We were going to stay at Cobar CP for the usual 1 night but on the day we were supposed to leave high winds were forecast.  It was a good decision to stay for an extra night as strong gusty winds caused huge dust storms over the whole area & driving visibility was low. There's now a new free camping option in Cobar beside the Cobar Services Club.

 Dust storm Cobar.

 Cobar Services Club window.

Our next destination after leaving Cobar was Meadow Glen Rest Area 63kms West along the Barrier Hwy. This is another Outback RA with a large informal bush campground at the rear well away from the Hwy. This was our third stay at this location, we have never spent a night alone at this fairly popular spot. There was a minimum of at least a dozen other caravans/motorhomes camped every night of our 3 night stay. Directly across the highway from the RA was a large dam that still held water consequently it attracted lots of wildlife, ideal for our interests.

Meadow Glen Rest Area.

Smile Big Bill you're on Grey Nomads.

Spotted Bowerbird Meadow Glen.

Eastern Yellow Robin Meadow Glen.

White-plumed Honeyeater Meadow Glen.

Classic not plastic.

Travelling 140 kms further West along the Barrier Hwy, avoiding lots of goats & kangaroos we stopped for 2 nights at the campground adjacent to Mac Culloch's Range Rest Area 55kms East of Wilcannia. The RA is right on top of the highest peak of the range with great views over the plains to Paroo- Darling National Park. There was no phone reception at Meadow Glen but at this location it was excellent as there's a tower across the road. As at every other place that we'd visited on this trip the drought relief hay loaded road trains were conspicuous. By 4.30pm there were around 10 rigs camped overnight although 1 had been camped there for a week. None of these unofficial campgrounds at RAs interfere with the trucking fraternity as they are well away from the truck parking areas.

 MacCulloch's Range Rest Area.

Barrier Highway sunrise.

Pied Butcherbird portrait Mac Culloch's Range.

Reaching Wilcannia we booked into the very popular Warrawong On The Darling CP just outside of town. After mostly bush camping it felt quite busy. This was our third stay, it seems to be aiming for an Outback resort type of atmosphere, fees keep rising accordingly. We enjoyed our 4 night stay (pay 3, 4^th free) as there is plenty of wildlife on the station & along the Darling River.  The river itself was at the lowest level that we've ever seen it. Wilcannia used to be a busy port on the Darling during the golden days of wool but apart from some lovely historic buildings & an excellent coffee shop there's not a lot to see or do these days.

 Pied Stilt Warrawong.

Red-necked Avocets Warrawong.

Post Office Wilcannia.

Wilcannia Police Station.

We're off to White Cliffs opal fields next. Part 3 to come.

Thanks for reading/viewing.

Cheers Keith & Judy