The Darling River Run
(opens in a new tab)An unforgettable road trip along the mighty Darling River in outback NSW.
🚙 🌱 Get #OutOnTheRun this Spring on one of Australia’s great driving adventures!
Following the Baaka through Outback NSW is about much more than reaching your destination. Along the way, you’ll encounter ancient Aboriginal heritage, remarkable national parks, historic river towns, character-filled pubs, welcoming station stays, caravan parks and unforgettable landscapes.
These are just some of the places waiting to be discovered along the Darling River Run and its side routes:
1. Goodooga Great Artesian Springs
2. Culgoa National Park
3. Four Mile Reserve, Brewarrina
4. Brewarrina Fish Traps and Aboriginal Cultural Tours
5. PV Jandra and North Bourke
6. Back O’ Bourke Information & Exhibition Centre
7. Mount Oxley
8. Toorale National Park
9. Gundabooka National Park and Yapa Mulgowan Aboriginal Art Site
10. Shindy’s Inn and the Mary Mathews Monument, Louth
11. Tilpa Pub
12. Paroo-Darling National Park and Coach and Horses Campground
13. White Cliffs Opal Fields and Heritage Solar Power Station
14. Baaka Cultural Centre and Wilcannia’s sandstone architecture
15. Menindee Lakes
16. Kinchega National Park and Kinchega Woolshed
17. Pooncarie’s Telegraph Hotel and Big Yabby
18. Mungo National Park and the Walls of China
19. Murray–Darling River confluence
20. Wentworth Visitor Information Centre
Along the way, explore #Brewarrina, #Bourke, #Louth, #Tilpa, #Wilcannia, #Menindee, #Pooncarie and #Wentworth - and enjoy genuine Outback hospitality.
Discover where the Baaka take you!
#DarlingRiverRun #NSWParks #OutbackBeds #FeelNSW #OutbackNSW
5 CommentsComment on Facebook
🐣 DAD DUTY? Emus have it covered!
Did you know emu dads do all this?
➜ Sit on the eggs for around eight weeks - without eating or drinking.
➜ Raise the chicks themselves once they hatch.
➜ Show their little ones how to find food and protect them from predators.
➜ Keep their chicks close for up to two years.
What a top dad! Keep an eye out for emu dads and their chicks this spring - we’re expecting to see plenty about! 💛
Happy Father’s Day #OutOnTheRun!
#FathersDay #DarlingRiverRun #NSWParks #OutbackBeds #OutbackNSW #TooraleNP
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Pull up beside an old river red gum, switch off the engine and spend some time by the Darling River.
These grand old trees have stood along the river for generations, providing shade, shelter and a perfect place to slow down and enjoy the landscape.
📷 This beautiful stretch is along the Darling River Drive in Kinchega National Park, near Menindee, one of those places where the journey really is part of the experience.
Take your time. Find a shady spot. See where the Baaka takes you.
#DarlingRiverRun #OutOnTheRun #kincheganationalpark #menindee #darlingriver #riverredgums #OutbackNSW #nswparks #OutbackBeds #roadtrip
1 CommentsComment on Facebook
⚠ DARLING RIVER RUN ROAD CONDITIONS UPDATE
Friday 28 August 2026
The Darling River Run remains accessible between Brewarrina and Wentworth via selected routes. Several unsealed sections require caution, while the west-side routes between Bourke and Louth and between Menindee and Pooncarie have closures.
ROUTE STATUS
Brewarrina ↔ Bourke
🟢 Kamilaroi Highway — (Open)
Bourke ↔ Louth
🟠 East-side route — MR68S (Open with caution)
🔴 West-side route — Toorale Road, RLR-10 (Closed)
Louth ↔ Tilpa
🟢 East-side route — MR68S (Open)
🟢 West-side route — RLR-10W (Open)
Tilpa ↔ Wilcannia
🟠 East-side route — East Tilpa Road (Open with caution)
🟠 West-side route — West Tilpa Road (Open with caution)
Wilcannia ↔ Menindee
🟠 East-side route — Wilcannia–Menindee East Road (Open with caution)
🟠 West-side route — Wilcannia–Menindee West Road (Open with caution)
Menindee ↔ Pooncarie
🟢 East-side route — Pooncarie Road
🔴 West-side route — Coona Point ↔ Bindara (Closed - livetraffic).
Pooncarie ↔ Wentworth
🟠 High Darling Road — from the end of the bitumen (Open with caution)
🟠 Low Darling Road — from the end of the bitumen (Open with caution)
TRAVEL ADVICE: Conditions on unsealed roads can change quickly. Always check the latest road condition reports before travelling and obey all road closures and signage.
Do not rely solely on online mapping services for current outback road conditions. Check directly with the relevant council and Live Traffic NSW before departure, particularly if rain is forecast or has recently fallen.
Brewarrina Shire Council
02 6830 5100
Bourke Shire Council
02 6830 8000
After hours: 0419 722 055
Central Darling Shire Council
08 8091 5155
Unincorporated Area of the Western Region
08 8082 6660
Wentworth Shire Council
24-hour road information: 03 5027 5027
Live Traffic NSW
13 27 01
👉 Check link in the comments below for the latest local council road reports.
Information compiled from reports issued between 8:50am and 11:15am on Friday 28 August 2026. Conditions may change without notice.
#DarlingRiverRun #OutOnTheRun #Brewarrina #Bourke #louth #tilpa #Wilcannia #menindee #wentworth #OutbackNSW #OutbackBeds #roadupdates
23 CommentsComment on Facebook
📣 In case you missed it… exciting news from Bourke!
Bourke’s historic North Bourke Bridge is set to become accessible again, with $5 million secured through the NSW Government’s Get NSW Active Program.
Opened in 1883, the bridge is Australia’s oldest surviving movable-span bridge and a remarkable link to the Darling River’s paddle-steamer era. The project will deliver new approaches, reconnect Bourke’s walking and cycling network, and help preserve this much-loved landmark for locals and visitors alike.
The restoration will bring an important piece of river history back within reach, adding another memorable experience to a journey along the Darling River Run.
📷 North Bourke Bridge before the approaches were removed for safety reasons.
#DarlingRiverRun #OutOnTheRun #NorthBourkeBridge #Bourke #OutbackNSW #VisitBourke #RiverHistory #HeritageTourism #RoadTripNSW
11 CommentsComment on Facebook
DARLING RIVER RUN – ROAD UPDATE | WEDNESDAY 26 AUGUST 2026
The latest Central Darling Shire Council Road Condition Report, issued at 4:15pm Wednesday 26 August, shows:
🟠 Wilcannia – Menindee West Road – CAUTION
🔴 Wilcannia – Menindee East Road – CLOSED
🟠 West Tilpa Road – CAUTION
🟠 East Tilpa Road – CAUTION
This means travellers can once again follow the Darling River Run between Menindee, Wilcannia and Tilpa via the western route between Menindee and Wilcannia, with caution required on recently affected roads.
⚠️ The eastern route between Menindee and Wilcannia remains CLOSED.
Other useful connections in Central Darling Shire include:
🟢 Menindee – Broken Hill Road – OPEN
🟢 Barrier Highway – Wilcannia to Broken Hill – OPEN
🟢 Barrier Highway – Wilcannia to Cobar – OPEN
🟢 Pooncarie Road – OPEN
Road conditions can change quickly. Check the latest Central Darling Shire Council road report before travelling, drive to conditions and never attempt to travel on a closed road.
#DarlingRiverRun #RoadUpdate #menindee #Wilcannia #tilpa #OutbackNSW #roadconditions #OutOnTheRun
2 CommentsComment on Facebook