If you know Bourke you know Australia
Henry Lawson
WELCOME
'Back O' Bourke'- one of the most recognisable terms in the Australian vocabulary, but where, or rather 'what' is it? It is people and it is landscape, solitude and mate-ship. It encompasses history, culture and nature, as well as invention and ingenuity. Small towns and big distances, wide open plains and narrow tracks. As much a concept as it is reality, and only ever truly understood through experience.
This is our backyard. These concepts and hazy vision are the realities of our day to day lives. We can no more point you towards the Back O' Bourke than you could, because we are it. We are the people, the places, the stories and traces. Follow any path you like to get here, take any means available to you, and know that when you arrive you will be invited to discover the hidden journeys Back O' Bourke has to offer.
See & Do
Jandra Paddleboat
Experience the famous Darling River aboard the majestic Jandra Paddleboat. Enjoy one of the relaxing daily cruises, or book a private charter for you…
Back O' Bourke Information and Exhibition Centre
The Back O' Bourke Information and Exhibition Centre is set amongst the native garden of the river red gums on the banks of the Darling River.The cen…
Stay
It's the bitterest land of sweat and sorrow. But if I were free I'd be off tomorrow Out at the Back O' Bourke
Henry Lawson
Social
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🩷 Seeing PINK around Bourke this October? 🩷 Don’t worry, you’re not seeing things... Bourke is turning PINK! Throughout October, our community is getting behind Breast Cancer Awareness Month, raising awareness and showing off that famous Bourke community spirit. Visiting Bourke? No pink in your suitcase? Rookie mistake! 😉 Grab something pink, snap a pic and join Bourke in turning the town PINK for a great cause. 🩷 Let’s see just how PINK Bourke can get! #ThinkPinkBourke #prettyinpink #BourkeGoesPink #PinkLooksGoodOnBourke #OutbackInPink #visitbourke
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UMMM… CAN WE SAY THE “C” WORD YET? 🎄 It’s nearly October, so we’re doing it… CHRISTMAS! This year we’re shaking things up with Christmas on the Main! Saturday, 28 November New spot. New look. New vibes. And hopefully a few NEW stallholders! Thinking you’ve got something to sell? Start planning. Everyone else, save the date. Saturday morning in Bourke is going to be a good one. Too early for the C word? Take it up with Santa. 🎅
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22 July 2028 — SAVE THE DATE. BOOK NOW. BE IN BOURKE. When the sky turns dark over the Back O’ Bourke, you’re going to want to be here. What have we got planned? Well… if we told you this early, someone might copy us. For now, lock in the date, book your stay and start planning your trip to Bourke for 22 July 2028. Big sky. Dark sky. Back O’ Bourke.
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Camels in Bourke? You bet. Long before road trains and bitumen, cameleers and their camel teams were helping move supplies, mail and goods across some seriously tough country. There’s plenty more to discover inside the Back O' Bourke Information & Exhibition Centre , open 9am–5pm every day. Visitors, neighbours and locals — come in, have a look and learn a little more about the people, stories and history that shaped our vast Back O’ Bourke region. #BackOBourke #communitystories #OutbackNSW
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The Darling River — if these banks and old river gums could talk, imagine the stories they’d tell. Come sit, listen and take it all in for yourself out at the Back O’ Bourke.
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IN BOURKE TODAY? Got a spare $10 or $50? Scott knows a good home for it. He’s back in the Darling and heading for Bourke Wharf, raising money for MND, Parkinson’s and PSP. Head down from midday, grab a free snag, line the bank and give him a proper Bourke welcome. The snag’s on us — the donation’s up to you. Just keep swimming, Scott. Bourke’s behind ya!
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Gundabooka National Park — rich in culture, deeply spiritual and worth every kilometre of the drive. This is the Back O’ Bourke. Come and feel it for yourself.
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In Bourke today, tomorrow or Saturday? Don’t just drive past the river — there’s something pretty special happening on it. Scott Gladman fightthecurrentproject is swimming 1,650km of the Darling River raising money and awareness for MND and Parkinson’s. Today from around 1pm, head out the back of Kidman’s Camp and give him a yell as he swims towards the Jandra. The Jandra heads out at 2:30pm, so get there early and make a bit of noise from the bank. Friday from midday, we want the Bourke Wharf lined with locals, visitors, kids, old river swimmers and anyone who loves a good cause. There’ll be sausage sangas, a donation bucket and one very determined bloke swimming into town. Then Saturday, Scott keeps heading downstream towards Louth. Cheer him. Feed the donation bucket. Share the story. Get behind a bloke doing something massive for families facing MND and Parkinson’s. Donate here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/e883g4-fight-the-current-swimming-1650km-for-mnd-parkinsons
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This is Bourke. This is the Back O’ Bourke. And some places really do have to be seen to be believed.
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Spring days have well and truly arrived in Bourke. A top of 33 today and 28 tomorrow… safe to say the winter woollies might be getting packed away this weekend. And right on cue, the locals are already starting to complain about the heat! But this is the weather for river days, a cruise on the Jandra, road trips, walks and a bit of exploring. It’s all waiting for you out here at the Back O’ Bourke.
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Spring days in Bourke are made for slowing down a little. Take a walk, soak up the sunshine, wander through the gardens and enjoy all those little spots you might normally drive straight past. The flowers are out, the days are warming up and Back O’ Bourke is looking pretty good in spring. Go on… stretch the legs and take it all in.
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We LOVE seeing travellers rolling into Bourke — but here’s a little local heads-up. It’s 50km/h around Bourke and North Bourke. Not 20 while Google Maps is having a meltdown… and not 70 because your right foot’s feeling brave. Best bit? Not a traffic light in sight. So slow down, use your indicators and take it all in. And please don’t just drive through and say you’ve “been to Bourke” — we’ll be disappointed. Pull up, have a wander, ask a local if Google Maps isn’t playing nice, and actually see the place. Slow Down. Take it all in. It’s Bourke. Back O’ Bourke