Darling River Run 12 to 20 April 2021

Take a journey along the Darling River and discover the pioneer history of the region’s historic towns such as Louth, Tilpa, Wilcannia and Menindee. Retrace the steps of the explorers Sturt, Mitchell, Burke and Wills and experience the inspiration for literary legends Lawson, Olgilvie and Breaker Morant.

Take a cruise along the quiet waters of the Darling River on the Paddleboat JANDRA recapturing the romance of the old river-steamers. Tour Historic Dunlop Station which played a major part In Australia’s history before experiencing a taste of life on historic Trilby Station a 130,000-acre working sheep and cattle station, with a tour of the station. Our guides at these stations will be with one of the owners a truly unique and memorable outback experience.

Travel to the classic outback pub the Tilpa Hotel and the White Cliffs Opals fields’ places to meet some real outback characters. Stay in the famous Underground Motel before continuing on to Wilcannia once the ‘queen city of the west’. On reaching Menindee Lakes take a relaxing late afternoon Wetlands Cruise on the Lakes.

Mungo National Park is the focal point of the Willandra Lakes Region World Heritage Area. The lunette known as the 'Walls of China' is one of the main highlights of Mungo National Park. It is a 30-kilometre long dune formation, which protects many thousands of years of human history. Take a guided tour and experience the 'Walls of China' at sunset the changes are truly remarkable.

Follow the Darling River to tour Wentworth, the former nucleus of the river trade, at the junction of the Murray and Darling Rivers to complete your Darling River experience. Travel to Broken Hill on the Silver City Highway before spending a relaxing day returning on the Outback Explorer, watching the ever-changing scenery pass by.

The tour is a small group accommodated tour and is fully escorted by Rail Holidays Australia. Including most meals and return First class Rail.

Book now to avoid disappointment as numbers are limited to just 16 passengers

Rail Holidays Australia Po Box 1430. Bathurst 2795 Telephone: 02 6331 1128 or 0418 337 263 [email protected] www.railholidaysaustralia.com.au For full terms & Conditions apply refer to website. All fares & itineraries correct at time of printing Monday 12 April 2021 To Broken Hill (D) Welcome to your adventure exploring the Darling River. Departing on the Outback Explorer in first class seats. Sit back, relaxing and enjoying the scenery as you are whisked away through the Central West of NSW. Continue to marvel at the ever-changing scenery of Western NSW until you arrive into Broken Hill at 7.10pm.

Tuesday 13 April 2021 Broken Hill (B,D) This morning we will have a Broken Hill city sights tour to explore Australia’s First Nationally Heritage Listed City, known as ‘The Silver City’, followed by a free afternoon for you to explore Broken Hill on your own.

Wednesday 14 April 2021 Wentworth - Mungo National Park (B,D) Today we make our way into Wentworth, situated at the junction of the Murray and Darling Rivers. Europeans first began to settle here in the 1840’s. For over 70 years Wentworth was the nucleus of river trade between New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia. Today, Wentworth still exudes an ‘old town’ atmosphere. We make our way to Mungo National Park. Lake Mungo is one of 17 dry lakes which constitute the Willandra Lakes World Heritage Area, declared in 1981. The stark, silent, desolate and sometimes eerie landscape of sand, sparse but resurgent vegetation, and spiny, hard, pitted, crinkled and fluted dunes and ridges can look more like a moonscape. Today the vegetated dry lake basins are filled with dunes called lunettes formed by quartz sands and pelletised clay, blown from the lake by the westerly winds. The most famous example of a lunette in the park is the 'Walls of China' which rises to 30 m above the plain and runs for some 30 km around the old lake's eastern shore. After arriving and settling into Mungo Lodge, we will spend some time exploring this wonderful area and take a guide tour of the ‘Walls of China’ whilst watching the sunset.

Thursday 15 April 2021 Mungo National Park - Menindee (B,L,D) Today we continue through Pooncarie on our way to Menindee. On reaching Menindee Lakes we explore the lakes before setting down at your accommodation in Menindee. A highlight of the tour will be when we return to Lake Wetherall join a Sunset Wetlands Cruise on the River Lady.

Friday 16 April 2021 Menindee - White Cliffs (B,L,D) Today we continue through Wilcannia. Wilcannia, once the ‘queen city of the west’, still has many impressive sandstone buildings. It was proclaimed a town in 1864 and was a key inland port in the days of paddle steamers. Declining in the early 1920s with the advent of the car, today it is the service centre for a far-flung rural population. We continue towards White Cliffs, Australia’s oldest commercial opal field where you can meet some real outback characters, visit underground dwellings and opal showrooms. Our guide will take us on a tour to observe the historic buildings and visit Red Earth Opal showroom & Cafe where you will have the opportunity to tour a working Opal Mine and purchase opals direct from the source. Your accommodation tonight is at the famous Underground Motel. (Private Facilities in a common area)

Saturday 17 April 2021 White Cliffs - Trilby Station (B,L,D) This morning we’ll stop off at the Tilpa Pub – a must see. This 100-year old attraction, made from corrugated iron and timber, is the place to come to meet the local characters and hear true stories and tall tales from this part of the world. The inner walls of this authentic bush pub are covered with the autographs, dry wit, and messages from the hundreds of people who stop there each year. Then continue to Trilby Station where we experience a taste of life on a working sheep and cattle station in Australia's vast interior. Our tour will include the new shearing Shed with latest innovations. (A range of station accommodation shared facilities)

Sun 18 April 2021 Dunlop Station - Louth – Bourke (B,L,D) We make our way to Historic Dunlop Station for morning tea before a tour of the Historic Shearing Shed which played a major part in Australia’s history, visit the former Station Store. Continuing to Louth to visit the cemetery to hear the story of one man’s devotion to his wife before heading to Bourke for the next 2 nights.

Mon 19 April 2021 Bourke (B,D) This morning, we enjoy a guided tour to discover the sights & history of Bourke a couple of the highlights will be visits to Fred Hollows Grave and a working Cotton Gin. We will visit the Back o’ Bourke Exhibition Centre and watch the Crossley Engine start up. This large oil fuelled stationary engine has an impressive history and sounds great when fired up. The Crossley is located at the old wharf in town. After lunch we take a Darling River Cruise on Price Person twin share Ex Bathurst Ex Sydney a modern-day replica of a paddle steamer; the 'Jandra' gives us a From chance during an hour cruise to experience the Darling of old. Adult $3,370 $ 3,450 Tue 20 April 2021 Depart Bourke (B) Senior and Pensioner $3,275 $ 3,320 Departing Bourke, we head to Dubbo to join the Central West XPT Pensioner Travel Voucher $3,200 $ 3,210 making our way back to Bathurst & Sydney. Single Sup $ 520 $520