Mungo, Broken Hill & Beyond Tour

Package Overview

Travel to the Murray River and into the outback to explore Australia’s history, from Indigenous settlement to the larrikins and miners who led our nation into modernity. In Mildura, we discuss the importance of the mighty Murray on the history of settlement and rural economy. We head to Lake Mungo to look for evidence of the Aboriginal settlement that spread broadly across the landscape, and on to Broken Hill where mining provided the genesis for an Australian icon, the Broken Hill Proprietary Company.

Experience
A continuous history of human occupation spanning 50,000 years
Outback landscapes in Lake Mungo and Mutawintji National Parks
An iconic part of our national history, with the story of the Broken Hill Proprietary Company known fondly as ‘the big Australian’
An area rich in archaeology that has been preserved in pristine condition for thousands of years
The importance of riverboat culture to the history and settlement of the areas around the mighty Murray and Darling River systems

HIGHLIGHTS
Degustation dinner at Stefano’s much acclaimed restaurant in Mildura
Walk around the Walls of China, climb the sand dunes at Vigars Well and explore the archaeology at Lake Mungo National Park
Special access to Indigenous cultural and historic sites with a traditional owner at Mutawintji National Park
Experience the life of the 19th-century Cornish miner underground at Day Dream Mine
The wealth of art in Broken Hill, where art galleries outnumber pubsReturn international/domestic air travel unless those flights take place during the tour
Special taxes and airport levies that can only be paid in cash at the destination. We will advise you of these charges (if any) before you depart
Costs involved in obtaining visas for countries visited, where required
Travel insurance. We require all participants to have comprehensive travel insurance. A typical policy for one of our tours will cost from $160 upwards, depending on your age, pre-existing medical conditions, the countries you are visiting and the overall length of your trip
Lunches and dinners not specifically mentioned as included in the itinerary
Personal expenses such as laundry and phone calls
Costs associated with any activity mentioned as “optional” in the itinerary, or any suggested free time activity

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Day wise Itinerary

• Day 1 : Arrive

  The tour commences at our Mildura accommodation at 6pm. After meeting Chris Carter for introductions, we enjoy a welcome dinner in the cellars of the Grand Hotel at Stefanos Restaurant. Overnight Mildura

  • Meals & Drinks : Dinner

• Day 2 : To Mungo via the Murray

  This morning we board the historic paddle steamer, PS Melbourne for a leisurely cruise on the Murray River. An informative onboard commentary provides an insight into the Murray Darling River system and its environs as we meander along the river. We learn about the history of the majestic steam driven paddleboats and enjoy a light lunch onboard before disembarking at Mildura Wharf. A short drive takes us to Wentworth where we make a brief stop to see the confluence of the Murray and Darling Rivers before continuing to Lake Mungo. We head into the National Park this evening to witness the sun setting over the Walls of China. Overnight Lake Mungo.

  • Meals & Drinks : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• Day 3 : Mungo National Park

  We return to the Walls of China this morning and walk across the lunette that formed along the Eastern margin of the lake to search for evidence of the earliest human inhabitants and extinct animals dating back 50 000 years. The World Heritage Listed Willandra Lakes system has remained dry for approximately 18000 years creating a significant archaeological region known for the discovery of Mungo Man, the oldest human remains found in Australia. We drive around the lunette, stopping at Vigars Well to climb the dunes for a spectacular view and enjoy a picnic lunch. Overnight Lake Mungo.

  • Meals & Drinks : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• Day 4 : To Bindara

  After an early morning walk along the dry western shoreline of the lake we depart for Pooncarie on the Darling River. Burke and Wills passed through here on their ill-fated journey to the Gulf of Carpentaria and paddle steamers loaded with bales of wool anchored at the once busy river port. We stop for a cold beer and lunch at the Telegraph Hotel before continuing to historic Bindara Station. Overnight Bindara Station.

  • Meals & Drinks : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• Day 5 : To Broken Hill

  The majestic red brick homestead and outbuildings on Bindara were built by Joseph Dunne around 1870 from bricks fired on the property using local clay while other materials used in the construction were transported up the river by paddle steamer. We explore the outbuildings and old cemetery and take a stroll along the banks of the Darling River where the bushland provides a natural habitat for a wide range of birds including many rare species. We drive to Broken Hill stopping for a picnic lunch and arriving in the late afternoon. Overnight Broken Hill.

