Milparinka-Sturt National Park

The trip from White Cliffs to Milparinka was uneventful. Road conditions became a little rougher after reaching the Silver City highway as there are gaps of about 10-20km that are unsealed and very corrugated. Milparinka has the Albert Hotel, the Courthouse Museum, a nice garden/park and very little else. The place is steeped in history of the goldfields and early station life. A side trip to Depot Glen and Mount Poole is a must. We climbed to the top of Mt. Poole to view the cairn built by Capt. Charles Sturts' party in 1845 during their unrelenting search for the "Inland Sea". The party was forced to abandon the search after being hindered by salt lakes and the harsh gibber plains of what is now Sturt Stony Desert. James Poole died of scurvy on that trek and was later buried near Depot Glen on the partys' return to Fort Grey.

We move on to Tibooburra,taking the Loop Track to Olive Downs campground in Sturt National Park. This is called Jumpup Country and the views are spectacular across the plains. Early life was hard in these parts which is evident by the ruins of sheep stations and water tanks along the way. Look out for the big red and blue flyer kangaroos, their in abundance.

Crossing over the Silver City Hwy. we joined the Mt. Wood circuit past Horton outstation ruins and Mount Wood into very stony country before arrivng at Mt. Wood Homestead and the wool scour ruins. No water in these parts. The wool scour and shearing sheds are worth a look around.

Heading back to setup camp at Tibooburra then onto Camerons Corner and Merty Merty.

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Last updated July 31st, 2005