When the Cheshire emerges...

Across the border from Mildura, Wentworth (in NSW) is a quaint little town with a few big things going for it. Their jail was the first to be designed by an Australian and the model for many built later on (Dubbo's doors are a Wentworth design apparently), and it sits at the junction of the Murray and Darling rivers. A beautiful sight that is.

The steamer PS Ruby is a special monument to them, being restored by a loving team (I think of volunteers).

I can't remember which river is which, but this is from a lookout at the junction.

Now that's a drink.

The PS Ruby.

The second half of my journey began in Mildura after leaving Adelaide. Going through Renmark on the way was nice, having visited there two years ago for some work experience.

Right on the Victoria/NSW border, Mildura is a great base for surrounding areas. It also had a lot to offer for itself, not least a great major eating strip. Definitely one up on Dubbo there. To be fair, it services up to 60,000 within a close proximity.

Within Mildura and close surrounds I visited Orange World where I learnt about the wonderful produce that comes out of the Sunraysia region, the Stanley Wines factory in an attempt to see the Big Goon Box, and took notice of the cool art deco influence on their architecture.

I must mention that the hospitality I received here was great... and that they have a really good Sportsgirl. Oh how I miss that shop.

I could say this is the best fresh OJ I've ever had - and I will. Fabulous.

The Orange World experience then consists of a tractor ride through part of the orchard.

What used to be the Big Goon Box. You can imagine the Stanley logo and the pourer bit stuck on the bottom. No vomiting homages here. Devastated.

A town of the choo-choos for decades, Peterborough was interesting in that it was my first SA Outback destination ever in taking a second detour off the Barrier Highway. It delivered more than I expected.

The hours flew by during my short stay, accompanied by a father-daughter duo I had met in Broken Hill on my walking tour who were coincidentally ahead of me on the road and had the same idea.

We took in their train museum, the Steamtown Heritage Rail Centre, where I felt like I had been plonked in the middle of Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends (subconscious childhood dream realised right there). Lunch followed at a place which combined three of my favourite things - retroness, film and good food.

From here I would continue to Adelaide to see family and friends, and attend a beautiful wedding. I felt I had already done so much in just five and a half days.

Thomas' roundhouse.

This thing on the back of the car is a means of mobile communication. Funny how that's changed...

Toby was a pretty cool train.

If someone had told me earlier I'd fine this on the main street I would've laughed. Fabulous.

Silverton: the Hollywood of the Outback. Parts of Priscilla: Queen of the Desert and just about all of Mad Max 2 were filmed there, a ghost town previously inhabited with those working in the mines. There's not much around, but what is is excellent. It's a great place.

I met the most enthusiastic person possibly ever in the creator of the Mad Max museum, an Englishman who moved his family out to start the pilgrimage after discovering on holiday that was nothing to support Silverton's moniker.

I also went to the lookout point at the Mundi Mundi Plains, a vast expanse of greenery in the desert and beautiful in its stillness. Much like White Cliffs, I felt I was in a different world. And only a simple but bumpy 25 minutes or so from Broken Hill.
*Mad Max Museum indoor photos taken with owner permission

The famous (replica) car that sits outside the Silverton Hotel.

The souvenir shop had pictures...

Donkey were not something I expected to see!

Legendary.

Dame Mary Gilmore of our $10 note taught at Silverton School.

That museum had the most random assortment of items ever. Here are awards from the Pal Pedigree and Rinso companies...

I felt it was appropriate to get a jumping shot on the Mundi Mundi Plains out of anywhere. The photo doesn't do the landscape justice.

Before I got to really explore Broken Hill, I chose to pre-book a day trip out to Mutawintji National Park through Tri-State Safaris to see 40,000-year-old Aboriginal engravings within a natural habitat.

On pick-up, I was offered the chance to sit up front with the tour guide or in the back with everyone else (all the oldies, because unfortunately no-one my age does these sorts of tours). A bit surprised at my guide's offer but I sat in the back because seniors can sometimes be the most curious travellers. I certainly had a sprightly bunch that day!

We had tea and cake in a dry creek bed, held a shingleback lizard on the middle of the dusty road, and saw some amazing Aboriginal engravings and hand stencils.

I really got a lot out of this day, learning from guide Mark about some of the customs Aboriginal groups follow in their youth and entering adulthood.



I can't believe I held a lizard!

Mark was awesome. He's from the land and knew his stuff.

We were first told a Dreamtime story detailing a punishment from God.

Part of Aboriginal initiation ceremonies, these could be a couple of hundred years old.

See the emu? Controversially dated as possibly more than 50,000 years old.

OK, this was back in Broken Hill, but somewhere inaccessible without Mark and his trusty driving.