Things to do in Broken Hill, NSW – free, insider guide

The best things to do in Broken Hill, NSW, include the Living Desert sculptures, Mad Max 2 Museum in Silverton and the Big Picture at the Silver City Mint.

Broken Hill, NSW, is perhaps Australia’s classic outback town. On the Barrier Highway in the far west of New South Wales, Broken Hill is a mining town – but a big enough one to sustain a life and character of its own.

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Top of the list of things to do in Broken Hill should be a visit to the Royal Flying Doctor Service Visitor Centre at the airport. This explains the astonishing work of the Flying Doctors, who help sustain life in the outback by providing medical services by air to remote stations and communities.

Things to do in Broken Hill, NSW: Heritage walk and museums

The best introduction to Broken Hill is the Broken Hill Heritage Walk Tour. These two hour, volunteer-run walking tours cover the town’s substantial history, and give an idea of its distinctive character. Bookings are essential, they leave at 10am every morning and payment is on a voluntary donation system.

4 Broken Hill experiences to book in advance

Tour to quirky outback town, Silverton – Mad Max country.
Sunset tour of the Outback Sculpture Park – take photos in the best light.
Day trip to the opal mines of White Cliffs.
Head into the outback to see ancient Aboriginal rock art.

There’s more heritage at the Sulphide Street Railway and Historical Museum, while the Albert Kersten Mining and Minerals Museum covers the stuff dug out of the ground in these parts.

There’s also a memorial to the miners who have lost their lives in Broken Hill’s mines. This is on top of the Line of Lode hill, made from mine tailings and offering excellent views over the town.

Broken Hill art galleries

Where Broken Hill surprises is its artistic streak. The town has a long-standing reputation as a magnet for artists, who tend to be inspired by the outback light and desert scenery. The Broken Hill City Art Gallery is the oldest regional art gallery in New South Wales, and arguably the best. There’s a nearly 2,000-strong collection of works, including a significant Aboriginal art section.

Two famous local artists have galleries of their own. The Pro Hart Gallery and the Jack Absolom Gallery celebrate the ‘brushmen of the bush’.

Things to do in Broken Hill, NSW: Big Picture and Living Desert Sculptures

The single most impressive piece of art in Broken Hill, however, is the Big Picture. Housed at the Silver City Mint and Art Centre, this 100 metre by 12 metre painting shows off an extraordinarily detailed desert scene. Broken Hill artist Ando painted thousands of trees and saltbushes as part of his behemoth masterwork.

There’s more art on display at the Living Desert State Park, 12km north of Broken Hill on the Silver City Highway. The park has several walking trails, but it is most notable for the 12 giant sculptures carved from sandstone.

The Living Desert State Park is surrounded by a predator-proof fence, and has become a sanctuary for flora and fauna. It’s designed to give a snapshot of the outback’s surprisingly complex natural environment.

What to do in Broken Hill: Daydream Mine and Silverton Hotel

For true outback Australiana, however, you need to head to neighbouring Silverton, 26km north-west of Broken Hill. Here, you can take an underground mine tour in the Daydream Mine. Or enjoy often gory outback history at the Silverton Gaol Museum.

The Silverton Hotel is an outback classic, and has featured in several films. The most famous of these movies has a museum devoted to it. The Mad Max 2 Museum is full of mementos and paraphernalia from the dystopian desert action flick.

Should you wish to go to the filming locations, the best-known spot is the Mundi Mundi Lookout. This lookout offers views for hundreds of kilometres out over the Mundi Mundi Plains.

National Parks near Broken Hill, NSW

Broken Hill’s other major tourism role is acting as a gateway to several outback national parks. Mutawintji National Park and, around the Menindee Lakes, Kinchega National Park are the most accessible. Away Tours operates trips to Kinchega National Park, which include a wetland cruise aboard the River Lady. Mutawintji Heritage Tours runs Aboriginal-guided cultural tours in Mutawintji National Park.

Alternatively, you can hire a car in Broken Hill.

Broken Hill accommodation

Broken Hill accommodation options include the wannabe funky Ibis Styles, the heritage-drenched Royal Exchange Hotel and centrally-located Comfort Inn.

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