I am planning to do the run from Bourke thru to Wentworth. During a study of the maps they indicate there are 2 possible routes; 1 road on the western side of the Darling, and 1 on the eastern side. Not wanting to down 1 and return on the other, I am seeking suggestions from fellow travellers as to which road might be best, in terms of road condition, sights, etc.
I will be driving a 2 wd Isuzu MU-X with no trailer.
Any other comments / suggestions will be appreciated.
Peter_n_Margaret said
04:50 PM Jun 4, 2025
These roads are gravel or earth formed, so conditions can change by the hour. My memory is that each side is generally similar. Some, like in this short clip from 2019 during the drought, is black soil, so do NOT be out there if there is ANY rain. At this time it was smooth, fast and very dusty. North side travelling north. www.youtube.com/watch Cheers, Peter
-- Edited by Peter_n_Margaret on Wednesday 4th of June 2025 04:51:39 PM
herks said
05:31 PM Jun 4, 2025
Dont know about the eastern side but the western side is fine (in the dry). From Wentworth to Menindi is all tared. The rest is generally 10 km dirt then 10km of tar and repeat. Did the western run this time last year in a Dmax towing an on road van.
bristte said
09:14 AM Jun 5, 2025
I've just done significant parts of the DRR a couple of weeks ago. I was a bit constrained in that there had been a rain event a few weeks before and at the time I went through not all roads where open. They did subsequently open up, but there was another event a few days ago, and I gather there are currently road closures in place again. This is the problem with doing the DRR. My advice is to wait until the roads are open and the forecast is clear and then go for it, but local showers can be hard to predict. The shires close the roads at the first few spots and reopen them slowly.
The roads are reasonable outback dirt roads, which some sections of bitumen, esp in the north. Local advice at the time is the best way to pick which side to travel on, but in practice which stations you plan to stay at will determine which side you choose. You don't actually see all that much of the river just from driving, station stays are the best way to get a close look, other than the bridges at various towns. Heading south from Bourke, if you take the east side it will take you past Rose Isle Station, then at Louth switch to the west side to go past Dunlop and Trilby. From Tilpa to Wilcannia I don't think it matters all that much.. From Wilcannia to Menindee I'd take the west side as it takes you past an excellent station stay at Nelia Gaari. Plenty to see and good river camping options at Menindee and then it's a sealed road all the way south from there.
keiron said
11:22 AM Jun 5, 2025
Thank you. I did do a run from Menindee to Wilcannia a few years ago, towing my caravan, and when I arrived at Wilcannia it took me 2-3 hours to re-hand cupboard doors, re-fit drawer and clean up. Corrugations. Your comments are most helpful. Safe travels.
bristte said
04:02 PM Jun 5, 2025
keiron wrote:
Thank you. I did do a run from Menindee to Wilcannia a few years ago, towing my caravan, and when I arrived at Wilcannia it took me 2-3 hours to re-hand cupboard doors, re-fit drawer and clean up. Corrugations. Your comments are most helpful. Safe travels.
Without knowing your van, that surprises me. I have encountered some sections that I'd regard as a bit rough, but nothing that would have caused those sort of issues in most vans, provided one had set tyre pressures accordingly and had driven to the conditions.
I am planning to do the run from Bourke thru to Wentworth. During a study of the maps they indicate there are 2 possible routes; 1 road on the western side of the Darling, and 1 on the eastern side. Not wanting to down 1 and return on the other, I am seeking suggestions from fellow travellers as to which road might be best, in terms of road condition, sights, etc.
I will be driving a 2 wd Isuzu MU-X with no trailer.
Any other comments / suggestions will be appreciated.
These roads are gravel or earth formed, so conditions can change by the hour. My memory is that each side is generally similar.
Some, like in this short clip from 2019 during the drought, is black soil, so do NOT be out there if there is ANY rain.
At this time it was smooth, fast and very dusty. North side travelling north.
www.youtube.com/watch
Cheers,
Peter
-- Edited by Peter_n_Margaret on Wednesday 4th of June 2025 04:51:39 PM
The roads are reasonable outback dirt roads, which some sections of bitumen, esp in the north. Local advice at the time is the best way to pick which side to travel on, but in practice which stations you plan to stay at will determine which side you choose. You don't actually see all that much of the river just from driving, station stays are the best way to get a close look, other than the bridges at various towns. Heading south from Bourke, if you take the east side it will take you past Rose Isle Station, then at Louth switch to the west side to go past Dunlop and Trilby. From Tilpa to Wilcannia I don't think it matters all that much.. From Wilcannia to Menindee I'd take the west side as it takes you past an excellent station stay at Nelia Gaari. Plenty to see and good river camping options at Menindee and then it's a sealed road all the way south from there.
Thank you. I did do a run from Menindee to Wilcannia a few years ago, towing my caravan, and when I arrived at Wilcannia it took me 2-3 hours to re-hand cupboard doors, re-fit drawer and clean up. Corrugations. Your comments are most helpful. Safe travels.
Without knowing your van, that surprises me. I have encountered some sections that I'd regard as a bit rough, but nothing that would have caused those sort of issues in most vans, provided one had set tyre pressures accordingly and had driven to the conditions.