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
Mount Oxley Rossmore Station
An hour spent with eagles in the silence atop Mount Oxley looking across a 100-kilometre expanse rekindles the experience of explorers Sturt and Hume…
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
visitbackobourke
Off the Back O’ Bourke Beaten Track – 2 Our river. Our lady. Our lifeblood. Not a day goes by that we don’t talk about her, thank her, and stop to admire her beauty. The mighty Darling River is the reason Bourke is here — plain and simple. She’s more than water winding through the landscape. She’s history, life, stories and connection. She is part of Bourke’s heartbeat — steady, powerful and deeply tied to the people and stories of this place. If you can’t be here this month or next, make it the month after. Pop a pin in Bourke and come see it all for yourself. See you soon.
visitbackobourke
Fuel prices got you sticking closer to home? We get it. So this week, let the Back O’ Bourke take you off the beaten track without using a tank of diesel. Around here you’ll find wildlife, wildflowers, mulga, old pub sites, old dunnies, and enough rusty spare parts to prove bush people never throw anything away — because one day, that muffler from 1987 might just save the day. And really, that’s Bourke too — full of stories, character, history and the sort of treasures that don’t always shine at first glance. Bourke is more than a river, more than a boat cruise, and more than just a place to pass through. It’s a community, a memory, and a special part of our history. If you can’t be here this month or next, make it the month after. Pop a pin in Bourke and come see it all for yourself. See you soon. #VisitBourke #BackOBourke #historicbuilding #TheGreatOutdoors #Travel2026 #RoadTripAustralia
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🍀 Happy St Paddy’s Day from the Back O’ Bourke crew! 🍀 Whether you’re wearing green, cooking a green dinner tonight, or enjoying a cheeky glass of green grape juice… we hope the luck of the Irish is with you today. And while you’re feeling a bit festive, why not drop a big green pin in the map for Bourke and start planning your next trip west. Autumn out here is magic — warm days, sunsets that’ll knock your socks off, and the Darling River looking pretty flash at the moment. So go on… 🍀 Go green. Go west. Go Bourke. We’ll have the sunsets ready.
visitbackobourke
🚽 Outback Toilet Talk… When you wander off the main highway and into the villages around Bourke, you’ll spot a few old toilet blocks still standing proud. Before “Male” and “Female”, the signs were a bit more… outback: Ewes & Rams Cows & Steers Blokes & Sheilas And then there’s the famous “Wipe & Shake” toilets… have a think about that one 😏 Maybe we should start a new tourism trail — The Old Toilet Blocks of the Back O’ Bourke 🚽 This tourism season, visit Bourke and our village communities, take a wander, explore the old and the new, and enjoy a good look around. Bourke and its BIG backyard is waiting. 📍 And if you want to hear a few more quirky yarns, pop into the Back O’ Bourke Exhibition Centre.
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Friday the 13th… or Black Friday as the oldies call it. Apparently you’re meant to avoid ladders, mirrors, spilled salt and sitting with 12 other people at the table… all a bit of bad luck if the stories are true. Here in Bourke we reckon it’s pretty simple. Put the ladders away. Try not to stare in the mirror too long. And if there’s already 12 at the table… maybe grab another chair later. But avoid travel? Not a chance. How else are you going to discover Bourke – the Back O’ Bourke? Pack the car, hit the road and come say G’day. Believe it or not… we’re waiting for you. And there’s no bad luck in that. #photography #sunshine #bourke #outbackaustralia #outbacknsw
visitbackobourke
Petrol prices might be through the roof… but we’ve got some Bourke logic for you. If you’re going to drive west, don’t rush through — stay a while. Welcome to Bourke – the Back O’ Bourke, where autumn days are warm, the sunsets stretch across the horizon and the night skies are filled with more stars than you can count. Spend your days exploring the Back O’ Bourke Exhibition Centre, walking along the Darling River, spotting kangaroos and emus on the plains, casting a line for yellowbelly, or simply sitting back and enjoying the slower pace of the outback. Then take a drive and discover more of Bourke Shire. • Byrock, Louth and Enngonia are all within 100km of Bourke • Wanaaring offers a true outback journey just over 200km away You’ll find pubs, clubs, caravan parks, motels and farm stays ready to welcome you — and plenty of locals happy to greet you with a good old-fashioned “G’day, can we help?” So don’t let the headlines about petrol prices stop you. Come to Bourke’s backyard, stay a little longer than planned, and discover why so many travellers fall in love with the Back O’ Bourke. Stay longer… we dare you.
