Getting to the Ridge
Lightning Ridge is located in northern of NSW about 530km (as the crow flies) west of the east coasts' Coffs Harbour and is well positioned for travellers, especially RVers, as it is easily accessible via the major north-south and east west routes of eastern Australia.
The 'Ridge' is also to the north-east of the iconic Darling River and the Darling River Run; one of Australia's great touring adventures along one of our most icon rivers.
Getting to Lightning Ridge from Melbourne provides the visitor with some variable routes through some of Australia's most iconic places; particularly Bendigo in the Victorian Gold Fields, Echuca on the Mighty Murray River and the beautiful Hay Plains before joining the Kidman Way before joining the Kidman Way touring route to Bourke and our other great river, the Darling.
For those wishing a more direct route, the Newell Highway provides the quickest way to experience the 'Ridge' and still takes in some wonderful towns along the way.
Driving Sydney to Lightning Ridge provides many options but probably the three best would be either via the Southern Highlands and eastern Riverina then north through the Central Ranges, across the Blue Mountains then north through the Central Ranges, or via the Hunter Valley and New England.
Each has their own unique appeal and take in some of the best experiences of NSW before getting to the iconic Outback NSW.
The Magnificent Darling Downs provide tow great routes when driving Brisbane to Lightning Ridge. The first is via Toowoomba (The garden-city on top of the Great Dividing Range) or via Warwick and Goondiwindi.
Both provide the Outback NSW visitor with iconic towns and unique experiences.
While a long distance from Lightning Ridge (a relative term in Australia), Adelaide is both a popular destination for Australian travellers and offers the RV tourer a great journey through both the Riverland of South Australia and the Murray-Darling Basin of NSW.
There are several options from Adelaide to Outback NSW, via the Barrier Highway to Broken Hill or follow the Murray River up to its Confluence with the Darling River at Wentworth or to Mildura, the gastronomic capital of the outback.
