Organisers of the world's most remote music festival, the Big Red Bash, have announced the festival will not be held in 2026.Held outside the village of Birsdville in Queensland's own back country, the Big Red Bash was first held in 2013.My husband, Jason Gee and I travelled to the Big Red Bash in 2021."The Birdsville Big Red Bash will be taking a breather in 2025," organisers posted on social media."After running non-stop since 2013 (with a covid break in 2020), our team is ready for a reset and recharge.As the most remote music festival in the world, building our mini desert city from scratch each year is a massive undertaking. After 11 massive years, it’s time for a well-deserved break - think of it like a gap year after 12 years of school! Just like Glastonbury’s 'Fallow Year', we’re taking a pause to come back even stronger."The post went on to recognise the impact the festival has on inland tourism each year, when around 10,000 descend on the corner of the wide Australian outback."We know this might be a letdown for those planning to attend in 2025 and for businesses in Outback Queensland that benefit from the event. That’s why we wanted to give you plenty of notice."Organisers then released the dates for the 2026 festival - 7th to 9th of July."The Birdsville Big Red Bash will be back, refreshed, and ready to 'Rock the Simpson' once again."The sister festival, the Mundi Mundi Bash held near Silverton in NSW since 2021, will be held unchanged."If you’re looking for a Bash fix next year, check out the Broken Hill Mundi Mundi Bash from 21-23 August 2025 at Belmont Station. The line-up drops mid-October, and tickets will be available at the end of the month. We’re keeping the numbers fairly steady to ensure a great experience for everyone!"Thanks for all your incredible support. We’ll miss you in 2025 but can’t wait to see you in 2026! Rock on!"

In northwest New South Wales, the small town of White Cliffs has a big history as Australia’s first commercial opal field. Add it to your next outback NSW road-trip itinerary to discover its fascinating mining history, spend a night in an underground hotel, and more. Staking a claim The remote outback NSW town of White Cliffs is a 12-hour drive northwest of Sydney, or a 2.5-hour drive from the regional hub of Broken Hill. It was founded in the late 1880s after a couple of stock hands found colourful rocks and sent them off to Adelaide to be analysed. Those sparkling rocks turned out to be opals — the first commercial seam opals to be discovered. As well as flat opal stones, White Cliffs produces the highly sought-after double pseudomorph opals, commonly known as ‘pineapple opals’ because of their distinctive spiky shape. To get a sense of opal mining, visit Red Earth Opal, the world’s only company mining and dealing in pineapple opals. Take a tour with owner Graeme Dowton, who’ll tell you all about the town’s mining history, demonstrate mining equipment and give you the chance to try it yourself. If you don’t have any luck, you can buy gems from the Red Earth Opal’s shop, which doubles as a gallery and coffee house. Under the Mining Act of 1992, anyone can fossick on the White Cliffs Reserve and no licence is required; however, many miners have registered claims that should be respected. Going underground Today, the White Cliffs landscape is littered with around 50,000 disused diggings, which gives the town its lunar landscape. Many of these ‘dugouts’ have been converted into comfortable homes that provide respite from the high temperatures above ground. The White House, an architecturally designed dugout and the home of a local couple, offers tours each day at 11am and 2pm — look for the sign 150m back from Red Earth Opal.  Exploring above ground Although only around 150 people live in White Cliffs today, plenty of heritage relics remain. The original post office is still in use, the old church and butcher shop are still standing, and the former police station has been converted into a private residence. The White Cliffs Hotel has hosted guests since 1893; come for a good pub meal or stay overnight.Staying cool If you want to live like the locals for a night or two, book in at the White Cliffs Underground Motel. Dug into Poor Man’s Hill — so named due to the lack of opal — the motel opened in 1989 and has gradually expanded to the size of a football field underground, with 30 rooms under the earth and two above. The hotel’s facilities, including bathrooms, are shared. Within the complex you’ll find a games room, a history and culture centre, an art gallery and shop, a bar, restaurant and café. You can also have a dip in the pool and take in the views of the surrounding landscape, and imagine the inland sea that once existed here. Story and images: Destination NSW

