The Ultimate 1-Day Itinerary in Broken Hill

Broken Hill is a sleepy mining town near NSW’s state border with South Australia.

As Australia’s longest-running mining town, built on its silver orebody discovery, Broken Hill is widely known as the Silver City. In Broken Hill, you can easily find streets named after minerals & grand historic buildings from Broken Hill’s mining boom in the 1800s and early 1900s. Operating mines can also be easily viewed from the town centre.

As one of the largest cities in central Australia, Broken Hill is also known as the ‘Capital of the Outback‘. Located off Berrier Highway, Broken Hills is the central hub for surrounding towns. Having passed its most glorious mining boom, Broken Hill is still buzzing with modern shops, quirky cafes, and various restaurants. Multiple art galleries can also be found throughout Broken Hill.

That said, Broken Hill is still a downright outback town with its red soil, scorching hot summer days, and old country pubs. Since Broken Hill is experiencing a shrinking population, just like many other outback towns, you can also find many abandoned buildings during your visit to Broken Hill.

However, there is a lot more to discover in Broken Hill.

Broken Hill is home to a diverse landscape featuring the impressive Living Desert State Park and peaceful Menindee Lakes. They are all worth a visit in their own right.

Since attractions in Broken Hill are spread out all over this sizeable region, it can take at least 2-3 days to cover them all. However, you can undoubtedly cover Broken Hill’s most popular attractions in only one day with a packed itinerary.

Based on my recent road trip between Adelaide and the east coast, I have compiled a detailed itinerary for exploring Broken Hill in only 1-Day. I hope you find it helpful in your trip planning.

Line of Lode Miners Memorial

Standing on the edge of a large mullock heap in the middle of Broken Hill, the Line of Lode Miner Memorial is the best place to start your visit to Broken Hill with its miners’ memorial and a commanding view of the city.

After parking at its massive car park, you will first walk through an open-air museum with various old mining machinery before arriving at the Line of Lode Miners Memorial.

The Line of Lode Miners Memorial is a towering monument completed in 2001 to pay tribute to the lives lost in the mines of Broken Hill. It is a sobering reminder of the cruel reality of mining and the people who paid the ultimate sacrifice in Broken Hill’s thriving past.

Towards the end of this memorial walk, you will find an incredible lookout overlooking the entire Broken Hill town centre and the expansive outback. This is an excellent spot for you to get acquainted with the impressive landscape of Broken Hill and beyond.

Near Line of Lode Miners Memorial, you can also find a visitor information centre and a cafe. However, it was under construction during my recent visit. So you may wish to check if the construction has been finished if you are planning to have your breakfast here.

The Big Bench

Atop the mullock heap where the Line of Lode Miners Memorial is located, you can also find The Big Bench, one of Australia’s iconic Big Things.

In the past, visitors could sit on top of The Big Bench to enjoy a panoramic view of Broken Hill while posing for an Instagrammable photo. However, it has now been fenced off, so visitors can no longer sit on it to pose for pictures.

With that said, it is still a fun spot to check out and take photos of, especially when you are already in this area.

Broken Hill Heritage Trail

Since its establishment in the 1880s, Broken Hills has been a thriving mining town well into the 1900s. Although mines are still operating in Broken Hill, mining is no longer the primary industry in Broken Hill nowadays. However, reminders of Broken Hill’s glorious old days are all over its compact town centre.

A volunteer-guided Broken Hill Heritage Walk Tour is available to discover Broken Hill’s impressive historical buildings on foot. This tour is a 2-hour walk, starting at 10 am (except in the summer), in front of Broken Hill Visitor Information Centre.

Alternatively, you can grab a map from the visitor information centre to discover Broken Hill Heritage Trail at your leisure. This 2-hour walk will take you through many streets named after minerals and metals to visit a vast collection of Broken Hill’s heritage buildings on foot, which is the best way to get a feel of this charming town centre.

Here are a few interesting heritage buildings along Broken Hill Heritage Trail which you may want to pay special attention to:

• Palace Hotel: the most famous & iconic hotel in Broken Hill, as it was featured in the iconic Australian movie, Priscilla Queen of the Desert. Its interior is also covered with beautiful murals, which should be checked out during your visit to Broken Hill. To make your Broken Hill visit more special, you can also choose to dine and stay in Palace Hotel if desired.
• Trades Hall: a reminder of the miners who fought for better wages and working conditions in Broken Hill’s early mining days.
• Post Office: a beautiful red-brick Federation-style building with a 26-metre tall clock tower from the 1890s. A great example of buildings from Broken Hill’s early mining boom.

JP Keenan Lookout

JP Keenan Lookout is located in a small grassland near the corner of Kaolin Street and Mica Lane. It is only a short uphill walk from Broken Hill city centre and offers a stunning bird’s eye view of the city centre. Information boards are also available at JP Keenan Lookout to help identify the landmarks of the Broken Hill skyline.

Directly facing the huge mullock heap, where the Line of Lode Miners Memorial stands, JP Keenan Lookout also provides a great view of the Line of Lode Miners Memorial & the original site where BHP began as a mining giant.

