Recent flooding in
Outback NSW New South Wales has led to the Macquarie Marshes
experiencing their best conditions in 10 years. Join us to explore this
unique wetlands with now 35,000 water birds
breeding

Macquarie Marshes – Outback NSW

MACQUARIE MARSHES

The Macquarie Marshes are an extensive wetland system covering an area
of 220,000 hectares in north-west New South Wales, representing one of
the largest semi-permanent wetlands in south-eastern Australia.
Macquarie Marshes are a well known habitat of many water birds with
over 60 species sighted here with a reported 42 of the species using
the ideal conditions for a breeding place.
The Macquarie Marshes are an extensive wetland
system covering an area of 220,000 hectares in north-west New South
Wales, representing one of the largest semi-permanent wetlands in
south-eastern Australia. Macquarie Marshes
are a well known habitat of many water birds with over 60 species
sighted here with a reported 42 of the species using the ideal
conditions for a breeding place.

March 23-29 – Darling River, Macquarie Marshes,
Bourke & Broken Hill  – 7 or 8
days (6 or 7 nights) –  Explore these Outback NSW Rivers
and Wetland highlights. 
Now teaming with life after rejuvenation
floods. Includes 2 nights at the Willie Retreat to explore Macquarie
Marshes NP, Back O’ Bourke, Gundabooka
National Park, and the banks of Australia’s longest river, the Darling River, before
Kinchega National Park and  Menindee Lakes and 2 nights
in Broken Hill. Return by train or plane, or
optionally continue with us to  Adelaide.
 Connection
options to Sydney, Broken Hill or Melbourne and Lake Eyre tours & flights.  

DATES TBC –
Darling
River, Macquarie Marshes, Bourke & Broken Hill – from Adelaide or Broken
Hill to Sydney. (Reverse of
above)
Explore OutbackNSWRivers and Wetland highlights.  Now teaming with life after rejuvenation floods.
Includes 2 nights at the Willie Retreat to explore Macquarie
Marshes NP, Back O’ Bourke, Gundabooka
National Park, and the banks of Australia’s
longest, the Darling River, with Kinchega
National Park and  Menindee Lakes and 1 night in Broken Hill. Connection
options to Sydney, Broken Hill or Melbourne.   Do 3
or 4 day Lake Eyre
Tour & Flight prior, travel overland to Broken Hill
& SAVE.  Reverse of following itinerary.

April 26- May 3 – Corner Country, Wilpena Pound, Flinders Ranges,
Birdsville, Arkaroola
& Lake Eyre – From Broken Hill or Adelaide to
Birdsville, Cooper Creek, Lake Eyre
via Coongie Lake wetlands & Sturt National Parks, Outback
NSW, Moomba, Innamincka, Birdsville, Burke & Wills Dig Tree, Lake Eyre Tour & Flight,  Flinders Ranges to Adelaide.
Connection
options to Sydney, Broken Hill,
Adelaide or Melbourne.

Darling
River, Macquarie Marshes, Brewarrina, Bourke
& Broken Hill Tours

March 5-11 –from Sydney to
Darling River, Macquarie Marshes, Bourke & Broken Hill to Adelaide or Broken Hill .

March 29-April 4 –
from Broken Hill or Adelaide to Sydney via Darling River,
Macquarie Marshes, Bourke is reverse of below itinerary  less 1
day in Broken Hill & 1 night (costing
shown at end of tour description)

++ March 12-15 –
NSW / QLD
Cameron Corner Country Tour from Broken Hill, via
Tibooburra, Milparinka, Cameron Corner, Moomba, Innamincka

Details for Westbound
tour – Sydney to Broken Hill & Adelaide March 5-11

Day 1
–  Depart Sydney 8am via Blue Mountains and Katoomba
with a brief stop at Echo
Point and  the Three Sisters.  We visit
Secret Creek Sanctuary at Lithgow for morning tea, and check out
the amazingly rare Australian wildlife being saved by the operators,
the Australian Ecosystems Foundation. See animals such as the Spotted-tailed
Quoll, Dingo, Regent Honeyeater, Purple Copper Butterfly as
well as many less threatened native species. Within its own land, AEFI
has established both captive and wild breeding programs for species
such as Eastern and Spotted-tailed Quoll, Rufous Bettong,
Long-nosed Potoroo, and Red-necked Pademelon.
 Other species here include Brush-tailed
Rock-wallaby, the Cream-striped Red-necked Pademelon, Swamp Wallaby,
Emu and Brush Turkey. Travelling via the Great Western Highway
we pass through Bathurst, where the NSW gold rush started, and was base
for the worlds largest transport network at the time, the Cobb & Co
coach company operating 30,000 horses. We stop for lunch by the Macquarie
River at Wellington, after passing the Wellington
caves where Bush Ranger Ben Hall used to hide out.
Passing through Dubbo, we are following the Macquarie River and heading
for the marshlands. The soil & climate are getting dryer as we pass
through Narromine (cotton growing), Trangie and Warren were we follow
the river valley to our overnight at Willie Retreat in
the marsh lands. BLD

