Planning a trip to outback with my 15 years old. Leaving next week and planning this route: Sydney - Dubbo - Cobar - Broken Hill - Mungo - back to Sydney
What are things I need to keep in mind to stay safe? Is it a good time of the year to go there?
Outback Trip - What to Expect?
Ironh59 on 08/04/2024 - 21:36
Comments
I think 100% of this route is on tar.
Four of the 5 stops have plenty of places to stay and eat, and all have plenty of tourists.I'd want a reliable car, Telstra mobile, a first aid kit, drinking water, map and NRMA membership, but I don't think this trip needs a whole heap of prep.
I'd book accommodation too, as if you arrive in Cobar and there are no beds left, it is a long way to Wilcannia for the next accommodation.Looking at some other comments mocking me and telling me that it’s not ‘real outback’, I think will be ok with no prep.
Outback Trip - what to expect?
Alot of fighting with your 15 year old 🤣
I'd reccomend the mandatory stop at Lithgow McDonalds to make use of their single toilet, before doing a lap around Mt Panorama at Bathurst, followed by a sight seeing tour of some of Orange's best streets, i.e. Algona Crescent, Spring st, Jindalee Ave etc.
"doing a lap around Mt Panorama at Bathurst" yup. I did a lay 4 or 5 in the trusty LPG fuelled 81 Datsun Bluebird (RIP), it was actually hard to keep up to 60km/h down the esses whilst staying on the left side. also did one lap backwards as suggested by motor museum dude, and then skateboarded down Conrod (luckily I had dismounted and was walking thru the chase when plod came for a lap)
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Outback Trip - what to expect?
Camels
Ivan Milat or Bradley Murdoch types as well. Keep your doors locked. Don't pickup strangers.
and Camels…
If taking a trailer it's safe to pickup camels.
It's called camel towing.
Actually, goats for 200km around Wilcannia to Broken Hill and beyond. They're a bit road savvy so not too bad, but beware of them on the road around corners.
Was amazed by the amount of wild goats in Western NSW. Outnumbered Kangaroo sightings 50:1.
Never saw a goat as road kill, they are a bit smarter than the natives.
Hardly outback. It's just a long country drive on nice sealed roads. Have fun.
Yep. It's not even an interstate country drive. Mungo National Park will be the most "outback" part of this leisurely drive.
Agree.
it's just a peachy drive on the countryside.at least go visit Maree to call it the outback. or Flinder's ranges, or Coober Pedy
OP’s a city dweller and has NO idea.
NO gear and NO idea apparently
.
Standard
Probably taking his wives Toyota echo
Mungo national park is nice.
The way back we drove at night and missed a cow. Barely.
Both of us in the car failed to register the mass as a cow. We thought it was a bush. Wrong, was a big black stealth cow.If you drive at night, watch out for stealth cows.
Thank you!
Outback Trip , LOL.
better buy a complete wardrobe from RM WIlliams before you leave.
Download the offline version of google maps for the remote areas you intend to travel.
Check the condition of the spare tyre.
Take water.Thank you. I will also be carrying paper maps.
28 hours of driving and 2,509 km, I'd plan rest stops seeing as you appear to be the sole driver and on that route there are no Maccas. I've done Dubbo to Broken Hill once, long boring stretch of featureless landscape. As others have mentioned, be wary of driving at dusk and dawn but you likely already know this. Safe travels!
A good playlist helps, but music can become a bit too soothing. A good podcast (especially comedy) keeps you much more alert.
Outback Trip - what to expect?
Not much.
Expect flies.
How bad are they this time of the year?
take a face mesh
Good house prices in Broken Hill.
Maybe the OP wants to check it out?
Lots of natives to see, including the Aboriginals.
The 15 year old will likely get bored.
Are we there yet? I'm hungry.
Must pack water, food, a spare tyre, a phone, even a friend.
Expect nothing special.
It’s the “outback” there’s nothing there
OMG. Snake 🐍 kit!
Water
First aid
Fly nets/bushman’s and rid
Offline Google maps for entire route and then some in case you want to explore
WikiCamps to find interesting things on there way and places to stop and places to sleep
Accommodation needs sorting unless you camping
Food
Personally I like to have table and chairs and set up by the side of road and make a cuppa and watch the world go by. Depends on teenager of they are engaged or not…If you want to experience outback you’ll need to do 100klm west of broken hill with dirt highways. Sealed roads aren’t outback.