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Hello from Bourke – March Visitor Update If you’re travelling through Bourke this March, here’s a quick update on visiting the Back O’ Bourke Information & Exhibition Centre, Café and PV Jandra cruises. 🕘 Exhibition Centre The Centre is open 9am – 3pm daily until Sunday 22 March. From Monday 23 March we return to our normal hours 9am – 5pm daily. ☕ Back O’ Bourke Café Our Café is open 9am – 2pm every day, perfect for a coffee, milkshake, lunch or a sweet treat while you’re exploring the Centre and river precinct. 🚢 PV Jandra Cruises Our much-loved PV Jandra is currently enjoying a few final “spa days” before welcoming passengers again from Monday 30 March. Cruises will operate: • Monday – Saturday: 1 hour cruises at 9am & 2:30pm • Sunday: a relaxed 2-hour afternoon cruise 🎟 Tickets can be purchased at the Centre or on board the Jandra. We recommend arriving a little early so we can get everyone comfortably on board. Whether you're passing through, staying a while or discovering Bourke for the first time, we look forward to welcoming you to the Back O’ Bourke.
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⚙️ Did you know Bourke is home to a working piece of industrial history? The Crossley Engine, built in 1923 by Crossley Brothers in England, is an oil-fuelled stationary engine and a remarkable survivor from the early days of power generation. Over 100,000 Crossley oil and gas engines were produced worldwide — and the fact this one still stands is a testament to their craftsmanship. This impressive water-cooled, four-stroke diesel engine features two side-by-side cylinders and a massive 6-ton flywheel. In its day, it produced 138 horsepower at just 260rpm — serious muscle for its time. Originally used to generate electricity at the Sydney Power House (1923–1938), the engine later powered the Allowrie Butter Factory in Coffs Harbour, before heading west to Narromine, where it pumped irrigation water until 1964. Today, this engineering giant rests proudly in its shed at the Historical Wharf precinct in Bourke — and it’s free to view anytime. 📍 Make sure it’s on your must-see list when exploring Bourke’s riverfront history. #VisitBourke #OutbackHistory #CrossleyEngine #HistoricWharf #EngineeringLegends #BackOBourke
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Cobb & Co helped put Bourke on the map. In the 19th century, Bourke was a vital inland transport hub, connected to Bathurst and beyond by Cobb & Co mail and passenger coaches. Today, Bourke sits proudly on the Cobb & Co Heritage Trail, with historic sites including the former Carriers Arms Hotel and the Warrego Hotel, built on the site of an original horse-changing station. A local Cobb & Co factory even operated here until 1899. Visit Bourke and follow the tracks of a time when coaches, horses and river trade kept the outback moving. #BackOBourke #TheGreatOutdoors #historicbuilding
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When you visit Fred’s resting place in Bourke, slow down — this one matters. You pass through the cemetery gates and straight into red dirt country, the kind Fred Hollows loved. Ahead, a stand of gum trees shades a striking piece of dark, smooth granite — quiet, powerful and impossible to miss. The memorial was created by Austrian sculptor Andreas Buisman and installed in 2006, commissioned by the Hollows family. Shaped to reflect light from every angle, it’s designed to shine back at you — like a beacon. A nod to the intraocular lens that helped Fred change eye health forever, making sight-restoring surgery affordable for people across the world. Around the site, boulders from Mount Oxley form the shape of an eye, alongside a sandstone monolith carved by local Aboriginal artists, international sculptors and Bourke locals. A plaque reads: “Fred Hollows, eye doctor. The key he used to undo locks was vision for the poor.” It’s peaceful. Powerful. And quietly magical. And here’s the local tip — give Fred’s rock a little rub, so he keeps shining bright. Visit Bourke and see it for yourself. #fredhollows #outbackaustralia
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Pelicans in Bourke? Yep — they live here. You’ll spot these big, bold characters cruising the Darling like they own it… because, honestly, they kind of do. Most often seen along the riverbanks in North Bourke or hanging about near Toorale National Park, pelicans are regulars in our wetlands. They fish in groups, pose like pros and aren’t shy about stealing the spotlight from tourists trying to get the perfect photo. The Darling River is their playground and our pride — a lifeline in the outback and home to plenty of wildlife, pelicans included. So whether you’re rolling through on the Darling River Run or just wandering by the water, slow down, have a look… and enjoy one of Bourke’s most iconic locals doing what they do best. #darlingriverrun #worththedetour #RoadTripAustralia #Travel2026 #Bourke
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Not long now, happy travellers… The Jandra Paddle Vessel will be back on the water towards the end of March, cruising daily (with a few possible timetable tweaks). Those who’ve followed the Jandra — and her many much-loved captains over the years — will be pleased to know we’ve secured the captain for a second season. The Boss is especially happy that no television interviews are required this time 😉 The Darling is calling… and we can’t wait to welcome you aboard. #RoadTripAustralia #Travel2026 #worththedetour #darlingriverrun