Bourke NSW

We’ve made it to Bourke and I can officially now tick off two bucket list items:
*The longest straight road in NSW
*Being able to say I’ve been out ‘Back-O’Bourke’.

At the Back O’ Bourke Discovery Centre we learned about the first inhabitants of the area alongside some of the resilient pioneers, through storytelling, multimedia exhibits and a wraparound theatre experience.

The centre highlighted the significance of the river, reminding us that water is life, and as Henry Lawson once famously said, “If you know Bourke, you know Australia” we did feel connected to the cultural and environmental roots of this landscape.

Tonight we’re staying at Kidman’s Camp on the northern side of town and we’re very pleased with this selection. It’s like a little oasis in the middle of nowhere and thankfully punching well above its weight for the area.

We explored around town and down by the river with its huge multi- story wharf - a hangover from when the river was the main form of transportation and trade.

The mighty Darling River was in flood and we nervously watched on as some local kids backflipped from the top deck into the very swiftly flowing water. That was our cue to the heck get out of there before we became key witnesses in a sad misadventure story.Read more