Broken Hill

A silver-mining town in outback NSW, with desert sunsets at the Sculpture Symposium, the ghost town of Silverton and the Royal Flying Doctor Service base; nearby Mutawintji National Park protects Aboriginal rock art.

Broken Hill lies in the outback desert at the far western edge of New South Wales, near the South Australian border, about 1,150 km from Sydney and 510 km from Adelaide. A world-class silver-lead-zinc lode was discovered here in 1883—BHP was born here—and the city grew with the mines; in 2015 it became the first Australian city to be included in its entirety on the National Heritage List. The climate is dry: Apr–Oct brings warm days and cool mornings and evenings, the best time to visit, while Dec–Feb often tops 40°C, so plan outdoor activities for early morning and late afternoon. There are three main areas to explore. First, the city itself: stroll Argent Street to see late-19th-century hotels and public buildings, and visit the Miners Memorial, the Royal Flying Doctor Service base, the Regional Art Gallery and the Pro Hart Gallery—the city is also known for its many galleries. Second, the ghost town of Silverton and the Mundi Mundi Lookout, 25 km northwest, where Mad Max 2 was filmed; on the way you can go underground at the Day Dream Mine, then return to the Living Desert Sculptures for sunset. Third, longer outback day trips: Mutawintji National Park, about 130 km northeast, has Aboriginal rock engravings and paintings (the core area can only be visited with an Aboriginal guide), and Kinchega National Park and the Menindee Lakes, about 110 km southeast, have river red gums and an old woolshed. Getting there: fly into Broken Hill Airport from Sydney, Adelaide or Melbourne; the Indian Pacific and Outback Xplorer trains run weekly from Sydney. Sights outside town require a car, dirt roads may close after rain, so check road conditions before setting off and carry plenty of water and fuel. Note that Broken Hill runs on Australian Central Time (half an hour behind Sydney). Allow 2–3 days.

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