Down The Darling Tour
World Heritage Sites & Farm Station Stays
Duration
15 Days, 14 Nights
Group Size
6 (max)
Start Location
Dubbo
Status
Places Available
Tour Overview
Starting in Dubbo, we travel to the World Heritage-listed Aboriginal Fish Traps at Brewarrina before overnighting at the award-winning Callubri Station. From Brewarrina, we follow the Darling River through Bourke, Louth, Wilcannia and Menindee, stopping at natural, cultural and historic points of interest along the way. At Menindee, we join an Aboriginal-guided walking tour along the banks of the Menindee Lakes.
Throughout the journey there are plenty of opportunities to experience Australian wildlife and observe the colourful native birdlife of the outback. We also take a side trip to the heritage-listed Silver City of Broken Hill before travelling on to World Heritage-listed Mungo National Park for another guided tour.
Farm stays are an important part of the journey, giving us the opportunity to meet fascinating local people, enjoy fabulous home-cooked meals and gain a genuine insight into life in the Australian outback.
Our journey concludes in Griffith, home to a strong Italian heritage and food culture. We finish with an Italian cooking experience followed by a farewell lunch at Piccolo Family Farm, helping to prepare the meal together and celebrating the end of our journey down the Darling.
Note: The updated itinerary is not yet available. In the meantime, you can download the 2026 itinerary below for reference.
Itinerary
Day 1 | Dubbo - Callubri Station
The tour begins in Dubbo, timed to connect with passenger train and flight arrivals from Sydney. We’ll collect you from Dubbo train station or airport before travelling approximately 160 km to Callubri Station.
Settle into this award-winning outback farm stay before welcome drinks and a three-course chef-prepared dinner.
Included: Dinner.
Day 2 | Calubri Station
Spend the day experiencing life at Callubri Station, a luxury outback stay on a 28,000-acre Merino sheep property in the western plains of NSW.
After breakfast, owner Mike takes us through the cropping fields and farm machinery, with the opportunity to see sheep work depending on the season. We finish with a hearty ploughman’s picnic lunch before a relaxed afternoon to swim, walk or enjoy some birdwatching.
As the sun sets, we gather for sundowners on the ridge followed by a memorable farm-to-table dinner featuring seasonal produce and farm-raised lamb.
Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner, activities and evening drinks.
Day 3 | Callubri Station - Brewarrina - Lower Lilia Retreat via Bourke
We travel to Brewarrina to visit the Aboriginal Cultural Centre and take an Aboriginal-guided tour of the remarkable ancient fish traps, one of Australia’s most significant Aboriginal cultural sites.
Continuing towards Bourke, we visit Mt Oxley for a picnic lunch surrounded by spectacular 360-degree views and abundant wildlife.
In Bourke, conditions permitting, we’ll take a trip on the replica paddle steamer Jandra. If the cruise isn’t operating, we’ll visit the Bourke Exhibition Centre before continuing to our overnight accommodation at Lower Lila Retreat.
Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner and activities.
Day 4 | Bourke - Trilby Station
Start the morning with a relaxation and meditation session at Lower Lila Retreat before leaving Bourke for Gundabooka National Park.
A short nature walk takes us to Aboriginal rock art before we continue to historic Trilby Station on the banks of the Darling River.
Our hosts Liz and Garry Murray share their sixth-generation sheep and goat station and their experience of life in the Outback. The day finishes with a home-cooked dinner around the campfire.
Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner and activities.
Day 5 | Trilby Station - Dunlop Station - Louth
After breakfast, join Liz for a walking tour of Trilby Station and hear her stories of floods, schooling, emergency medicine and everyday life on a remote Outback property.
We then visit historic Dunlop Station for morning tea and a guided tour of the homestead and remarkable old shearing shed, once part of a vast million-acre pastoral holding.
Lunch is at a classic country pub in Louth before returning to Trilby for a relaxed afternoon and alfresco dinner beside the Darling River.
Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner and activities.
Day 6 | Trilby Station - Tilpa - Broken Hill
We follow the Darling downstream to Tilpa, a tiny Outback town with a colourful history as a river port, stock crossing and wool-trading centre.
From Tilpa we continue to Broken Hill, arriving in the early afternoon. The afternoon introduces us to the Silver City’s museums, galleries and heritage, followed by a visit to the Living Desert and Sculpture Symposium.
Dinner is at the famous Palace Hotel, featured in The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.
Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner and activities.
Day 7 | Broken Hill - Silverton
After making your own breakfast arrangements, we head to historic Silverton, once a thriving silver-mining town and now famous for its Outback character and film history.
We take a 2 km heritage walk to Monks Lookout for sweeping views across the Mundi Mundi Plains towards the Flinders Ranges.
Returning to Broken Hill, we continue exploring the city before dinner at the Old Saltbush Restaurant.
Included: Lunch, dinner and activities. Breakfast not included.
