Darling River Run 9 to 17 August 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 take a relaxing late afternoon Wetlands Cruise on the Lakes.

Mungo National Park is the focal point of the World Heritage Area. The lunette known as the 'Walls of China' is one of the main highlights of . It is a 30-kilometre long 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 9 August 2021 Bourke (D) Today we join the Central West XPT to Dubbo. Where we meet our touring coach and continue to Bourke arriving in time for dinner before checking in to our accommodation for 2 nights.

Tuesday 10 August 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 a modern-day replica of a paddle steamer; the 'Jandra' gives us a chance during an hour cruise to experience the Darling of old.

Wednesday 11 August 2021 Dunlop & Trilby Stations (B,L,D) We make our way through Gundamooka to Louth to visit the cemetery to hear the story of one man’s devotion to his wife. Continuing on 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 then continue to Trilby Station. Here 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)

Thursday 12 August 2021 Trilby Station - White Cliffs (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. We continue towards White Cliffs, Australia’s oldest commercial opal field where, we will visit a couple on Opal showrooms 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. Tonight, is a unique experience when you stay underground in the famous White Cliffs Underground Motel. (Private Facilities in a common area)

Friday 13 August 2021 White Cliffs-Menindee (B,L,D) Today we continue through Wilcannia. Wilcannia, once the ‘queen city of the west’, still has many impressive 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. 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.

Sat 14 August 2021 Menindee- Mungo National Park (B,L,D) Today 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 and ridges can look more like a moonscape. 25 000 to 45 000 years ago the lake covered 135 square kilometres and was about 10m deep. It was once of a series of freshwater lakes along Willandra Creek, which was then a major branch of the Lachlan River. The lakes dried up about 14 000 years ago. 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.

Sun 15 August 2021 Wentworth - Broken Hill (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 , Victoria and South Australia. Today, Wentworth still exudes an ‘old town’ atmosphere. After lunch, we continue to Broken Hill, Australia’s First Nationally Heritage Listed City, known as ‘The Silver City’ our home for the next 2 nights.

Mon 16 August 2021 Broken Hill (B,D) This morning we will have a Broken Hill city sights tour followed by Price Person twin share Ex Bathurst Ex a free afternoon for you to explore Broken Hill on your own. From

Tue 17 August 2021 Depart Broken Hill (B) Adult $3,315 $ 3,385 Depart Broken Hill on the Outback Explorer in first class seats sitting Senior and Pensioner $3,250 $ 3,300 back enjoying the ever-changing scenery throughout the day. Pensioner Travel Voucher $3,180 $ 3,190 Single Supp $520 $520 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