Outback NSW: Mungo, Broken Hill and the opal fields
From Mildura through Mungo and the Darling River to Broken Hill, then east via White Cliffs, Cobar and Bourke to Lightning Ridge: roughly 1,600 km of far-west New South Wales, much of it remote.
- Distance
- 1,543 km (959 mi)
- Driving
- 16 h 49 min
- Suggested days
- 9
- Stops
- 12
- States
- Victoria, New South Wales
- Updated
- April 24, 2026
At a glance: 9-day road trip of about 1,543 km (959 mi) with 12 stops, from Mildura to Grawin and Glengarry opal fields. About 16 h 49 min of driving in total.
More road trips in Victoria, New South Wales
Route description
Days 1 and 2: Mildura to Mungo and on to Menindee. Mungo National Park is about 110 km from Mildura, partly on unsealed road that becomes impassable when wet. Walk to the Walls of China at sunrise, drive the lake-bed loop of about 70 km, and learn how Mungo Lady and Mungo Man link the area to more than 40,000 years of Aboriginal history. Carry fuel and water; there is none in the park.
Days 3 and 4: Menindee to Broken Hill, about 110 km. Spend a morning at Kinchega National Park for river red gums and birdlife if the Menindee Lakes hold water. In Broken Hill, a mining city founded in 1885, see the Line of Lode Memorial and then drive 25 km to Silverton and the Mundi Mundi Lookout for a sunset. Broken Hill is the largest fuel and supply stop in the area.
Days 5 and 6: Broken Hill to White Cliffs and Cobar. Broken Hill to Wilcannia is about 195 km, then another 95 km north to White Cliffs, an opal town where many people live and sleep underground. From White Cliffs to Cobar is about 350 km via Wilcannia. Fuel up at every town; services between are scarce, and dusk brings kangaroos and emus onto the road.
Days 7 to 9: Cobar, Bourke and Lightning Ridge. Cobar to Bourke is about 160 km; see the Back O' Bourke centre and the Darling River, then Brewarrina's ancient fish traps. The run on to Lightning Ridge is about 230 km. There, tour a mine, soak in the artesian bore baths and visit the Grawin fields. Unsealed side roads can close after rain; check conditions locally.
Stop-by-stop itinerary
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
Mildura
Victoria - 2122 km
Walls of China, Mungo
NatureMungo National Park, New South WalesA 33 km crescent of wind-sculpted sand dunes on the eastern side of the dry Lake Mungo, part of the Willandra Lakes World Heritage Area. Visit at dawn or dusk; the walkway protects fragile clay.
- 3197 km
Menindee
New South Wales - 4124 km
Broken Hill
New South Wales - 52 km
Line of Lode Miners Memorial
HistoryBroken Hill, New South WalesA memorial and lookout on the mullock heap above Broken Hill, naming miners killed on the Line of Lode. It shows why the mining city, founded in 1885, is on Australia's National Heritage List.
- 630 km
Silverton and the Mad Max country
HistorySilverton, New South WalesA former silver-mining town of a few residents, 25 km from Broken Hill, with stone ruins, small galleries and a pub that has appeared in films including Mad Max 2. The light is best late in the day.
- 7254 km
White Cliffs opal field and dugouts
StaysWhite Cliffs, New South WalesOpal has been mined here since 1889, and many residents live in dugouts cut into the hillside. Underground lodgings stay comfortably cool all year, and fossicking areas let visitors look for opal.
- 8326 km
Cobar
New South Wales - 9188 km
Bourke
New South Wales - 10108 km
Brewarrina Aboriginal Fish Traps
HistoryBrewarrina, New South WalesStone fish traps in the Barwon River (Baiame's Ngunnhu), built by Aboriginal peoples and among the oldest human structures known. Heritage-listed, the site is best visited when the river is low.
- 11148 km
Lightning Ridge
New South Wales - 1245 km
Grawin and Glengarry opal fields
OdditiesLightning Ridge, New South WalesA remote opal-mining district west of Lightning Ridge, known for its quirky corrugated-iron pub and the golf course called the Club in the Scrub. Tracks are unsealed; carry water and avoid wet weather.
Suggested stages and overnight stops
9 days, split by driving time. Campsites from OpenStreetMap: check opening dates before you go.
- Day 1: Mildura → Walls of China, Mungo · 122 km · 1 h 20 min
- Day 2: Walls of China, Mungo → Menindee · 197 km · 2 h 09 min
- Day 3: Menindee → Silverton and the Mad Max country · 155 km · 1 h 42 minOn the way: Broken Hill, Line of Lode Miners Memorial.
- Day 4: Silverton and the Mad Max country → White Cliffs opal field and dugouts · 254 km · 2 h 46 min
- Day 5: White Cliffs opal field and dugouts → Cobar · 326 km · 3 h 33 min
- Day 6: Cobar → Bourke · 188 km · 2 h 03 min
- Day 7: Bourke → Brewarrina Aboriginal Fish Traps · 108 km · 1 h 11 min
- Day 8: Brewarrina Aboriginal Fish Traps → Lightning Ridge · 148 km · 1 h 37 min
- Day 9: Lightning Ridge → Grawin and Glengarry opal fields · 45 km · 0 h 29 min
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually April–May and September–November. Still fine, with some compromises, in February–March, June–August and December. July and August are the busiest months: book campsites early.
Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons
FAQs
How long is Outback NSW: Mungo, Broken Hill and the opal fields?
9-day road trip of about 1,543 km (959 mi) with 12 stops, from Mildura to Grawin and Glengarry opal fields. About 16 h 49 min of driving in total.
How many days do you need for Outback NSW: Mungo, Broken Hill and the opal fields?
We suggest 9 days: about 16 h 49 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.
Where does Outback NSW: Mungo, Broken Hill and the opal fields start and end?
It starts in Mildura and ends in Grawin and Glengarry opal fields.
Which states does Outback NSW: Mungo, Broken Hill and the opal fields pass through?
Victoria and New South Wales.
When is the best time for Outback NSW: Mungo, Broken Hill and the opal fields?
The most pleasant months are usually April–May and September–November. Still fine, with some compromises, in February–March, June–August and December. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