Rufous Betong	Eastern Quoll

Day 2 – We
have all day to explore this lush lively area. Ibis,
Egrets, Cormorants, Spoonbills and Herons are but a few of
the breeding species found at the Macquarie Marshes. The Marshes include native plant species of Common Reed (Phragmites australis) and River Red Gum
(Eucalyptus camaldulenis). Enjoy a relaxing picnic lunch in the
marshlands, tour to “Sandy Camp”  and experience the nature
reserve section of the Northern Marshes visiting the
‘outback’ towns of Carinda (and outback pub) and Quambone.
Overnight Willie Retreat. BLD

Day 3 –
Travel the outback desert roads to Brewarrina, and
see the Barwon River Aboriginal stone fish traps,
over 6000 years old  estimated to be the oldest man-made
structures on Earth! We lunch in Bourke, with time to view the
new  Back O’Bourke Exhibition centre for some local history,
including SR Kidman’s story as we are on the “Kidman
Way”, the great droving route of Australia/’s famous cattle king. In
the afternoon we take a Darling River cruise on the paddle boat PV
Jandra. Paddleboats ran the Darling until 1931.The Darling River is
over 1000 Km long and its headwaters stretch from central NSW to South
East Queensland. We relax on the river, as the Jandra holds takes us on
a one hour cruise that will give an insight into the paddleboat days
and modern life on the river. The Jandra leaves from Kidman’s Camp at
North Bourke. Overnight Bourke. BLD

Gundabooka Rock Art	Gundabooka National Park.

Day 4 –
This morning we head south with the Darling River to explore Gundabooka
National Park. The park has open plains, a beautiful creek-fed
gorge, and significant rock art and of course the magnificent Mt
Gundabooka. There are 3 access points to the horse shoe shaped mountain
ie the Mulgowan (Yapa) Art Site Walk –  A wonderful easy trail
which crosses a small rocky bluff into the Mulareenya Creek full of
rock pools river gums and rock art on some of the overhangs. The Dry
Tank walk, providing a wonderful setting for camping, the Dry Tank area
is also an ideal picnic spot as it is here that the Little Mountain
trail provides a wonderful view of Mt Gundabooka via a well marked
interpretive walk. The Ngama Malyan (Valley of the Eagle) walk via
Bennett’s Gorge is an easy 1 km walk leads to a wonderful picnic spot
at the base of Mt Gundabooka. The area of Gundabooka is the country of
the Ngemba and Barkinji people. In addition to the area being vital for
stone, water, food and medicine; it also holds major significance in
terms of ceremony and creation. It is a major site on a great western
songline. We travel down the river now meandering with the shady river
gums, to the small river town of Louth were we overnight. Louth is a
tiny and insignificant settlement on the banks of the Darling River
which was established in 1859 when T.A. Matthews built a pub to cater
for the passing river paddle boats carrying wool and wheat, and
land-based trade. Louth was also a stopover on the Cobb & Co run.
BLD

Day 5 – We
have an easy start to the day and travel the eastern side of the river,
passing some of the grand old sheep stations that brought great wealth
to this country over 100 years ago. At Tilpa, we cross the river to
check out the pub and town, and enjoy some refreshments. Tilpa was once
a thriving port and a ‘crossroad’ for people and trade
moving along and across the Darling. The town has a monument to Breaker
Morant, and is a popular place for fishing, bush walking and
bird-watching ! We overnight here or optionally, depending on road
conditions, at White Cliffs, NSW opal mining country.   BLD

