(south of) GRIFFITH (at this stage) to BOURKE. KIDMAN WAY.

Also covered, short section north of Bourke to Mays bend, a nice camp spot on Darling River.

This is a south north route from the Hume Highway near Jeralderie as far as Bourke. At Bourke it meets with the Mitchell
Highway and it appears that the section of the Mitchell Highway north to Cunnamulla is also known as the Kidman Way.
We travelled the section from its crossing the Sturt Highway south of Griffith to Bourke.
It is dual lane sealed and though we thought it would be fairly quiet, quite a number of large trucks are using this route.
Note. In general, roadside parking is only signed when it's on your left side. Not sure why, but guess to stop
one crossing to the other side of the road against oncoming traffic. This means, however, that parking spots on
the opposite side of the highway, to which we travelled, may be missed in these notes.

0 km (581.8 km) Cross roads with Sturt Highway .. south of Darlington Point and Griffith. We didn't travel the section south
to the Hume Highway near Jeralderie .. (at this stage).
[1.2 km]
1.2 km (580.6 km) Darlington Point pub, store and public phone .. ample parking opposite shop.
[0.9 km]
2.1 km (579.7 km) Darlington Point Post Office.
[0.2 km]
2.3 km (579.5 km) Centre of bridge across the Murrumbidgee River.
[25.1 km] Following signs to Griffith.
27.4 km (554.4 km) Signed rest area .. west side .. large level gravel loop off/on highway with another smaller loop at rear.
Class 2. 34° 22.14' S. 146° 02.07' E. Hema map 29, F 11.
Covered tables, some shade, rubbish bin, 40m max to highway, OK big rigs.
[4.5 km]
31.9 km (549.9 km) Hanwood Post Office .. west side.
[4.7 km]
36.6 km (545.2 km) Griffith Info Centre .. east side. We found parking difficult, then found space opposite and just to the north.
There appears to be a large shopping complex (? Woolworhs) at the rear of the info centre.
The Info Centre can advise on 2 free 24 hour (motor home) overnight spots in town. We went to the one in Kookara Street.
[2.6 km] Following directions (turn west past info centre, through town centre, turn south into Kookara Street and follow
it around to the block before the turn into Kidman Way. The rest area is on the other side of the park that fronts
Kookara Street. Thus, this rest area is, in effect, on the Kidman Way and to the west of the town centre.
39.2 km (542.6 km) Signed 24 hour rest area at rear of toilet block .. though in the front there is an old "no camping" sign!
Large level area between park and irrigation channel. Lots of overhanging trees along park side.
* Class 2. 34° 17.26' S. 146° 01.90' E. Hema map 29, F 11.
Toilets, tables, some shade, water at dump point (appears potable), rubbish bins, 50m to highway (some noise),
OK big rigs, good TV, good CDMA, dump point.
[49.2 km]
88.4 km (493.4 km) Unsigned rest area .. east side .. long level gravel loop off/on highway.
Class 2. 33°, 59.06' S. 145° 42.62' E. Hema map 29, E 10.
Little shade, rubbish bins, 50m max to highway, OK big rigs.
[0.3 km]
88.7 km (493.1 km) Cross roads .. Western Highway.
Travel west 1.4 km to sgned rest area .. north side .. extensive series of level dirt tracks amongst pine trees.
Class 2. 33° 59.38' S. 145° 41.70' E. Hema map 29, E 10.
Covered table, shade, non potable water, fireplaces, rubbish bins, 80m max to highway, OK big rigs.
Travel east of cross roads to Goolowi .. sealed parking bay .. south side .. opposite pub.
Class 3. 33° 58.94' S. 145° 42.62' E. Hema map 29, E 10.
[20.9 km] Continuing north from cross roads.
109.6 km (472.2 km) Junction .. east side .. Merriwagga and Black Stump hotel.
Travel in 0.2 km to signed rest area opposite pub.
Class 2. 33° 49.05' S. 145° 37.38' E. Hema map 29, E 10.
Covered tables, rubbish bins, OK big rigs parking on road.
[38.7 km] Continuing north.
148.3 km (433.5 km) Signed (Hillston) rest area .. east side .. large level sealed area. Railway at rear.
Class 2. 33° 30.30' S. 145° 31.93' E. Hema map 29, D 10.
Toilets, covered tables, some shade, 35m max to highway, OK big rigs.
[35.3 km]
183.6 km (398.2 km) Junction .. east side .. to Lake Cargelligo.
[2.1 km]
185.7 km (396.1 km) Signed rest area .. east side .. beside Lachlan River. Medium size level half sealed, half dirt parking area.
Class 2. 33° 20.47' S. 145° 50.18' E. Hema map 29, D 10.
Shade, rubbish bins, 20m max to side road, OK big rigs.
[2.4 km]
188.1 km (393.7 km) Signed rest area .. west side .. Sealed bay adjacent to highway. Kidman Way monument.
Class 2-. 33° 19.49' S. 145° 50.18' E. Hema map 29, D 10.
Afternoon shade, rubbish bins, 15m max from highway, OK big rigs.
[0.6 km]
188.7 km (393.1 km) Similar area .. east side. 33° 19.04' S. 145° 50.42' E.
[9.2 km]
197.9 km (383.9 km) Signed rest area .. west side. Sealed loop off/on highway.
Class 2-. 33° 14.29' S. 145° 51.60' E. Hema map 29, C 10.
No shade, rubbish bins, 25m max to highway, OK big rigs.
[28.5 km]
226.4 km (35.4 km) Railway crossing.
[17.9 km]
244.3 km (337.5 km) Mount Hope pub .. west side. Large non level dirt parking area opposite.
Class 3. 32° 50.40' S. 145° 52.83' E. Hema map 29, C 10.
Some shade, 80m max to highway, OK big rigs.
[0.1 km]
244.4 km (337.4 km) Sealed parking area .. east side .. adjacent to highway in front of old store and opposite slag heap.
Class 3. 32° 50.31' S. 145° 52.75' E. Hema map 29, C 10.
Toilets, rubbish bins, 50m max from highway, OK big rigs.
[52.6 km]
297.0 km (248.8 km) Signed rest area .. Gilgunnia .. east side .. south east corner of junction. Large level, mainly dirt area.
* Class 2. 32° 25.10' S. 146° 02.09' E. Hema map 29, B 11.
Toilets, covered tables, some shade, non potable water, fire places, rubbish bins, 50m max to highway, OK big rigs,
no time limit, no TV, no CDMA.
[103.0 km]
400.0 km (181.8 km) Peak Gold Mine .. west side.
[7.9 km]
407.9 km (173.9 km) Signed rest area .. west side .. just east of Cobar. Large, sealed, almost level parking area. Very popular
with trucks.
* Class 2. 31° 30.00' S. 145° 50.69' E. Hema map 27, H 10.
Toilets, covered tables, very little shade, non potable WATER from tap on toilet block, rubbish bins, 40m max
to highway (noisy due to trucks parking), OK big rigs, good TV, good CDMA.
[0.2 km]
408.1 km (173.7 km) Junction .. Barrier Highway. Turn west for Cobar main street, caravan park and points west.
[0.5 km]
408.6 km (173.2 km) Turn north for Bourke .. in effect, it is possible to turn north at various points along the main street.
[55.1]
467.3 km (118.1 km) Junction .. east side .. to Byrock.
[24.3 km]
488.0 km (93.8 km) Gravel area adjacent to highway .. west side .. just north of Bourke/Cobar Shire boundry.
Class 2-. 30° 48.75' S. 145° 52.28' E. Hema map 27, F 10.
Some pm shade, 25 m max to highway, OK big rigs.
[20.2 km]
508.2 km (73.6 km) Signed rest area .. west side .. medium size sealed level loop off/on highway with extra level dirt area at rear.
Class 2. 30° 38.24' S. 145° 52.35' E. Hema map 27, F 10.
Some shade, rubbish bin, 35m max to highway, OK big rigs.
[14.0 km]
522.2 km (59.6 km) Junction .. west side .. to Gundabooka National park.
[7.5 km]
529.7 km (52.1 km) Signed rest area .. east side .. medium size level sealed loop off/on highway.
Class 2. 30° 27.44' S. 145° 56.11' E. Hema map 27, F 10.
Little shade, 40m max to highway, OK big rigs.
[25.8 km]
555.5 km (26.3 km) Signed parking both sides .. east side best .. sealed level bays adjacent to highway.
Class 2-. 30° 14.05' S. 145° 56.01' E. Hema map 27, E 10.
No shade, 20m max to highway, OK big rigs.
[22.4 km]
577.9 km (3.9 km) Junction .. west side .. to Wilcannia.
[0.6 km]
578.5 km (3.3 km) Unsigned parking bay .. west side .. rough dirt loop off/on highway.
Class 2-. 30°, 07.17' S. 145° 55.98' E. Hema map 27, E 10.
No shade, 20m max to highway, OK big rigs.
[2.9 km].
581.4 km (0.4 km) Junction .. east side .. to Nyngan.
[0.4 km]
581.8 km (0 km) Bourke .. main street to left.

