Milparinka & Tibooburra – Great Places To Explore

Spent the first half of the day out at Milparinka about 50ks from Tibooburra. Milparinka is basically a ghost town with a couple of buildings still standing and a pub.

Went across the road to the general store and got a few supplies. Bought a spare Anderson Plug as I fitted my spare this morning and would have had no backup otherwise. There must be a better connector available that never comes apart?

Spent the first half of the day out at Milparinka about 50ks from Tibooburra. Cool old place, it’s basically a ghost town with a couple of buildings still standing and a pub. While out there we visited Sturt’s Cairn, Depot Glen and Poole’s Grave. Sturts expedition got stuck at Depot Glen for six months while they waited for a drought to end. Poole was his second in command and died during this period and is buried there. Had a nice lunch and a couple of beers at the Milparinka Pub. On the way back to camp we ducked up a dry riverbed to collect some wood for a fire tonight.

Tibooburra Caravan Park Supreme Getaway

Went in to town and had a look around. Visited the Family Hotel and had a few beers. Amanda bought a litre bottle of Canadian Club from behind the bar. It wasn’t too badly priced to be honest. The Family Hotel is become famous as the outback pub with murals on the walls. During the 1960s Australian artists Clifton Pugh, Russell Drysdale and others spent several weeks painting in the outback. Using the Family Hotel as a base they added their own style of art to walls within the hotel. Over the years, other artists have contributed their works, making the walls a “living” art gallery.

Murals Inside The Family Hotel Tibooburra Clifton Pugh

We also went to the local park and had a look at a replica whaleboat that Sturt dragged all the way to Tibooburra from Adelaide on his quest to find the inland sea amongst other things. The bloke was convinced there was going to be an inland sea and he was going to get his mates to row the boat out on to it and have a look around. The thing is absolutely massive!

Pioneer Park Tibooburra Replica Sturt Whaleboat

We finished off the day with a nice camp fire. Was a great day today. Today was what I was hoping this trip would be all about.

Graciee Enjoying Fire At Tibooburra Caravan Park