15 May 2012 - Exploring what "Back 'O Bourke" has on offer

Nick drew the short straw and was up for the morning run and after this it was full steam ahead with breakfast and down to the Darling to catch the Jandra paddle steamer at 9am.  Em was more excited to see whether “Dragon the Ballerina” was still in need of her help and brought a bag to bring the bird back in if it needed a trip to the vet. Obviously we hoped it would be gone…..but alas, no, Dragon was still there, on the bank, looking worse for wear as the whistling kites circled waiting for their chance to eat her. She was renamed Polly, and Em was very disappointed I would not allow her on the boat – against the rules I said.

We enjoyed a 1 hour cruise down the Darling with great commentary on the river, the floods, the history and the wildlife. Em and Lachie fought over who got to hold the camera and take the pictures en route.

After the cruise we headed to an orange and mandarin farm next door to the campsite where the kids got to pick a mandarin fresh from the tree and we bought a huge bag to keep us going for a few days – delish.

Then onward to town to the “Back ‘o Bourke” Exhibition Centre to learn about the history of the area. We were amazed at the centre and the money that must have been poured in here in the last few years. It was great. But as usual, pity about the kids as we didn’t get to read half of what we would have liked. I decided this was the last time we would go to such a centre with the kids – you just don’t get your money’s worth and it isn’t a very pleasant experience for anyone else in the centre at the time.

After this we headed for lunch at the Old Wharf in town. The kids ran amuck, throwing sticks, stones and anything likely to take ones eye out. After lunch they were treated with a walk down under the wharf to throw stones as we watched the egrets and herons dive for lunch.

Pulling out the “Mud Maps” of the area we headed in search of Major Mitchells Fort, but found the road closed (as we had we told by Tourist Info). We chose to check for ourselves and sometimes they err on the side of caution and Nick was keen to see this, it being rather unlikely we will be back in the area for some time. We passed the Cemetery where Fred Hollows is buried and the local cotton gin before heading homeward and letting the kids have a much needed snooze en route.

In the evening we took the kids for a bike ride across the Bourke Bridge and down to the wetlands on the way to town. They again threw stones and we saw the sunset as we headed back for home.

Another freezing night and I was thinking was being back in NSW such a great idea after all….

Boat Trip, picked oranges, Exhibition Centre , Major Mitchells Fort, river for lunch, evening cycles, skyped Isla