Regional New South Wales
Mungo National Park, South-West New South Wales
The magic of Mungo National Park will take your breath away. It is an area of significant natural beauty, steeped in Aboriginal culture and studied by anthropologists and archaeologists the world over. Ancient artefacts, plant matter, and animal bones can all be found in their original habitat along the remarkable Walls of China — an amazing 33km stretch of sand dunes and lunettes.
Lake Mungo is widely known as the site where some of the oldest intact human remains were discovered, Mungo Lady and Mungo Man, estimated to be around 42,000 years old. In 2017, these remains were returned to their original resting place.
Adjacent to Mungo National Park, Mungo Lodge is the perfect base to explore this World Heritage-listed park. The airstrip is only metres from the Lodge.
Tours including Mungo National Park:
Flying the Outback
Outback Horizons
Broken Hill
Broken Hill is an iconic city affectionately known as 'the great dame of the outback'. Located close to the South Australian border (it operates on SA time), Broken Hill has a rich mixture of mining heritage, grand architecture, working class struggle and a source of inspiration for generations of artists and film makers.
Lose yourself in the Pro Hart Gallery, stop at the original 1950s Bells Milk Bar, visit the imposing ore body and remember over 800 workers who lost their lives working in the town’s mine at the Line of Lode and Miner’s Memorial, and contemplate the spectacular Sculpture Symposium.
Tours including Broken Hill:
Flying the Outback
Outback Horizons
Silverton, near Broken Hill
Silverton, just outside of Broken Hill, is a tiny, remote, mining town known these days for its artists and the movie industry.
Home to a silver mine for about a century, you can now take a tour to discover how harsh life could be underground.
Visit local artists in their gallery/workshops and maybe pick up an original memento.
The town is probably most famous these days for being where Mad Max 2 was filmed, along with many other films including Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and Mission Impossible II.
Pop into the original Silverton Hotel for a cold beer or great pub food and see how familiar it seems - it's featured in many movies and ads over the years.
Tours including Silverton:
Outback Horizons
The High Country
The natural wonderland of the Australian Alps offers incredible experiences in summer and winter.
In Jindabyne, see the lake created by Jindabyne Dam, stand on top of that dam and learn about the Snowy Hydro Scheme, for which the original town was flooded and moved up the hill.
Thredbo is the award-winning ski resort that’s almost as popular in summer as winter for bushwalking, biking and all manner of adventures. Hop on the chairlift to the top of Crackenback, with incredible views across the valley. Wander along the boardwalk to the Mt Kosciuszko lookout or, if you're feeling more energetic, walk to the top of Mt Kosciuszko. In the village, a gentle walk around the golf course and river will allow you to see some of the local wildlife.
Thredbo Valley is a beautiful place to stay, with views over the lake from Lake Crackenback Resort. A gorgeous spot for fishing, horseriding, or relaxing.
Tours including the High Country:
Flying the High Country
Orange
Orange, in Central West New South Wales, is a thriving country town, as rich in heritage as it is in award-winning restaurants, boutique shops, glorious gardens and bustling markets. Famed for its rich produce-yielding soils, cool-climate wines and spectacular scenery, Orange is a glorious spot to visit.
Tours including Orange:
Heritage & Harvest Meander
Mudgee & Gulgong
It’s all about the wine in Mudgee, a viticultural heartland in NSW’s Central West. And where there’s great wine, you’ll also find passionate chefs, exquisite artisanal produce and unrivalled accommodation. Toss in picture-postcard scenery, rolling green countryside and friendly locals, and it’s easy to see why the region will have you coming back for more.
Nearby Gulgong is a stunning colonial gold-mining town, featuring the Henry Lawson Centre, a museum dedicated to the life and literary works of Henry Lawson – one of Australia's best-known and loved writers.
Tours including Mudgee:
Heritage & Harvest Meander
Parkes
Parkes, in central NSW, is perhaps best known for the Parkes Elvis Festival, held each year in January, close to the birthday of Elvis Presley, the King - a rollicking annual event where pompadours and pomade rule.
It's also home to the CSIRO Parkes Radio Telescope, aka 'The Dish’ - a giant radio telescope that played an integral part in the Moon landings. This impressive structure is still a world leading scientific instrument and is operated 24 hours a day. The attached discovery centre offers fascinating insights into its operations and history.
Tours including Parkes:
Heritage & Harvest Meander
Lightning Ridge
Known for opals, particularly the black opal, Lightning Ridge is in northern NSW, near the border with Queensland. Take a tour of an underground former working mine with an opal cutting demonstration.
White Cliffs, North West New South Wales
White Cliffs is an opal town in the north-west of New South Wales and is an extraordinary place as most of the town lives in underground ‘dugout’ dwellings. Loop roads throughout the region allow travellers to visit several main centres and attractions with less than a day’s travel between.
