2026 Drover's Run 4WD Adventure Itinerary

Pre event get-together at Armatree Pub from 6.00pm

This is a great chance to meet your fellow Drover’s before we head off while enjoying a delicious dinner and get an outline of what's in store for the next fifteen days. We camp tonight on the banks of the Bogan River at the beautiful Nyngan Riverside Tourist Park with great sites, and an amazing camp kitchen.

Over the fortnight you will travel through some amazing parts of Outback NSW and South Australia, but for the very first time on a Drover's Run we will take in the coast, but this coast is the rugged and beautiful Eyre Peninsula in SA. You'll see iconic places such as the sandstone buildings of Wilcannia, the history of Broken Hill, the magnificence of the Flinders Ranges, Streaky and Coffin Bays, Menindee Lakes, and the vast agriculural land of the Central West of NSW.  You will find that the Drover’s Run is a huge team effort and the more we act as a team, the more successful it will be. It may mean that you pitch in by helping others when they need it, help out on the fundraising nights by selling raffle tickets or assisting with the auctions, or telling people along the way what the Drover's Run means to you as an entrant.

At the end of the 2026 Drover's Run you will have made some life-long friends. So please enjoy the 2026 Drover’s Run 4WD Outback Adventure and the Northern NSW Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service sincerely thanks you in advance for taking part and ensuring we are ready to respond 24-7 because of your fundraising efforts.

Meals: Dinner tonight provided to entrants at Australia Hotel as part of your Crew Fee

Accommodation: Unpowered camp sites have been booked at the Nyngan Riverside Tourist Park as part of your Crew Fee, powered sites are available as are cabins at an additional cost to entrants. Details in the Accommodation document under the Resources Tab.

After a comprehensive briefing and last minute checks of radios and your vehicle, we travel south-west from Nyngan, a stop for a break at Nymagee, and then to Ivanhoe for lunch before heading north-west and tonight's stay at Warrawong on the Darling, as the name suggest right on the banks of the Darling River. A bit of bitumen today but with 550 kms to cover this will allow us to tick off a reasonable distance on day one. 

Accommodation: Camping tonight at Warrawong on the Darling, about two kms east of Wilcannia, with it's brilliant amenities block available. Cabin accommodation also available tonight. 

Meals: Breakfast is provided as part of your crew fee this morning, morning tea, lunch and dinner will be self-catered.

Fuel: Fuel up in Nyngan, next fuel is at Wilcannia.

Another 500km plus day, into Wilcannia first thing, and then 200kms west to the historic city of Broken Hill,. Sadly we'll only have an hour or so in town before we hit the road again, crossinhg the border into SA at Cockburn, then passing through the old railway villages of Olary, Manna Hill and Yunta, before we swing north into the Flinders Ranges where we get to play and stay for the next three days. Today we camp at Benmdelby Ranges Station which has become a meccsa for 4WD enthusiasts in the foothills of the Flinders Ranges. Time for a well-earned drink, then "what's for dinner" before the chance to sit around the campfire and reflect on the first two days of the adventure.

Meals: Once again, self-catering all day today but the opportunity for an early lunch in Broken Hill if that helps. 

Accommodation: Unpowered camping at the Camp Kitchen campsite as part of your Crew Fee, powered sites and cabins are available nearer the farmhouse.

Fuel: Fill today in Wilcannia, Broken Hill, or Yunta. Next fuel in Leigh Creek in two days.

An awesome day of travel today as we drive through the middle of the Flinders Ranges, passing the major tourist attraction of Wilpena Pound, unfortunately we don't have the opportunity to stop though. we swing on to Bunyeroo Road which winds its way through some of the most spectacular scenery, then back out on to Flinders Ranges Way and into the vilage of Blinman. Time to look around the veillage , take in some of the amazing history, perhaps a pie at the famous Blinman Bakery, and then on to tonights stay at Angorichina Tourist Park where the sheer cliffs of tghe ranges ar only a few hundred metres in front of us. Another campfire after dinner, an other chance to reflect on the start of our Drover's Run.  

Accommodation: Camping tonight is at Angorichina Tourist Park, unpowered sites as part of your Crew Fee. Additional accommodation options are available at the Caravan Park, details attached.

Meals: Self catering all meals today, but Blinman Bakery is pretty good. 

Fuel: Fill in Leigh Creek in the morning.

