2 Geckos Travelling Australia: Sat, 22nd Nov, 2025 (am) Bush camp by Darling River in Fishing Reserve, Bourke, NSW to Balonne Minor Bridge camp, Dirranbandi, Qld (Darling River Run & Barwon River)

21.9 degree min, breezy and mostly clear sky as there is a cloud band to the west.

This is the end of the camping by the ‘west’ side of the Darling River as the west road ends up a long way west due to a feeder Culgoa River running down to the west of the Darling. It has been very interesting. We will continue on the ‘east’ side of the river which is actually south now as the river turns east towards Brewarrina. We can’t access the Darling anymore or get to the confluence of the 3 rivers Darling, Culgoa and Barwon either.

Back into town for a walk down the main street. Beautiful building but no info. I asked the lady of a shop nearby and she said it was the Bank of London. Someone had bought it and renovated it. Then it sold and that owner mad it as an accommodation place for the cotton workers but didn’t keep up the maintenance and the ceiling fell in so now it has been condemned. So sad.

Continued down the street looking out for the history plaques.

Obviously they have a crime problem here.

Interesting mural across the top of the Telstra building.

A few nice buildings. The Police Station area have a few buildings.

Across the road is a huge building. Went around the corner and found out it was the Court House.

A couple of Budgies flew down into the park opposite the Court House.

The old paddlesteamer has been restored and is a tourist attraction.

We headed around the park then stopped on the other side as I saw some more history info.

Poets Corner.

Onto the bitumen Kamilaroi Highway towards Brewarrina. Strange time to have a roadside burn off when it is hot and windy!

I can never get enough photos of emus. Dad & this 3 checks just before the Bogan River bridge.

Only a narrow channel of water in the Bogan River.

The Little Bogan River breaks away from the Bogan in two places then the Bogan flows into the Barwon upstream of the confluence of the Barwon and Culgoa which then becomes the Darling River. Bit confusing. Wikicamps map is hard to read with the white names on the light background! Over there somewhere about 7km away is the confluence.

The Barwon River wiggles on our left in the distance according to the map.

The Barwon river is on the other side of the fence now - we are about 10km out of Brewarrina.

More puffy clouds covering the blue sky as we enter Brewarrina. Great town sign and mural.

We headed down to the Barwon River for a cuppa by the weir.

We then walked up to the lookout platform. Chatted with a chap who grew up here, across the river in the community. It was interesting hearing some of his stories of his youth regarding the fishing etc before the weir was built. He is not too impressed with the youth these days unfortunately.

Looking downstream at the ‘fish traps’ area. He said he and friends rebuilt them in the 70s but people would come down and pinch the rocks for their gardens or move the rocks around trying to find the yabbies hence wrecking the actual ‘fish trap’. He said there were colourful goldfish in the water back then as well as yellow bellies and murray cod.

Watched a chap wander across the weir. He went in for a swim on the other side.

Into town for a wander.

Visitors Centre was closed. Great murals on the toilet block (except for the graffiti of course) and cafe by John Murray and Jenny McCracken.

Steve found a shady Bottle Tree.

Back to the truck then around to another park to find some sculptures. When we pulled up we saw two policemen going to the back of their wagon - we thought they were getting out ‘dogs’ - interesting!! But not, they were just dropping off packing boxes, one of them must be moving. No excitement at all. Found a old tractor and good information board too.