The Road to Tibooburra
I know it’s only 442 kilometres from Menindee to Tibooburra, but as you know, we like to take our time. After all, what’s the point in travelling around Australia if all you see is a blur from your car window. So, on our first day of freedom, we went into Broken Hill, filled up with fuel and water then headed west to Silverton.
We arrived at Silverton at 12:30, the perfect time for lunch in the local pub, which was made famous for its part in the Mad Max movies. It was closed. The local bakery was also closed, as were the art galleries and the museum. So much for no more lockdown. But we did get to look around this quirky, tiny town and had a chat with the locals…local donkeys that is.
I had nothing out of the freezer for lunch, but I delved deep into the fridge for our emergency supplies (a couple of chocky bars and an apple each,) and on we went. We had to double back through Broken Hill, and I decided to be brave and take the wheel. It was my first time towing through a large town and I have to say, I did it with flying colours. From there we began our drive northward looking for a place to spend the night.
We drove a huge 102 kilometres and pulled up at a rest stop called Fowlers Gap. What a great little overnight spot that was. Not a lot there, just an old disused shearers shed, a large flat area, big enough for several vans, but we were the only ones there, and a great wide open outlook. There were even, wait for it, birds! Well to be precise one species of bird, but one that I hadn’t seen yet. Nankeen Kestrels.
We were quite hungry by then so I cranked up the oven and chucked in a bag of Steggles Fiery Chicken Bits. I’m sure they’re not terribly healthy, but boy are they delish. We sat outside and had our dinner with a bottle of beer, while we watched a movie. Who says you have to miss out on the good things in life?
Today we got up with the sunrise, made a coffee and opened the door to have it outside. It was blowing a gale and it was freezing. We quickly slammed the door shut and sat inside. It didn’t stop me from running around in my jammie shorts and tee getting more photos of the kestrels though, I must be an idiot. (No comments needed).
We were on the road just before at 9:50, the road being the Silver City Hwy, and stopped for a break at 9:55. Now don’t laugh, we stopped to put our rubbish in the bins provided, then we went on a little walk. Well that’s what Peter said it was going to be. It was just a hill on the other side of the road, and yep, we climbed it. Stunning views from the top and well worth the effort.
It didn’t look that big from down here 
View from the top 
King of the World… 
… and feeling on top of the world. 
That’s the car and van in the distance 
They’re tiny, aren’t they? 
The road just travelled (you can actually see our previous night’s camp in the distance). 
The road yet to be travelled 
Wide open spaces
Our next stop was Packsaddle. Oh my, it was a little slice of heaven. Nothing there but a pub, a few cabins, and a fuel pump, but… they were open. And we were able to have meal and a beer and we caught up with a ‘Menindee local’ we met a few weeks earlier; it was is if Covid-19 had never existed.
After a huge meal, we were looking for a place to lay our heads for the night, and we found a beauty. We had been looking for a spot off the Hwy when we noted a dirt track to the left. We took it and followed it for about a 500 metres, and found this spot.
Tomorrow we should make it to Tibooburra, and that is how you do a four and a half hour drive.
See you out there somewhere
On tow and on the go!
Great photos of the Kestrel, Jo. Hope you enjoy Tibooburra when you get there.
Great photos thank you for sharing, keep on enjoying xx
Great to see you on the road again and enjoying some outback charm
Look forward to your updates – keep them coming !
Good day to you good pictures your little pub looks good so did the food oh so did the sunset drive safe luv mam xxx