The unofficial capital of Outback NSW is Broken Hill. The town of Broken Hill is the major centre in the west. It has four working mines and is the oldest working city in Australia. Stroll along historical Argent Street, travel deep into a mineshaft and visit the city's geological wonders. Broken Hill is an oasis in the arid land of far western New South Wales. Broken Hill is surrounded by national parks where you can expect to see emus, wedge-tailed eagles, bearded dragons, shingleback lizard and red kangaroos.

The town of Bourke is located 800km west of Sydney. Bourke is quite isolated from other towns in New South Wales and is just as you would picture a real outback town. It is situated on the Mitchell Highway near the Darling River and is a service centre for a vast area of sheep country.

The town of Silverton is located 15 kilometres north-west of Broken Hill. Silverton today is somewhat of a ghost town but once was a big community centre. Silverton is popular with film studios and the films "A Town Like Alice" and "Mad Max II" were filmed here.

Lightning Ridge is famous for its quality Black Opal, climate and lifestyle. It has a peaceful friendly atmosphere and is an area of contrast with old miners' cottages and modern homes side by side. Black Opal was first found in the 1880's and since, new opal fields have been developed, with the township becoming a centre providing services for miners and tourists.

Fact Summary

There is no sealed road if you want to travel west of Bourke..

Tibooburra is the Gateway to the Sturt National Park which is situated in the far corner of the state. The park is popular for camping, driving and bushwalks.

The Barrier Highway the main highway in the state's west. It leaves Nyngan and heads west to Broken Hill on a 600km journey. This road is the main route to Western Australia from Sydney and is one of very few sealed roads in the New South Wales Outback.

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