PV Jandra	Tilpa Pub

Day 6 – White
Cliffs has a last-frontier kind of appeal. Its quirky,
laconic residents have many stories to tell of wealth won and lost.
Opals were found in the area as early as 1884 and the first store and
hotel opened in 1892 as miners arrived to dig their fortune. By 1900,
the population had risen to 1,000 people. To beat the summer heat,
miners turned disused shafts into homes, stores and even hotels, a
tradition that continues today. Here we will view the White
Cliffs Solar Power Station and take a heritage town tour &
opal mine tour. Heading through Wilcannia, a once
important  river port, we travel the western side of the Darling
River to Menindee Lakes and Kinchega
National Park with afternoon tea here and  time
to view the plentiful bird life before arrival in Broken
Hill for overnight. BLD

Day 7 – Broken
Hill was one of NSW wealthiest cities in its heyday when
silver, lead and zinc were discovered, and where Australia’s biggest
company BHP, built its wealth. The mine is past its use by date, but
the town has revitalized, partly thnaks to the creative spirit of
artists like Pro Hart. There is much to experience here, so the day is
flexible enabling you to focus on things you want to see. Consider also
a day tour to Mootwingee National Park. You can visit
Pro Hart gallery or numerous
others. An optional mine tour is a highlight of Broken Hill, as you
descend into the once great mine on the ore lode operated by BHP. A
Silverton tour is on the agenda late afternoon. Silverton has starred
in countless films, television shows and commercials as a rustic
original outback mining town. Once a bustling home to 3,000 people,
residents began to leave in the 1880s when the nearby mines of Broken
Hill commenced. Silverton offers a thriving art scene, a beautiful
landscape and rustic old buildings of the rich heritage of the region.
BLD

Day 8
– Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before tour ends at 10am, or join
us to travel to Adelaide for the Womadelaide festival or your preferred
activities. Transport connections include rail from Broken Hill to
Sydney or daily flights, Mildura or Melbourne options.

Best mates – Outback Budgies

Darling River, Macquarie Marshes, Bourke & Broken Hill Includes all meals, entry & park fees, professional guide, Darling River boat cruise, luxury 4WD transport. Prices are for comfy camping OR for 6 nights accommodation upgrade add $495 per room or 7 nights upgrade add $585 March 26-28 – From Sydney – Macquarie Marshes, Menindee Lakes & Broken Hill – 3 days to Explore Outback NSW Rivers and Wetland highlights now teaming with life after rejuvenation floods. Includes 1 night to explore Macquarie Marshes NP, before Kinchega National Park and Menindee Lakes and 1 or 2 nights in Broken Hill. Return by train or plane, or Cameron’s Corner optionally continue with us to Lake Eyre. Connection options to Sydney, Broken Hill or Melbourne. 3 nights accommodated 4WD tour – $1,850     March 24-30 8 days/7 nights – Sydney to Broken Hill includes 2 nights & tour in Broken Hill – $2,995 7 days/6 nights – includes 1 night in Broken Hill –  $2,850   March 24-29     7 days/6 nights – from Broken Hill to Sydney includes 1 night in Broken Hill –  $2,850. From Adelaide (Lake Eyre tour option) add $120 ++ Follows above tour – April 2-5  – NSW / QLD Cameron Corner Country Tour from Broken Hill, via Tibooburra, Milparinka, Cameron Corner, Moomba, Innamincka – See Details   Call  1300 763 188 or email with any questions to info@spiritsafaris.com Ask Now: 1300 763 188

Floodwaters rejuvenate Macquarie Marshes

Posted Mon Dec 6,
2010 6:50am AEDT  – From recent ABC blog …

The Department of Environment, Climate
Change and Water says around 50,000 hectares of land in the marshes are
currently flooded and if the wet weather continues the floodwaters
could surpass the record of 150,000 hectares set 11 years ago.

The Conservation Officer, Debbie Love, says more
than 35,000 waterbirds including ibis, egrets and cormorants are
breeding and are expected to remain in the wetlands until
next April.

But she says the current flooding is not
enough to repair years of damage from the drought.

“There’s been a lot of changes over the last
20 to 30 years and loss of wetland vegetation,” she said.

“We’re starting to see some re-establishment
in areas that have been degraded, the marsh is capable of recovery,
it’s just whether the seasons and our capacity to deliver water will be
sufficient to really return the marshes to a more resilient state.”

She says the rain needs to continue in the
long term.

“The amount of water that we have been able
to deliver to the marsh either through environmental flows or through
the rainfall that brought tributary flows into the system has meant
that the wettest areas of the marsh are looking quite healthy and it’s
those areas on the margins, the next zone out, that we’re really
starting to see some changes in now with the bigger (flood) events that
are lasting longer.”