Some ago we did Sydney, Dubbo, Nyngan, Bourke, Cobar, Condobolin, Trundle, Bogan Gate, Parkes, Orange then back to Sydney.
Recently did Sydney, Canowindra, Eugowra, Parkes, Orange back to Sydney.
Highways are boring. We prefer taking back roads where possible. Google maps is your friend.
If you go to Bourke DO NOT STAY THERE OVERNIGHT. The Police advised us to stay in Cobar.
The Copper mine in Cobar is 1.9 kilometres deep and well worth a look from the viewing station. Also Aboriginal rock art.
https://www.visitnsw.com/destinations/outback-nsw/cobar-area…
Do not drive in the evening, particularly between Bourke and Cobar. There are many 100s of sheep, goats and skippys all waiting to commit suicide.
DO NOT STAY THERE OVERNIGHT.
Sadly there are so many towns like that out there now…
What’s the reason for not staying overnight?
stealth cows
Did similar lap in 2020. Tar all the way except entry to Mungo which can be so so depending on recency of grading. Consider which entry point best suits your plans and vehicle. We entered from Balranald. Check in with visitors centre there.
Nothing extra special you need to do to stay safe, watch for wildlife especially if driving at twilight. Carry extra water. Make sure your car is up to the trip.
Consider side trips to Menindee & White Cliffs & Silverton.
Do bask in the history of both the first Australians (eg mungo) and early esettlers (eg Yanga Woolshed).
Get a Boost prepaid if not already on Boost/Telstra - coverage is better.What are things I need to keep in mind to stay safe?
Plenty of rest stops, drinks/natural breaks, especially as you appear to be the only driver and that's a lot of distance for someone unaccustomed to distance driving.
Keep your distance, don't drive at dawn and dusk, make sure your car is fully checked and maintained, tyres in particular.
Make sure your dashcam is working, you may even have something to post on OzBargain when you get backHas your had a service recently or been checked over?
Yes, got serviced in December, less than a year old.
It's all bitumen except the road into Mungo but I assume they maintain it because of the tourists.
Music, audiobooks and if your lad is into it, get the Mad Max movies on a laptop, watch them and go to the Mad Max museum in Silverton, 22km out of Broken Hill.And if not Mad Max, Priscilla will have everyone covered.
Did Dubbo to Broken Hill y'day. The very flat western plains west of Dubbo are interesting in a "don't see that often" way, especially if slightly misty with morning sunlight. After that, it's ok, gets a bit boring. Cobar looks interesting, might be worth a stop. Broken Hill is a surprisingly interesting groovy town. Lots of with-it coffee shops and good pubs in the central area. Historic buildings with explanatory plaques. It's obviously being looked after well. Much better than Kalgoorlie which is what I compare it with as that's more local for me.
BTW, it's cold in the mornings out here. 12° this morning, I was freezing in my desert shorts and sandals, lol.
Fun fact about Broken Hill is it's time zone. Technically it's in the AEST time zone but uses ACST.
its not really outback where your going..
FWIW -> Dont stay in Dubbo… Mates car got broken into, 4000 of camera gear gone… cops didnt give a shit - neither did caravan park owner… cops had a very good idea who stole it, but wasnt worth their time to arrest them as the court wont do anything to em.
Agree with others Broken Hill is great if you like art and history.
As is Silverton if you like that stuff.. Dont bother with mad max museum, its a waste of $Cripes, was it broken into overnight?
yep… and few other cars in the van park inc one dude they took the keys from inside his camp
wow i was gonna go to dubbo. but apparently more animals than the zoo!
Nice road trip you have planned. Other than perhaps Mungo, depending how you do it, you won't really be too far from civilization and assistance at any point.
159km from Cobar to Emmdale Roadhouse, might need to check roadside assistance coverage for that stretch?
Do you have an akubra? I don't think the locals will allow you to pass without this outback essential.
Dont stay in dubbo. If you're heading north at all then stop in gilgandra. Cheaper accomodation but limited dining after 8pm.
Make sure you watch Wolf Creek before going…
Really really really shouldn't be asking this generic question within a week of travel. That's worrying. There's tons of prep needed.