Silver City Highway

Stretching from Buronga in the south to Broken Hill in the north, the Silver City Highway is a classic Australian outback drive that cuts through the red heart of far western New South Wales. This remote, mostly sealed road offers a genuine taste of the bush: endless horizons, ghost gums, and the occasional kangaroo bounding across the bitumen. It's the kind of journey where the journey itself is the destination — a ribbon of tarmac linking historic mining towns, ancient landscapes, and the raw beauty of the arid zone.

Highlights & What to See

• Broken Hill – The living ghost town where the outback meets art. Explore the Line of Lode Miners Memorial, the Pro Hart Gallery, and the Living Desert Sculpture Symposium at sunset.
• Menindee Lakes – A surprising oasis of waterbird-filled lakes and red cliffs. Break the drive with a picnic at Kinchega National Park.
• Mungo National Park – A short detour south of the highway leads to the World Heritage-listed Walls of China, an ancient lunette of layered sands and the remains of 40,000-year-old human habitation.
• Silverton – A tiny, windswept town that starred in Mad Max 2. Visit the Silverton Hotel and the Mad Max Museum for outback movie lore.
• Packsaddle Roadhouse – The quintessential outback pit stop: fuel, a cold drink, and a chance to chat with locals about the road ahead.

Suggested Time to Spend

Allocate at least two full days to drive the highway from end to end, with one overnight stop in Broken Hill. This allows time for detours to Mungo National Park (add another day) and a leisurely exploration of Broken Hill's galleries and mining history. If you're short on time, a day trip from Broken Hill south to Menindee and back is a rewarding taste of the landscape. The highway is sealed and well-maintained, but services are sparse — always carry extra water and fuel.

Nearby Areas Worth Combining

• Broken Hill – The region's hub, full of heritage and art.
• Mungo National Park – A must for its archaeological and geological significance.
• Menindee – A historic riverside town with great fishing and birdwatching.
• Silverton – Quirky film-set charm just north of Broken Hill.
• Kinchega National Park – Camp under the stars beside the Darling River.
• Mutawintji National Park – Outstanding Aboriginal rock art and gorges, accessible via a 4WD track from Broken Hill.

Please check official sources for current details.