Cobar to Bourke

Up at 7:30 am this morning but no rush as we stayed hitched up for the night. Forecast for today was 7 to 23 degrees. We left the Cobar Caravan Park at about and pulled into the Caltex servo next door and lined up with the road trains. We bought 52 litres of diesel for $79.52 while the road train on the other side took over 500 litres for $788 - not sure how far that would take him. Today's run was an easy 160 kms and we should arrived in Bourke by 12 noon.

159 kms to Bourke

At about 11:00 am we stopped at the Curraweena Rest Area about 60 kms from Bourke for a coffee. There were two caravans camped in the bush about a 100 metres from the road. By the time that we were ready to move on there were five vans at the rest area for a break.

Morning tea break at the Curraweena Rest Area

We arrived at Kidman's Camp at about 12:00 noon and booked in for 2 nights. We were told to pick our site and selected site 56 - a drive through site. Kidman's Camp is about 8 kms north of Bourke and it is an oasis in the outback. During the day there was a constant procession of caravans booking in. Our site is a grassy site with Iceberg roses on each side of our site.

Kidman's Camp - an oasis in the outback

Drive through site 56 at Kidman's Camp

After doing a full set up with mats and awning (we booked in for 2 nights - but will stay for 3 nights) and having a late lunch, we headed for the Visitor Information Centre - there is plenty to do in Bourke! Armed with maps and tourist info we headed for the IGA and the hardware store. We needed a new trailer plug for the caravan as we had problems when left Cobar. When David took the plug apart he found a loose wire which he fixed and broken innards which he could not fix. We eventually got a good connection and got all our lights working, but a new plug is needed.

On the way back to camp we called at the Bourke Wharf for a photo stop. A Crossley 2 cylinder 4 stroke diesel engine is on display near the wharf. It was originally installed at the Sydney Power House but was moved to a Narromine property to pump irrigation water.

Di on the Bourke Wharf

Darling River from the Bourke Wharf

Crossley 2 cyl 4 stroke diesel engine

Our second stop was at the North Bourke Bridge over the Darling River. The bridge was constructed in 1883 with a lift span to cope with the traffic on the Darling River. The bridge was bypassed in 1997 and is now closed to road traffic. While we were walking over the bridge the PV Jindra passed under the bridge.

Di on the North Bourke Bridge

North Bourke Bridge built in 1883

Close-up of the lift span on the North Bourke Bridge

Bougainvillea next the North Bourke Bridge

PV Jindra on the Darling River