With a small grassland, JP Keenan Lookout is perfect for a peaceful picnic with a stunning view. So you may wish to pick up some food from the city centre and enjoy a picnic before heading to the next attraction.

Pro Hart

Kevin Charles ‘Pro’ Hart is the most recognised and influential artist from Broken Hill. He has dedicated most of his life to capturing the spirit of Australia’s outback with paintings and sculptures.

For those who love arts, a visit to Broken Hill is incomplete without checking out the Pro Hart Gallery.

For only a small entrance fee of AUD 5 per adult, you can admire an extraordinary collection of Pro Hart’s work and check out his studio.

Historic Day Dream Mine

Although you will not be able to check out any of the operating mines here in Broken Hill, you can still experience the underground life of miners back in the day at the historic Day Dream Mine, one of the original silver mines from Silverton’s short-lived mining boom.

This well-preserved 1880s silver mine runs guided underground tours twice a day. It will provide visitors with a great insight into the challenging working condition during the early mining days while exploring the tunnels and voids of this historic silver mine.

The tours usually start at 10 am and 11.30 am, except on Mondays and Fridays, when the mine is closed. The ticket for this tour is AUD 33 per adult, but booking is highly recommended.

After the tour, you can enjoy delicious scones at its tea house. Rocks and crystals are also available for purchase as souvenirs.

Silverton

Silverton is an outback town 25 kilometres northwest of Broken Hill. It is where silver mining first started in this region back in the 1880s before it moved to the richer fields in Broken Hill in the late 1890s.

During its mining boom, Silverton was the place to be with thriving pubs, various shops, a hospital, and even a stock exchange. A tramway was also constructed from the state border between NSW and SA to Silverton.

However, once the mining boom busted, all activities started to die down, with people moving to the new mining hub, Broken Hill. Leaving Silverton with a shell of what it once was. Nowadays, there are only around 50 residents in this old mining town.

With various heritage stone buildings, dusty streets with red dirt, free-roaming donkeys, quirky art galleries, and a historic outback pub featured in many popular films, Silverton is a classic outback town full of characters.

Having been featured in countless movies and TV shows, such as Mad Max 2, Razorback, The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, and The Flying Doctors, a visit to Silverton can somehow make you feel like you are transformed into one of those outback movie scenes.

Some of the interesting places to visit in Silverton are:

• Silverton Hotel: featured in countless films, Silverton Hotel is a characteristic outback Aussie pub that everyone needs to check out when in Silverton. You can find a range of Mad Max memorabilia and interesting decorations here while enjoying an ice-cold beer. Pub meals and accommodations are also available at Silverton Hotel.
• Mad Max Museum: for the fans of Mad Max, visiting Mad Max Museum to admire its collection of original and replica items and vehicles from Mad Max is a must-do when visiting Silverton.
• Mundi Mundi Lookout: an impressive lookout overlooking the expansive and seemingly never-ending Mundi Mundi Plains. It also makes an excellent spot to watch the sunset.

Living Desert State Park

Living Desert State Park is a 180-hectare sanctuary, 12 kilometres north of Broken Hill city centre. It houses a wide variety of native plantations and wildlife, giving visitors an excellent opportunity to get acquainted with all the beautiful fauna and flora of outback Australia at the doorstep of Broken Hill.

There are various walking tracks within Living Desert State Park to suit different needs. Among all the walks, I highly suggest checking out the walking trails within the Flora and Fauna Sanctuary for a tranquil walk surrounded by beautiful native floras.

Depending on your preference, you can choose the short 1-kilometre walk along the Flora Walking Track or the longer 2.2-kilometre Cultural Walk Trail when visiting Flora and Fauna Sanctuary. However, the gate to this sanctuary closes by 2 pm during the Summer months (December to February) & 5 pm during the remaining months. So make sure you have enough time for this visit.

After checking out Flora and Fauna Sanctuary, there is a 1.2-kilometre walk near the sanctuary’s gate to bring you to one of Broken Hill’s most famous attractions, Sculpture Hill.

Sculpture Hill houses a group of 12 unique sandstone sculptures carved by different artists from around the world. Located on top of the highest hill within the Living Desert State Park, the beautiful silhouettes of these sculptures are incredible additions to the Broken Hill skyline. They are especially beautiful and peaceful around sunset, which makes it one of the top spots for watching the sunset in Broken Hill.

If walking up Sculpture Hill is outside your consideration, you can also drive up to it. There is a decent-sized car park right next to the sculptures. From the car park, there will only be a short 2-minute walk to the sculptures.

With that said, the drive to the sculptures is relatively narrow and steep, so make sure you drive carefully. Also, when driving around sunset, there tends to be a lot of wildlife along the road & make sure you are hyper-vigilant during the drive.

Access to Living Desert State Park requires a ticket, AUD 6 per adult, paid via a ticket machine near the park entrance. Not sure if it was due to the pandemic, but the ticket machine was only receiving card payments when I visited recently, so make sure you have a bank card ready before visiting.

More than One Day in Broken Hill

There is so much to see in and around Broken Hill & I highly suggest spending at least a couple of days in Broken Hill, so you can check out other interesting attractions Broken Hill has to offer.