The ancient landscape of Mutawintji National Park, north east of Broken Hill, is rich in Aboriginal history. Explore bushwalks and camp under the outback night sky.Visiting Mutawintji National Park in the NSW outback is a uniquely Australian experience. You'll find a ruggedly beautiful desert region showing evidence of continuous use by Aboriginal people for thousands of years.Dominated by the Bynguano Ranges, whose vibrant red colour dramatically captures changes in the light, this outback park is home to the famous hand stencil art of local Aboriginal communities as well as many other important cultural and historic sites.Stop to gather information from Mutawintji Visitor Centre, then explore the area further. You can book a night at Homestead Creek campground and then choose from easy walking tracks like Thaaklatjika Mingkana walking track, or more challenging options like Rockholes Loop walking track or Mutawintji Gorge walking track.Don't forget to book guided tour and visit Mutawintji Historic Site while you're in the area. It boasts one of the best collections of Aboriginal art in New South Wales.There are lots of things to explore in Mutawintji National Park however it is also a very remote outback park. To pick up some more information about the park and ensure that you are well prepared for your visit please drop by the park’s visitor centre. You can also stop here for a picnic or barbecue and to fill up your water bottles before heading out onto your park adventure.Bynguano Range walking trackBreathtaking in more ways than one, this scenic walk will challenge the most hardy of bushwalkers. Bynguano Range walking track branches off the Homestead Gorge walking track and crosses over the rocky ridge of the Bynguano Range to the west of the Mutawintji National Park.The walk starts leisurely enough as it meanders between the craggy cliffs of Homestead Creek. Keep your eye out for impressive Aboriginal rock art at the Thaaklatijika overhang. Climbing steeply over the Bynguano Range, stop to view the spectacular maze of valleys and rugged gorges. Kangaroos and emus forage in the grassy woodland below, and perhaps you’ll glimpse the rare yellow-footed rock wallaby.Stop to refuel and take in the birdlife - you’ll probably hear the unmistakable chatter of the correllas while there might be a majestic wedge-tailed eagle, or even a peregrine falcon, circling above.Homestead Gorge walking trackHomestead Gorge walking track takes you on a moderately challenging hike along Homestead creek between the rich-red rocky cliffs that shelter ancient Aboriginal rock engravings. If it has been raining, a large mirror-still rockhole will be waiting for you at the end of the walk.Keep an eye out for wallabies and emus, or you might see a goanna strolling across your trail or lazing on a rock in the sun. If you have binoculars you might like to take them with you to spot the remarkable array of birds that will dart and flit across your path.Mutawintji Gorge walking trackExplore the spectacular rangeland country of Mutawintji National Park along Mutawintji Gorge walking track. Your journey through one of the park’s most scenic gorges ends at a peaceful pool surrounded by soaring red cliffs.It’s a moderately challenging walk, and at three hours return makes for a good day hike. You can spend as long as you like at the pool, admiring the beauty of this special country and taking in the scenic view. You could even take some lunch and a thermos to enjoy an outback picnic.

Mungo National Park isn't your typical postcard paradise. Its beauty lies in its stark, ancient landscapes that whisper tales of a time long gone. Located in outback NSW, roughly 875 kilometers west of Sydney, Mungo paints a picture of ochre dunes and dusty plains, a dramatic backdrop to an even more remarkable story – that of Australia's Aboriginal people.Mungo's claim to fame rests on its UNESCO World Heritage status, recognising its cultural and natural significance. Here, the land itself becomes a museum, with evidence of Aboriginal occupation dating back over 50,000 years. The centrepiece of this story is the discovery of Mungo Man and Mungo Woman, perfectly preserved remains of some of the world's oldest cremations, estimated to be 42,000 years old. These finds, along with fossilised footprints, offer a glimpse into the rituals and lives of these early Australians.A visit to Mungo National Park is a journey through time. The Mungo Visitor Centre, your first stop, serves as a great introduction. Explore interactive exhibits that delve into the park's geological history, Aboriginal culture, and the fascinating archaeological discoveries. Here, you can pick up the park's digital guidebook, a handy companion that will enrich your explorations even in remote areas with limited reception.Beyond the visitor centre, the park unfolds in a tapestry of diverse landscapes. Take a walk along the Walls of China, a dramatic formation of ancient lakebed sediments sculpted by wind and time. Climb atop the Mungo Lunette, a crescent-shaped dune offering panoramic views across the vastness of the park. Let your imagination wander as you gaze upon the stark beauty of Lake Mungo, a reminder of a wetter past when the region teemed with life.Nature enthusiasts will find plenty to discover in Mungo. The park is a haven for a variety of outback wildlife. Keep an eye out for majestic wedge-tailed eagles soaring overhead, the ever-curious emus, and the agile red kangaroos hopping across the plains. Look closely, and you might spot a shy goanna basking in the sun or a flock of colourful galahs flitting between trees.For the truly adventurous, camping under the vast outback sky offers an unforgettable experience. Designated campsites are available, each with basic amenities. Remember, Mungo is a remote location, so ensure you're well-prepared with plenty of water, food, and essential supplies before venturing out.Respecting the park's delicate ecosystem is paramount. Indigenous Australians have a deep spiritual connection to this land. Always be mindful and adhere to designated walking tracks to avoid disturbing any cultural sites or fragile plant life.Mungo National Park is more than just a scenic getaway; it's a portal to Australia's ancient past. It's a place where the wind whispers stories of resilience, where the land itself bears the marks of cultures long gone. So, pack your sense of adventure, a healthy dose of respect for the environment, and get ready to embark on a journey unlike any other.