Friends told us years ago that we must stay in Broken Hill, so we did, last week.
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They told us about a restaurant on top of the slag heap that at night when all lit up, looks like a spaceship.
Broken Earth Cafe is no longer open at night, but is open for lunch.
Even in daylight the ultra modern building looks like a spaceship
It is worth the drive up the hill to the Miners Memorial and cafe on top of the "line of lode".
They look over Broken Hill to the horizon.
Day Trips: A visit to Benalla Art Gallery
It is not well signed posted, but if you find the midtown railway crossing you are on the way.
We travelled to Broken Hill from Wentworth where the Murray and Darling Rivers meet.
Here you might see boats going through Lock 10 and you can climb the prehistoric red Perry Sandhills.
We chose to leave taking the part sealed/part unsealed road towards Menindee Lakes because it follows the Darling River and is prettier and more interesting than the alternative.
Wentworth Information Centre give road condition updates, some signs are not so swiftly altered.
Day Trips: Wangaratta winter wonderland
The 59 km detour to Willandra Lakes and Mungo National Park where Mungo Woman and Mungo Man were discovered was well worthwhile.
Since 1960s 120 have been found. They are the oldest human skeletons ever found in Australia and among the world's oldest.
The lakes are all dry, their topography fascinating.
They reveals record of indigenous occupation when humans could walk from Tasmania to New Guinea.
It was a pity we were there before we understood more about the geological importance of this land in Broken Hill.
Day Trips: A Sunday drive to Corowa
A nearby historic 32-stand woolshed reveals its social and commercial role in this isolated place.
After rejoining the highway and stopping in Pooncarie an old river port, we headed for Menindee.
The Menindee Lakes have been empty for years, but are now full, fed from the Darling River.
Their capacity is five times Sydney Harbour.
If it were not for my husband wanting to see another historic woolshed on the outskirts of Menindee we would not have seen the sign saying Lake Drive.
The Lakes are not visible or signed in the township.
Leaving Menindee we noticed the Broken Hill water pipeline.
More recently a second pipeline was built transporting Murray River water when the Darling was dry.
Our full day trip in and around Broken Hill was fabulous and unexpectedly rewarding.
Broken Hill was established in 1888 to mine silver, lead and zinc.
In 2015 it became Australia's first city to have heritage listing, its grand Victorian and Federation buildings reflecting its affluence and importance.
Day trips: A quintessential little country village
Among its gems is Bells Milk Bar that appears not to have changed since opening in the 1950s.
It is arguably NSW's oldest milkbar.
It is said there are more art galleries than pubs in Broken Hill, a big call for a mining town.
Their regional gallery is the oldest in NSW and now housed in Sully's Emporium building, an old hardware shop that is an art piece itself.
My highlight was visiting the Albert Kersten Mining and Minerals Museum (Tuesday to Friday, 10 am to 4 pm, Saturday, 10 am to 2 pm) and seeing the 14-minute video that tells of the creation of Earth and the alteration timelines of solid matter.
Day trips: An Indigenous education
It put everything into perspective especially concerning Australia and what I knew about the Flinders Rangers, Lake Mungo and more.
Our visit coincided with the Barrier Field Naturalists’ Club Centenary Exhibition of beautiful water colour sketches of arid plants and birds.
Their short film overviews their aim since 1920 to rejuvenate barren landscapes and regenerate mining sites. Their work has became the world's model.
Inspired, we drove to the Living Desert Flora and Fauna Sanctuary and adjacent hilltop site to see the recently created Living Desert Sculptures.
Here 12 large sculptures are waiting to weather and blend into the landscape.
Day Trips: Artistic adventures
Then, drum role... we went to Silverton, which is the original silver mining town that operated from 1883 until 1899.
Mad Max film fans go there to pay homage.
Broken Hill and surrounds have provided filmmakers a natural backdrop for movies, such as Priscilla Queen of the Desert, The Dressmaker and more.
We had a wonderful day trip in Broken Hill.
- Suzie Pearce
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