Day 8 | Broken Hill - Menindee Lakes - Bindara Station
This morning we travel to the Menindee Lakes for an Aboriginal-guided walk along the lakes with our local guide.
The vast lake system provides an important habitat for birdlife and has played a major role in supplying water to Broken Hill.
After a picnic lunch beside the lakes, we continue to Bindara Station, our next farm stay on the banks of the Darling River.
Included: Lunch, dinner and activities.
Day 9 | Bindara Station
Join our host Barb for an early morning walk around Bindara Station, exploring Aboriginal and European cultural sites while enjoying the soft morning light along the Darling River.
After a pre-breakfast cuppa on the walk, we return to the homestead for a cooked breakfast.
The remainder of the day is relaxed, with time to enjoy the property or join additional activities before gathering for a campfire dinner.
Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner and activities.
Day 10 | Bindara Station - Mungo National Park - Mildura
After an early breakfast, we travel to Mungo National Park for a guided tour of the Willandra Lakes World Heritage Area.
Our tour provides access to restricted areas and explores the extraordinary Aboriginal cultural and archaeological history of Mungo, including the story of Mungo Man and Mungo Woman.
After the tour and lunch, we continue to Mildura.
Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner and activities.
Day 11 | Mildura - Wentworth - Burraburoon Farm Stay
Today is a varied day exploring the food, agriculture and rivers of the region.
We visit a commercial almond farm and take a nature walk to the confluence of the Darling and Murray rivers. We’ll also visit an olive oil processing plant and tour a large commercial citrus orchard and packing shed.
The day ends at Burraburoon Farm Stay, where Ken and Tertia prepare a South African-inspired camp-oven dinner, complete with Ken’s coal-baked bread.
Included: Lunch, dinner and activities. Breakfast not included.
Day 12 | Burraburoon - Hay
Enjoy an easy start to the day with a drive around Burraburoon, learning about local Aboriginal heritage and modern agricultural practices.
After lunch we visit the Hay Cotton Gin, one of the most technologically advanced cotton gins in the Southern Hemisphere.
We also visit the Shearer’s Hall of Fame before returning to Burraburoon for sundowners and dinner on the deck overlooking the lake.
Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner and activities.
Day 13 | Burraburoon - Griffith
Today we travel through the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area to Griffith, one of Australia’s great food and wine regions.
Along the way we learn about the remarkable irrigation system that transformed the region. Our food and wine experiences include a Murray Cod farm, a guided walk through Emeri’s Garden and a wine tasting at De Bortoli.
We’ll also enjoy a picnic lunch beside the Murrumbidgee River at Hay before continuing to Griffith.
Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner, activities and wine tasting.
Included: B/L/D and activities. Wine tasting is also included today.
Day 14 | Griffith - Piccolo Family Farm
Griffith’s strong Italian heritage takes centre stage for our final full day.
We visit the creative and quirky Piccolo Family Farm for a tasting of Caro Piccolo wines followed by an Italian cooking experience with chef Liam Sibillin.
Together we prepare and enjoy a home-cooked Italian lunch at the farm — a fitting celebration to finish our journey through the regions, landscapes and food cultures of inland Australia.
Included: Breakfast, lunch, activities, wine tasting, cooking class and wine with lunch. Dinner not included.
Day 15 | Griffith - End of Tour
Our tour comes to an end after breakfast.
After saying our farewells, you’ll be transferred to Griffith Airport or the train station for your onward journey. A direct train service to Sydney departs on Saturday.
What’s Included
Inclusions
- 14 nights of unique and comfortable to luxury accommodation – a wonderful mix of hotels, resorts, farm stays and heritage accommodation.
- Most meals (a couple of exceptions as per the itinerary). Our meals are a combination of fine dining, restaurant dining, outdoor dining and home cooking.
- Sundowners, wine tastings and drinks where identified on the itinerary.
- Entry to National Parks and nature reserves.
- Third party tours including Aboriginal experiences and the World Heritage Sites at Brewarrina and Mungo.
- All ground transport in a comfortable 8 seater fully air conditioned vehicle.
- Excursions to destinations and local points of interest and short hikes and easy walking trips.
- Entry into attractions/activities/historic sites as per the itinerary.
- Intimate small group tour - maximum 6 people.
Exclusions
- Transport to and from the tour start and end locations.
- Items of a personal nature or tipping.
- Passport & (if needed) Visa.
- Travel Insurance (you will be required to have independent travel insurance).
- Incidental snacks, coffee, drinks etc as per your individual requirements.
Travel Information
Start Location
Dubbo
End Location
Griffith
Group Size
6 (max)
International Visitors
Climate
Spring and autumn are ideal times to travel the outback. Winter is also good but the nights in particular are cold. Summer can often be too hot.
What to Expect
Low to reasonable level of fitness required. Some short hikes on uneven ground.
Enquire About This Tour
Tour enquiries can also be sent to info@outbackbedstours.com.au .