  • Meals & Drinks : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• Day 6 : Explore Broken Hill

  Today we explore Broken Hill’s wide streets and heritage discovering the towns mining past and thriving modern art scene. We take a walking tour with a local guide through the historic town centre past palatial Federation and Victorian buildings funded by mining wealth, tin cottages and 1930’s art deco properties. On our way, we stop in at the Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery housed in the refurbished Sully’s Emporium building. The gallery collection comprises of colonial, modern and aboriginal works by Australian artists such as Lloyd Rees, Pro Hart and Emily Kame Kngwarreye. This afternoon we visit the Line of Lode Miners Memorial located atop a mullock heap. The impressive structure pays tribute to the 800 miners who lost their lives working at the mine. Later, we take a short drive out of town to see the sun setting over the Sculpture Park. Overnight Broken Hill.

  • Meals & Drinks : Breakfast

• Day 7 : Mutawinji National Park

  This morning we make a 300-kilometre round trip north east of Broken Hill to Mutawintji National Park dominated by the Bynguano Ranges whose vibrant colour beautifully captures the changing light and provides a backdrop for the famous hand stencil artworks of the local people. The ruggedly beautiful park shows evidence of continuous use by Aboriginal people for thousands of years. We are guided around Mutawinji by one of the traditional owners and introduced to its history, culture and embark on a walk to view the rock-art. Overnight Broken Hill.

  • Meals & Drinks : Breakfast, Lunch

• Day 8 : Daydream Mine

  We travel 20 kilometres outside of Broken Hill for a guided tour of the Day Dream Mine site founded in 1881. Starting on the surface we see the old township where the miners lived in extremely harsh conditions in the 1880’s and see the historic smelter used by BHP. Donning a hat and light as the Cornish miners, some boys as young as eight years old would have done we descend underground to see how the mine once operated. We continue to Silverton and wander through the historic buildings many of which have appeared onscreen in films and television series. We may even stop in at the iconic Silverton Hotel where you can have lunch washed down with a cold beer before returning to Broken Hill in the afternoon. Overnight Broken Hill.

  • Meals & Drinks : Breakfast, Dinner

• Day 9 : Depart

  The tour concludes after breakfast.

  • Meals & Drinks : Breakfast

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Inclusions

• Hotel
• Sightseeing
• Any flights mentioned in the itinerary that take place during a tour
• Land travel by private air-conditioned coach. Where appropriate public transport is also used for short distance travel on some tours
• All accommodation in hotels or apartments as stated in the itinerary
• Breakfasts, lunches and dinners specifically stated as included in the itinerary
• Drinks at welcome and farewell meals. Other meals may not have drinks included
• Background talks on tour, site notes and online resources
• Services of tour leader throughout tour
• All entrance fees to sites mentioned in the itinerary
• Local guides at some sites
• Tips for drivers, local guides and restaurants for included meals
• Airport Transfers
• Tours begin either at the arrival airport or the first hotel, depending on the itinerary. If you have booked your international flights with Academy Travel and arrive before the tour commences, we will provide airport to hotel transfers to the closest main city on your arrival, and to the closest airport at the end of the tour. These may be either individual or group transfers.

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Exclusions

• Return international/domestic air travel unless those flights take place during the tour
• Special taxes and airport levies that can only be paid in cash at the destination. We will advise you of these charges (if any) before you depart
• Costs involved in obtaining visas for countries visited, where required
• Travel insurance. We require all participants to have comprehensive travel insurance. A typical policy for one of our tours will cost from $160 upwards, depending on your age, pre-existing medical conditions, the countries you are visiting and the overall length of your trip
• Lunches and dinners not specifically mentioned as included in the itinerary
• Personal expenses such as laundry and phone calls
• Costs associated with any activity mentioned as “optional” in the itinerary, or any suggested free time activity

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Terms & Conditions

Payment Terms & Methods :
* Some Advance Percentage of total booking amount
* Airfare/Transport fare to be paid full at one time in advance.

Cancellation & Refund Policy :
* Upon cancellation, refund will be made after deducting the Retention Amount.
* Retention Amount varies as per the number of days left before your package start date.

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This Tour is Offered by

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• Level 1, 341 George St Bank of New South Wales Building, NSW, Sydney, Australia
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