Being the closest city to Broken Hill, Adelaide’s proximity to the Silver City provides the traveller with several great touring options between Broken Hill and the City of Churches’ that also can include some of the wonderful attractions around Adelaide.. particularly the world famous wine regions of the Barossa Valley, Clare Valley and the Adelaide Hills.
Another option follows the path from Murray Bridge (just north of Lake Alexandrina) up through the Murraylands and Riverland regions before crossing over into Victoria then NSW. From there, three great options present themselves… straight up the Silver City Highway or, the road less travelled, over to Lake Mungo (Mungo NP) and then across to Pooncarie and Menindee (along the Darling River) before taking the sealed road into Broken Hill. Alternatively, up the Darling River along the lower part of the Darling River Run.
The Barrier Highway:
Gawler <> Burra <> Barrier Highway <> Broken Hill :
Distance: 510km (approx)
Not much more direct than this… but that is not always a bad thing, especially when you consider the area around Adelaide that this route covers. To the east of the where the Barrier Highway starts/finishes in Adelaide is the Barossa Valley which is one of Australia’s premier wine growing regions. Not far from the Barossa Valley, and on the other side of the highway is the Clare Valley… which is regarded as one of Australia’s most beautiful wine regions. Not a bad start/finish for the Adelaide-Broken Hill tour.
Barossa <> Sturt :
Adelaide <> Barossa Valley <> Mildura <> Broken Hill:
Distance: 351km (approx)
The Sturt Highway route is a little 'limited' by comparison as the route only travels through the Barossa Valley. With only one, and probably the best, wine regions to pass through; this route is complimented by crossing the Murray near Blanchetown and rejoining it at Waikerie and Renmark before crossing it near Curlwaa. Travelling downstream a little, the route follows the Murray down to the Darling River at Wentworth – and together they flow back to Adelaide (Lake Alexandrina).
From Wentworth or Mildura there are three choices; straight up the Silver City Highway , up the Darling River along a great Outback tour that is know as the Darling River Run, or via the awe-inspiring Lake Mungo in Mungo National Park. (The Darling River Run and Lake Mungo require driving on unsealed roads). The last two options also take in the wonderful Menindee Lakes and Kinchega National Park.
The Murraylands and Riverland option passes through Murray Bridge (a great stopover place and the largest SA town on the Murray River) and heads north to Loxton and meet up with the Sturt Highway and joining the Barossa <> Sturt route described above.
As an alternative (and a mighty fine one at that), instead of taking the Silver City Highway (Broken Hill <> Wentworth) is to visit Lake Mungo (Mungo National Park) taking the road form Mildura to Lake Mungo then across to Pooncarie and on to Menindee and then to Broken Hill. Mungo National Park is one of the most awe-inspiring indigenous sites in Australia.
NOTE: This alternate route is primarily on gravel road (dry weather only) and can be undertaken (with due care) in a 2 wheel drive car. Always check road conditions before travelling on unsealed roads.
The Darling River, Australia's longest, runs 2,740 kms through Outback NSW. The system is fed, primarily from the summer rains of southern Queensland and makes its journey south-west across the state to Wentworth where it joins the mighty Murray River.
The Darling River Run allows the traveler to experience some of the best Outback country in Australia; flora, fauna, wondrous landscapes, outback characters and truly remarkable sunrises and sunsets. The ‘Run’ can take the east or western sides of the Darling River and the tour provides an insight to the challenges many of the early explorers faced in trying to open up the interior of this country. Passing through Pooncarie, Menindee, Menindee Lakes, and Kinchega NP (mostly unsealed dry weather road) and rejoining the bitumen for the run to Broken Hill.
images of broken hill
Being the closest city to Broken Hill, Adelaide’s proximity to the Silver City provides the traveller with several great touring options between Broken Hill and the City of Churches’ that also can include some of the wonderful attractions around Adelaide.. particularly the world famous wine regions of the Barossa Valley, Clare Valley and the Adelaide Hills.
Not much more direct than this… but that is not always a bad thing, especially when you consider the area around Adelaide that this route covers. To the east of the where the Barrier Highway starts/finishes in Adelaide is the Barossa Valley which is one of Australia’s premier wine growing regions. Not far from the Barossa Valley, and on the other side of the highway is the Clare Valley… which is regarded as one of Australia’s most beautiful wine regions. Not a bad start/finish for the Adelaide-Broken Hill tour.