Here is a list of attractions to check out if you have more than one day in Broken Hill.

Royal Flying Doctor Outback Heritage Experience

As the ‘Capital of the Outback’, Broken Hill is home to the biggest base for the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS). So why not check out the RFDS base at Broken Hill when you are here?

Regular guided tours are available at the Broken Hill RFDS, which lets you see some behind the scene activities of the RFDS.

Entrance fee is AUD 15 per adult, which include the guided tour. Souvenirs are also available for purchase at the base. All the process will go towards supporting the RFDS, which is essential for everyone living and travelling in outback Australia.

Albert Kersten Mining and Minerals Museum (GeoCentre)

Albert Kersten Mining and Minerals Museum, a.k.a. GeoCentre, is home to an extensive collection of minerals from the Broken Hill region. It is also an excellent place to learn the science behind the geology of this region and the history of Broken Hill’s mining industry.

Entrance to Albert Kersten Mining and Minerals Museum is free, but donations are highly encouraged. You can also purchase some beautiful souvenirs from its gift shop if interested.

Silver City Mint & Art Centre

Silver City Mint & Art Centre has a good collection of gemstones, silvers, minerals, paintings, and sculptures. Visitors can also purchase some artwork and silver pieces from this place.

The biggest drawing card for Silver City Mint & Art Centre is its 100 metres long & 12 metres wide canvas drawing, The Big Picture, which captures the impressive landscape of Broken Hill with lifelike models complementing the drawing.

The Silver City Mint & Art Centre ticket is AUD 8.50 per adult. There are also plenty of souvenirs for purchase within the centre.

Broken Hill City Art Gallery

Broken Hill City Art Gallery is an incredible regional gallery focusing on artworks about outback Australia and from local artists. The building Broken Hill City Art Gallery is located in is also a charming old emporium building worth checking out in its own merit.

Entrance to Broken Hill City Art Gallery is free, but donations are encouraged.

Sulphide Street Railway & Historical Museum

Sulphide Street Railway & Historical Museum is a building complex that houses various collections reflecting every aspect of life in Broken Hill.

Here, you can find a Railway Museum with the original locomotive from the Silverton Tramway, mineral collections from the Broken Hill region, and a range of historical artefacts helping you to re-imagine the thriving life in Broken Hill back in the day.

Ticket to Sulphide Street Railway & Historical Museum is AUD 8 per adult & concession and family tickets are also available.

Kinchega National Park & Menindee Lakes

Just over 100 kilometres drive southeast of Broken Hill, you will find the peaceful Kinchega National Park and the stunning Menindee Lakes.

Kinchega National Park is a tranquil park surrounding Menindee Lakes. It offers visitors an excellent opportunity to discover the nature and history of this area. Lakefront campsites are also available, allowing visitors to enjoy this magnificent park at their own pace.

Where to Stay in Broken Hill

Being the hub for all activities in this region, Broken Hill offers a good selection of accommodations at very reasonable prices and convenient locations.

With room rates below the national average, you can easily find a standard double room for under AUD 200 per night here in Broken Hill. A few suggestions are:

• Royal Exchange Hotel: for a cosy stay in a characteristic historic building in the heart of Broken Hill.
• Gateway Motor Inn: for a quiet motel stay, with only a short drive to all essentials.
• Red Earth Motel: well-maintained studio apartment to meet all your needs.

If you want to experience a resort stay with the impressive outback as a backdrop, check out Broken Hill Outback Resort. It offers a 4-star resort stay at a very affordable price.

For something more memorable and unique, why not check out The Silverton Hotel? It offers an authentic outback experience in a historic hotel where countless movies have been filmed.

How to Get to Broken Hill

Visit Broken Hill by Air

Being the ‘Capital of the Outback’, Broken Hill has a commercial airport located only 6-kilometre south of the city centre, with flights regularly departing to and arriving from Adelaide, Sydney, Dubbo, and Mildura via REX and QantasLink.

This is undoubtedly the fastest way to visit Broken Hill. However, as can be expected from a regional flight, the cost of these flights is pretty expensive compared to other modes of transport.

You will likely also need a car rental on arrival to make the most out of your stay in Broken Hill. This will add to your travel expense as well.

Visit Broken Hill by Car

Depending on where you are travelling from, visiting Broken Hill by car can potentially be your best option.

Broken Hill is only a 5.5-hour drive from its closest capital city, Adelaide. You can also check out South Australia’s famous Barossa Valley along this drive.

If you travel from Sydney to Broken Hill, this will be an over 13-hour drive, so you will be better off making it a multi-day road trip by visiting some charming country towns along the drive.

From Melbourne, Broken Hill is a 9.5-hour drive away, which is also better done as a multi-day road trip. Along this drive, I highly suggest you check out the charming cities of Ballarat and Bendigo, both are mining towns from the Gold Rush era.

Visit Broken Hill by Rail

Weekly Outback Explorer service is available between Sydney Central Station and Broken Hill. This ride departs early in the morning, arrives late at night & takes about 13 hours one way. It is much more affordable than regional flights & a more chilled-out experience than driving.

You can find the most up-to-date train schedule and pricing for this rail service on the TransportNSW website.