After leaving Little Topar Rest Area we drove 74kms into Broken Hill, this was our 3^rd visit though we haven't actually stayed in Broken Hill itself as we're not too keen on large cities. Previously we've stayed at places like nearby Silverton for almost a week & spent a day in town looking at all the iconic attractions. This time we camped out at the Starview Primitive Campground in the Living Desert Conservation Park 8kms out of town. To camp there you have to book through the Visitor Information Centre at a cost of $10 per night per person with a maximum stay of 5 nights (no power, drinking water from the Centre). The facilities are excellent & brand new as the campground was officially opened in November 2017, there are only 15 caravan/motorhome sites & a separate tent area. A coded gate keeps non campers out after hours. It was around half full on both nights of our 2 night stay.

Last light Little Topar 

Starview Primitive Campground.

There are plenty of walking trails & attractions within the park, we did the 1km Flora Trail followed by the 2.2km Cultural Walk before visiting the popular sculptures. The extensive views over the Barrier Ranges were fantastic while viewing the indigenous plants of the area & the aboriginal heritage.

Aboriginal story poles.

Barrier Range scenery.

Sculpture.

Red-capped Robin with his fledgling.

Our next destination was Packsaddle Roadhouse 175kms North of Broken Hill via the Silver City Hwy which is sealed right through to Packsaddle & will be sealed through to Tibooburra in the near future. At the moment 1km past the roadhouse just the other side of Packsaddle Creek floodway is the beginning of an unsealed section guaranteed to loosen you fillings! Our main reason for travelling North was because the Barrier & Coko Ranges run roughly parallel with the highway for most of the way. We were not disappointed, the vast outback scenery was fantastic! There was no other traffic on the road so we cruised along at about 85kph taking in the vastness of it all, stopping for a photo opportunity now & then. Wedge-tailed Eagles soared at a low elevation above the road intermittently landing to feed on fresh roadkill.

Silver City Hwy to Packsaddle, great scenery.

Not a tree in sight.

Packsaddle Roadhouse is a very characterful setup filled with outback charm & memorabilia & a very relaxed friendly atmosphere. We paid $15 per night for an unpowered site for 3 nights. The surrounding bush has plenty of wildlife/ birdlife, right up our alley! The amenities are very good & spotlessly clean, naturally the campground is pure red sand. The menu is huge & the food is top notch, no-one walks out of there hungry! They've just finished refurbishing the front veranda  providing great views of outback sunsets while enjoying a drink.

Packsaddle Roadhouse. 

Inside dining area.

Unmade section on road to Tibooburra.

Grab a drink & sit down to watch the Sunset.

Bluebonnet.

On the way back down to Broken Hill we bush camped for 2 nights beside Euriowie Creek 100kms South of Packsaddle, one of the many picturesque Red Gum lined dry creek beds running out of the Barrier Ranges. Euriowie in earlier times was a thriving tin mining town with a population of 700. Today all that's left is some scattered rusting machinery, mine shafts & a lonely graveyard. https://bdtruth.com.au/main/news/article/8443-Fields-yield-possible-wealth.html

On arriving back at Broken Hill we stocked up with fuel, water & provisions before we began the 265km stretch of the Silver City Hwy down to Wentworth at the junction of the Murray & Darling Rivers.

Euriowie Creek.

Euriowie truckstop.

Once a Jolly Swagman sat beside Euriowie Creek (Keith)

White-browed Treecreeper.

Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater.

Shingleback Lizard.

Breaking the journey about half way, another one of our favourite places to stay for a few days is Popiltah Rest Area 137kms South of Broken Hill. It's not a large area & isn't used by trucks at all, at the rear it has extensive views over the dry bed of Lake Popiltah. A large area directly across the road is also used by RVer's, the surrounding bushland is perfect for our wildlife/bird photography . 

Thanks for reading/viewing. Part 5 (final ) to come.

Cheers Keith & Judy