Leaving Angorichina, we travel through the stunning Brachina Gorge and then onto the bitumen at Parachilna. North from there with a stop in Leigh Creek for fuel, and then a break at the historic, yes I know historic has been used a lot so far, Farina Ruins. The work being done here by the Farina Ruins Restoration Committee is nothing short of amazing, including restoring the old underground bakery into a going concern. The bakery only operates for six weeks each year, completely run by volunteers, and caters for hundreds of travellers each day of the season. From Farina, we continue north on the Outback Highway to the town of Maree, an incredible association in the past with the Afghani cameleers which can be seen with a visit to the Marree cemetery. Marree was once an important stop on the old Adelaide to Darwin railway, which followed the Oodnadatta track fom Marree to Oodnadatta, the new route for the rail is further west and now follows the Stuart Highway.

Accommodation: Unpowered sites in the Caravan Park at the Pub, with powered sites and cabins available. Full amenities with toilets and showers available.

Meals: Meals today are self-catered, dinner tonight provided at Marree Pub as part of your Crew Fee.

Fuel: Fill in Leigh Creek.

Exciting this morning as we travel part of the Oodnadatta Track, starting with the Mutonia Sculpture Park on our left and covering a number of kilometers of amazing art forms. Plenty of remains of the old railway to take in, and then we pick up the Borefield Track which takes us south to the major mining town of Roxby Downs. We'll have a break here for lunch and the chance to look around, and then further south to the military town of Woomera, again the chance for a quick visit before we pop out onto the Stuart Highway and head to the village of Glendambo for fuel. From here we're back on the gravel/sand to the small village of Kingoonya where we get to catch up with a few old friends from a previous Drover's Run visit. Dinner tonight at the pub with a huge campfire to keep us warm. 

Accommodation: Unpowered campsites at the Caravan Park behing the Pub, and the common area down the road which has toilets only, all included in your Crew Fee. Motel rooms also available at the pub. 

Meals: Self-cater all meals through the day, lunch available in Roxby Downs, and dinner tonight (pizzas) provided at the Kingoonya Pub as part of your Crew Fee.

Fuel: Fuel in Glendambo.

Heading south immediately from Kingoonya, we pick up the Gawler Ranges Track and for the next 200kms we head through beautiful native forest, great sand tracks, and awesome scenery before we pop out in to fertile grazing country and then in front of us the Great Australian Bight. We'll wind our way down the coast for a short while and then into the beautiful town of Streaky Bay, as the name suggests right on the water, with a collection of historic buildings and a great Tourist Park which will be our home for the next two nights.

Accommodation: Unpowered camping right on the Bay at Discovery Park Streaky Bay as part of your Crew Fee, other forms of accommodation are available and listed in the Accommodation Options.

Meals: Self-cater for the next two days but good options for meals available in Streaky Bay.

Fuel: Fill in Streaky Bay, fuel is reasonably priced.

We leave Streaky Bay on Sunday morning and head south on Sceale Bay Rd, through spectacular coastal marshes, and make our way to Point Labbatt where we stop and head out onto the viewing platform to witness the amazing sea lion colony that use this rugged bit of coastline as their home. From there we'll backtrack up Point Labbatt Rd and stop in at the majestic Murphy's Haystacks, striking inselbergs that rise from the rolling farmland around them, this natural wonder has stood for over 100,000 years so plenty of time for photos, and morning tea.
From here you have the option to travel at your own pace down the coastline, you can either head straight to Coffin Bay on the Flinders Highway, or detour as much as you like into the incredible number of scenic attractions along the way. Either way we'll see you in Coffin Bay Sunday afternoon, if you're an oyster lover this place is next level, and again we camp for the next two nights at Discovery Parks Coffin Bay. Monday you can either join in a 4WD trip out to Point Avoid, or you can settle back and do your own thing, or nothing if that's what you prefer. 
This will be our last two night stop for this year, from here we start the journey home.

Accommodation: Camping at Discovery Parks Coffin Bay as part of your Crew Fee with other forms of accommodation available.

Meals: Self catering again for the two days, and again options in Coffin Bay.

Fuel: Fill in Streaky Bay, Port Lincoln is the next best option on Tuesday.

