LONELY TRAILS TO THE COOPER
4x4 Magazine Australia|March 2023
WHEN RAIN AND FLOODS IMPACT A TRIP TO THE OUTBACK, IT'S TIME TO TAKE THE LESSER-KNOWN ROUTES TO NEW DISCOVERIES
RON MOON
LONELY TRAILS TO THE COOPER

THE plan was easy enough, to follow the Darling River from its junction with the Murray. That didn’t happen and somehow we found our way to Cooper Creek by a little-known route, which was a new one for us.

We changed plans again as the ranger told us the park was closed and the track was cut with floodwaters just a short distance farther ahead. Our plan to stay in the newly proclaimed national park that takes in the Caryapundy Swamp and the original Narriearra Station in the far north-west of NSW was thwarted. While much of the surrounding country was damp from recent rain, the real issue here was that slow-moving waters coming down from Queensland had sent the Bulloo River Overflow into flood mood and the swamp that park takes its name from was damn near full. That was great news for the bird and animal life, but not good news for us.

We turned around and stopped at the old Whittabrinnah Hotel site – which Parks NSW has called an ‘historic precinct’ and put up an info sign, but there’s not much left here, just a scattering of chips of glass and rusty nails. The pub that once stood here burnt down in the 1890s, having been built in the early 1870s just 10 years after Burke and Wills had passed through on their disastrous journey to the Gulf and back.

We headed to Tibooburra, but with roads closed all over and a number of travellers and freight carriers stuck in town, we opted to head down the blacktop to nearby Milparinka and prop there until some roads opened.

MILPARINKA GOLD

This story is from the March 2023 edition of 4x4 Magazine Australia.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the March 2023 edition of 4x4 Magazine Australia.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM 4X4 MAGAZINE AUSTRALIAView All
KING OF THE HIGHWAY
4x4 Magazine Australia

KING OF THE HIGHWAY

WE PUT A FORD F-150 ON THE FLEET TO SAMPLE LIFE WITH A FULL-SIZE AMERICAN PICKUP

time-read
3 mins  |
Summer 2024
TRITON TIME
4x4 Magazine Australia

TRITON TIME

OUR RESIDENT SNAPPER HAS THE KEYS TO A MITSUBISHI TRITON GLS FOR THE NEXT FEW MONTHS

time-read
2 mins  |
Summer 2024
TOP 5 QUEENSLAND SUMMER ESCAPES
4x4 Magazine Australia

TOP 5 QUEENSLAND SUMMER ESCAPES

THERE'S NO SHORTAGE OF STUNNING SUMMER 4X4 SOJOURNS IN THE SUNSHINE STATE

time-read
10+ mins  |
Summer 2024
LAND OF PREHISTORIC PALMS
4x4 Magazine Australia

LAND OF PREHISTORIC PALMS

PALM VALLEY IS HOME TO ANCIENT AND UNIQUE PALMS AND THE MIGHTY FINKE RIVER, AND IT'S READY TO EXPLORE

time-read
8 mins  |
Summer 2024
MADIGAN'S HEART
4x4 Magazine Australia

MADIGAN'S HEART

THE SIMPSON DESERT CAN BE A BUSY PLACE IN PEAK SEASON, BUT A RUN ACROSS THE NORTHERN MADIGAN LINE CAN STILL PROVIDE THE ISOLATION MANY SEEK IN A RED CENTRE CROSSING

time-read
4 mins  |
Summer 2024
PRADO ROCKS ON
4x4 Magazine Australia

PRADO ROCKS ON

TOYOTA AUSTRALIA HAS LAUNCHED ITS 2025 PRADO, AND FITTINGLY DID SO IN KAKADU NATIONAL PARK, A PLACE THE TOP-SPECIFICATION PRADO KAKADU WEARS ON ITS BADGE

time-read
6 mins  |
Summer 2024
UTILITY BLADE
4x4 Magazine Australia

UTILITY BLADE

WALKINSHAW-FETTLED BLADE SITS AT THE POINTY END OF THE D-MAX LINE-UP

time-read
5 mins  |
Summer 2024
BILLY'S BEACH BUGGY
4x4 Magazine Australia

BILLY'S BEACH BUGGY

THIS SUPERCHARGED V8-POWERED TOYOTA LANDCRUISER FJ40 COULD BE THE PERFECT SUMMER BEACH CRUISER

time-read
4 mins  |
Summer 2024
TAMING THE BEAST
4x4 Magazine Australia

TAMING THE BEAST

4X4 AUSTRALIA'S NEW VDJ79 BUILD GETS UNDERWAY WITH A SUSPENSION AND GVM UPGRADE FROM TERRAIN TAMER

time-read
3 mins  |
Summer 2024
CORRUGATIONS.SAND, AND SPINIFEX
4x4 Magazine Australia

CORRUGATIONS.SAND, AND SPINIFEX

WHEN TALKING LEGENDARY TRACKS, THE CANNING STOCK ROUTE HAS THE TITLE OF LONGEST HISTORICAL STOCK ROUTE IN THE WORLD, BUT TACKLING ITS 1850KM IN A 1970S LAND ROVER MAKES FOR ONE INTERESTING DRIVE FOR THE TV CREW FROM SERIOUSLY SERIES. YOU CAN SEE FOR YOURSELF BY VIEWING ROAD TO RUIN

time-read
2 mins  |
November 2024