We will continue a little way north of Bourke in order to give details on Mays Bend camp spot on the Darling River.

[0.8 km] Following signs to north.
0.8 km Junction .. Brewarrina ahead (which we eventually took), turn left (north) for Darling River, Cunnamula.
[5.3 km]
6.1 km Darling River bridge. Old opening bridge visible immediately upstream.
[0.4 km]
6.5 km Junction .. signed to north for Cunnamulla. Pub on corner. Opposite pub is the North Bourke large level truck
parking area .. playing field at rear, store oposite (beside pub).
Class 3. 30° 03.25' S. 145° 56.91' E. Hema map 27, E 10.
Tables, shade, rubbish bins, 20m max to highway, OK big rigs.
[5.7 km]
12.2 km Junction .. east side .. faded sign to Bullamunta caravan park .. gravel road.
30° 06.88' S. 145° 59.02' E. Hema map 27, E 10 at junction.
[2.8 km] Past caravan park on right.
15.0 km Junction .. 0.3 km past caravan park, veer right. Main gravel road continues ahead.
[2.6 km] Following dirt track (beware in wet weather) generally eastwards.
17.8 km ( km) Mays Bend. we camped on top bank, but extensive area/series of tracks to various camp spots.
* Class 2. 30° 02.36' S. 146° 01.43' E. Hema map 27, E 10.
Shade, quiet, OK big rigs, good TV, weak CDMA, river view.

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