmans Camp Bush poetry and meal on a plate which runs three times a week, but unfortunately it had finished two weeks ago, as the late spring summer months are too hot for the travellers. which confirmed too us, as the park was very quiet, but we did meet some nice people in the pool and had a drink at happy hour, and a chance to swap stories.

Cobar was our next call of port, again a town built on mining which still flourishes today with both open cast and underground mines, mining for gold, copper and other minerals. Surrounded by small hamlets the town provides much needed infrastructure for the district including medical services and a police presence.We moved on to Nyngan only some 125ks from Cobar and camped in a C/P next to the river Bogan, the town offers nothing for the traveller other than a resting place.Still gives me time to do this blog.

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Photos

Cunnamulla
The famous pub

Cunnamulla
The Cunnamulla Fella

Cunnamulla
They breed chickens big out here

Cunnamulla
A new perspective on moving house

Cunnamulla
No mains water

Cunnamulla
The river

Bourke
Back O'Bourke Expedition center

Bourke
Notice some of the names

Bourke
On the river

Bourke
PV Jandra

Bourke
Watering the lawns at Kidmans camp

Bourke
Refreshing

Cobar
Open cast mine

Cobar
Open cast mine