Sadly we leave Coffin Bay this morning and head to the other side of the Eyre Peninsula, taking a break at the major city on the Peninsula, Port Lincoln. Time for a look around this city built on the back of the tuna industry, grab some morning tea, before we meet on the north side of town and track up the east side of the Peninsula facing Spencer Gulf. Depending on time, we might be able ot stop in at some of the seaside villages along the way for a lunch break, and then continue on to the again spectacular village of Cowell where the caravan park backs right onto the foreshore park and marina, and the opportunity to walk out to the end of the Franklin Harbour Jetty. 

Accommodation: Tonight we stay at the Cowell Foreshore Caravan Park, unpowered sites as part of your Crew Fee, with Cabin or Motel options available.

Catering: Self cater today, with plenty of opportunities to taste the local product along the way.

Fuel: Fuel up in Port Lincoln.

From Cowell this morning, we continue north on the Lincoln Highway with a break in the industrial city of Whyalla, then continue on to Port Augusta where we again get the chance to have a break and check out the history and buildings before making our way via Horrocks Pass, through more alluvial farming country, and on to The Park in Jamestown where we camp for tonight. Again. Jamestown is a great little ruaral tow, and the home of RM Williams in the early days. So plenty to exlore.

Meals: Self catering again today but loads of options along the way. t

Fuel: Fuel in Whyalla or Port Augusta this morning, Jamestown will be the last fuel for ??? kms

Back in the bush today, we travel bitumen for the first hour and then it;s nearly all dirt and gravel as we trek east, no towns or villages today, just endless grazing country and then we cross back into New South Wales at Loch Lily Station, continue east until we hit the Silver City Highway, a short time on the black top and then back on the sand as we travel throught he vast Menindee Lakes system, almost into Menindee village and another 15kms up the road to the fantatsic Copi Hollow Caravan Park where we camp right on the edge of Copi Hollow, a beautiful sunset awaits as the sun goes down over the lake, and then a great dinner with the team from Copi Hollow Ski Club. Another day with a heap of highlights.

Accomodation: Camping tonight at Copi Hollow as part of your Crew Feews, cabin accommodation also availble.

Fuel: Fuel in Jamestown, Meninidee in the morning or Hillston tomorrow.

We back track first up, back into Menindee and make our way east to Ivanhoe for a smoko break, then continue on to another really well presented town, Hillston on the banks of the Lachlan River where we have the chance for another break and look around the town. From there we have a short run further east to tonight's stop at the Central West town of Lake Cargelligo with beautiful paths along the lake, and plenty of bird life. We should get in pretty early today so the chance to look around, or rest up ready for the last two days of the 2026 adventure.

Accommodation: Tonight we stay on the banks of Lake Cargelligo at Lakeview Caravan Park, cabin or motel accommodation also available.

Fuel: Fuel available today at Menindee, Hillston or Lake Cargelligo.

A really interesting drive today, mostly bitumen but plenty to see. We head around the bottom of the lake and then make our way onto Condoblin stopping at the sensational Lachla Shire Visitor Information Centre and the chance to check out the Utes in the Paddock sculptures. We then head through town and north, passing through the villages of Tullamore, Albert, homnue we started the 2025 Drover's Run, the excellent Armatree Hotel.e of the Rabbit Trap Hotel, the town of Trangie, and through Collie before arriving at the venue we started the 2025 Drover's Run, the excellent Armatree Hotel. Tonight, we celebrate the success of this year's Drover's Run, we acknowledge the highest fundraising team, hand out our special awards, and kick up our heels for the last time.

Accommodation: Unpowered camping at the back of the pub, a small number of powered sites available and pub rooms also an option.

Fuel: Fuel up on the way through Condoblin or Trangie, otherwise Coonabarabran tomorrow.

Well this is it, over 4,500kms travelled over the last two weeks and we're now on the home stretch, 300kms and we are all done. From Armatree we head east and soon in front of us will appear the spectacular Warrumbungle Ranges, incredible formations carved out over thousands of years, We wind our way through the ranges and into the town of Coonabarabran for our last stop, then follow the Oxley Highway through Gunneday and intop Tamworth where we do the now traditional Peelie and head back out to the Tamworth Westpac Rescue Helicopter base for a light lunch and the chance to say goodbye.
We will have achieved so much, met some great people who will become friends, and raised a huge amount of funds for the Service to ensure we can continue to be there for over 1600 people across Northern NSW each year.
Thank you for your commitment, safe trip home, and hopefully see you again in 2027.