Blue Mountains to Broken Hill

As a flourishing regional centre, Dubbo lays claim to an enviable mix of activities for all interests. History buffs (as well as the kids) will love glimpsing 19th and 20th century prison life at the Old Dubbo Gaol. The Taronga Western Plains Zoo is also a popular draw with tourists for good reason. Beyond a trip to Africa, this is possibly the best chance you’ll get to see the greatest species on the planet in a safari-like setting.

Continue west along the Barrier Highway for Cobar, a town rich in mining heritage and natural attractions. See restored mining equipment at the Cobar Miner’s Heritage Park, visit the now defunct Great Cobar Copper Mine from the 1830s, and for Instagram-worthy views of an open-cut mine, head to the viewing platform at Fort Bourke Hill Lookout. Follow the self-guided Cobar Heritage Walk to browse the town’s historic buildings, including those from the Victorian and Edwardian era, before heading to the Great Western Hotel and ordering a chicken parmy.

Take the Broken Hill Heritage Walk Tour to discover the charm, character and history of Australia’s first-heritage listed. The two-hour volunteer guided tour of the CBD will take you past heritage buildings, historic mining landmarks and a plethora of shops, restaurants and cafes. Don’t forget to visit one of the many galleries and museums, including Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery , the oldest regional gallery in NSW, and the Albert Kersten Mining and Mineral Museum where you can see artifacts and thousands of specimens from the city’s mining history, including a 42kg silver nugget.

A 1950s Australian Milk Bar that doubles as a museum, Bells Milk Bar pays homage to Australia’s Milk Bar and café culture. Don’t leave Broken Hill without ordering one of their famous sodas, spiders or milkshakes.

Poised arrestingly on top of waste rock surrounded by exquisite views, the Line of Lode Miner’s Memorial celebrates the life and work of more than 800 miners who lost their lives in the mines of Broken Hill.

North of Broken Hill lies the town of Silverton. Head to Mundi Mundi Lookout for expansive views of the Mundi Mundi Plains. The wide and flat space looks endless and gives the feeling that you might be at the edge of the world. While you’re in town, pay a visit to Mad Max Museum , a tribute to Mad Max 2 which was filmed in the area, or get an insight into the harsh realities of mining a century ago by taking an underground tour through a former silver mine at Historic Daydream Mine.

Standing prominently on a corner in the heart of Silver City, you might think the Palace Hotel looks somewhat familiar. You’ll likely recognize the venue as one of the stopovers from iconic movie Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. The interior is as exuberant as the movie with walls adorned in water-themed renaissance-inspired and fantasy Australian landscape murals, the aim of which is to make the hotel feel like ‘an oasis in the outback’. There’s a room to suit every type of budget, from deluxe ensuites to dormitories. You can even book to stay in the Priscilla Suite, the room where the characters of the movie stayed.