Wed, 19th Nov, 2025 (am) Bush camp by Lake Cawndilla, south of Menindee to Menindee Lake Lookout, north of Menindee, NSW (Darling River Run - Kinchega)

18.4 degree min - nice. Cool breeze off the water and a clear sky.

Info from my DRR map.

Packed up then walked up to the road to check out where the water was being pumped to under the causeway. Steve could hear the water rushing through in the concrete framework. Water out the other side which flows to join smaller pools down towards Packers Lake according to my map.

The red soil is good for ‘tracking’ - emu.

Continued around the edge of the lake then we turned away from the Lake Cawndilla and headed towards a smaller lake - Emu Lake which we can just see in the distance. There used to be a track across to it and on to the Kinchega Woolshed but it is now closed. Still has a stop sign etc.

More emus and roos crossing the road so not driving too fast. Around the top of Emu Lake. From a rise we can see the lake - looks grey from what we can see so mightn’t have any water in it. It doesn’t appear to be connected to the other lakes.

Turned off onto the road to Kinchega Woolshed. Then we saw a track off to the left (River Drive) that takes us to Weir 32 and National Park camps along the Darling River so we headed down that one. The red soil changes to the grey soil again. Reached the water and two cows were resting under the tree opposite a weir. A few dead carp are decomposing on the bank.

The water is rushing over the weir at the moment. A pelican and flock of cormorants flew off. There is a fish ladder on the other side.

View upstream, the weir is made from this iron and downstream.

We continued along the track by the river checking out the various camp sites. Still dodging emus and kangaroos - definitely getting our Aussie icon fix here. No one is camping at the moment except Mr Goanna who was checking out something in a firepit. Nice camp (No. 30) at the end of the track. The river goes around a big bend and you can get down to the water’s edge here - more dead carp.

We turn away from the river now but another track goes back to the river to another campsite. Back onto the red soil as we approach the old Kinchega homestead.

Lots of information along a boardwalk around the old homestead site and there is a billabong walk too. Getting a tad warm today so will skip the billabong walk.

Billabong is dry. Continued along the track reading the other information boards.

Continued along the track to the Cemetery. It is also the resting place for the crew of Paddlesteamer Providence who died when the boiler exploded in 1872. These metal boards are terrible to read in bright sunlight.

Back out onto Woolshed Drive. Had to stop for Mr Blue-tongue to cross the road. He wasn’t happy about having his photo taken but I missed getting a photo of his tongue when he poked it out.

Closer to Emu Lake - no wonder they called it that as there are so many emus here. Another 6 darted across the road in front of us.

Over a dry causeway - part of Emu Lake so I would say it is dry at the moment.

Into the Kinchega Woolshed area. Paid our $8 NP visitor pass - cash in an envelope.

A hotter day but at least with no wind we aren’t eating dust. Wandered around the buildings.

Around the other side of the shearers’ quarters - another info board.

A big boiler and an old clothes line. The quarters can be hired for groups etc hence the big gas bottles for the kitchen.

A newer set of shearers quarters.

In the ‘office’ is more information. Very interesting.

Zoomed in on the some bits. 

Back outside and across to a steam engine and the killing shed.

Pass the longdrop toilets to the Woolshed. A couple of things outside.

Into the Engine Room area.

Into the shearing shed. Small plaques everywhere describing what happened at each spot. I obviously started in the wrong spot to follow the signs in sequence - oh well. 

The sheep come from that end.

Followed the signs.

Another info board with some fabulous old photos.

Continued on.

More items on display here too.

In the caged area are lots of old tools etc.

Only blade shears used on this side.

Back outside - info about the demolished western end.

Walked down the side of the shed passed the pens the shorn sheep were pushed down into.

The land slopes away so they had to put in bigger poles for this end of the shed.

Up the ramp like we were wool-ladened sheep that were in the pens below. Nice and airy - designed to cool down the sheep before shearing.

Back down the ramp. Good photo of the old timber fence before the wire ones were put in.

The sheep yards. Old fence had no wire - just posts.

Last info board about the environment. It has been wonderful to see the preserved buildings and read all the information.

Back to the truck then over the causeway again to head back to old Pooncarie Road again. No far along we turned off onto Lake Drive around the south end of Menindee Lake to find a spot for lunch. We can see the bright green/blue colour of the water through the trees. Spotted another family of 7 emus then a mob of 10 kangaroos as we drove along.

The map showing Morton Boulka picnic area which is on the waterway (Cawndilla Creek) which connects Menindee Lake to Lake Cawndilla.

Bird watchers spot - nice picnic facilities but no information. We did see a black swan cruising along the other bank and one pelican. Had lunch listening to lots of little wrens and finches. Up to 32 degrees in the camper - Steve is happy to be warm again.

There is a campsite further around on the north side of Lake Cawndilla but we didn’t continue on to that.