| I am a member of the Chermside Bowls Club in Queensland and organised a trip for 22 of our members through Silver City Tours. We chose to do the Outback Adventure tour. We travelled overnight on the train and were met early next morning by coach which took us to our motel for the start of a fantastic 5 days. The tours around Broken Hill and surrounding areas were enjoyed by all members, who found the whole trip to be very interesting - lots to see. The coach drivers were excellent and knew the areas we passed through very well. Our accommodation was great, with the friendly staff looking after our every need. I would have no hesitation in recommending this trip to anyone.
Margaret Kelly
The "Outback Wanderer" package catered for the mature age of our Probus Group with a good balance of touring and free time. As a longtime, world wide "package deal" traveller I must rate this as one of the best I have ever experienced for value , variety and service.
Pat Hunt - Kellyville/Castle Hill Mixed Probus.
On behalf of the 16 of us who visited Broken Hill just a word of thanks for a wonderful, well organised "Outback Break" tour. As some of us were seasoned caravaners, this was our first "organised" tour and we were a little apprehensive as to what to expect. As it turned out we could not have asked for more. A very special thanks to Roger, our tour guide and driver.
Bev & Brian Challis
Just a few words to thank you for setting up a really good trip for us "The Darling River Run". It all worked out very well, it was a happy group, and Chris looked after us beautifully. I hope you gave him a few days off!
The Harry Nanja guy at Mungo was a great entertainer, and very good value.The girl at the Back o' Bourke centre was excellent
The guide at the Dubbo Zoo was excellent, and it was really very worthwhile to have the guide there - we saw the maximum amount possible in the time available, whereas we would have seen hardly anything left to our own devices.
Liz Murray at Trilby was really excellent, but you don't need me to tell you that! The chocolate slice lasted until morning tea at White Cliffs!
Best regards, and thanks again,
Don Woolley
Bobbin Head Probus
Our members who participated in the recent "Outback Adventure" tour of Broken Hill were absolutely delighted with your company's service. The tours were memorable for the interesting sights, the pleasantness of your coach drivers and the fun. I am sure they will have no trouble in recommending your service to others, particularly other Probus club members.
Pam Newton - Probus Club of Gilgandra
As organiser of our Club's Away Trip to Broken Hill, I would sincerely like to thank you for all the arrangements you made for us. You were always courteous, most helpful, you kept us fully informed, which we appreciated. Please pass on our appreciation to Cheryl and to John, our coach driver, who really looked after us. The accommodation at the Silver Haven Motor Inn was excellent. Everyone in the group assured me they enjoyed the trip. My sincere thanks once again.
Peter Murphy - Probus Club of Barra Brui Inc. St Ives NSW
I am writing to thank you for your effort in arranging the itinerary, accommodation and the guide/coach driver for our recent visit to your city. We were kept busy at all times with little being heard from anybody in our group after 09:30 p.m.
A special mention must be made for Les our coach driver/tour guide. Les was enthusiastic and knowledgeable about his city and other parts of the country and at all times was most courteous to our group as well as other road users. He would go out of his way to make our understanding of your city and environs complete and should he not know the answer to questions raised he would come back with an answer the next time we met him.
Our accommodation was good with again the proprietors Michael and Dana going out of their way to make our stay a most enjoyable one.
All went well and again I thank you for your assistance in making it happen.
Ray Mumby
Menai Probus Club
We would like to thank you for making our Broken Hill trip that much more interesting. We were with the group from Merewether Ladies Probus and your drivers on all the tours were first rate, their knowledge of the region and how they presented it was great, it was obvious to us all that these people love Broken Hill.
Marion & Tom Diamond
Merewether Ladies Probus
I have just returned from the "Outback Adventure" in Broken Hill and its surrounds. I didn't know what to expect, and had no idea what it would be like, but my expectations were met and exceeded. Broken Hill is a fascinating place with so much to see and learn. The tours were well organised and most interesting. Your drivers(Les, Roger and Eric) were helpful, knowledgeable, courteous and friendly in addition to being excellent drivers of course.
The motel (Silver Haven Motor Inn) provided excellent accommodation, and meals, the manager taking the time each evening at dinner to speak to those of us on the tour and enquire to our day.
My personal thanks to you and your team for everything.
Carole Mitchell
The far west region of NSW is a land of contrasts, so it's fitting in a way that one of the most beautiful wetlands in Australia exists in the middle of an arid landscape.
Located in the north of Kinchega National Park, Lake Wetherell is one of four main lakes in the Menindee Lakes System, a water conservation scheme constructed on the River Darling in the sixties. Although the other three lakes are natural lakes, Lake Wetherell is the result of a dam that causes water in the river to bank up and overflow, creating a 'lake like' wetland and contributing to a permanent water supply for Broken Hill.
Today the lake is a renowned bird-watching and fishing hot spot - with hundreds of species of birds. According to some bird fanciers in the region, the diversity of birdlife in these wetlands rivals Kakadu.
Roger Ralph, an artist and photographer (he calls himself an 'artographer'), was born and bred in Broken Hill and has a deep appreciation for the area. He's taken thousands of photos over the years and says there's always something new to see. According to Roger the wetlands is an underutilised spot that perhaps isn't given the recognition it deserves.
"So many people, even in Broken Hill wouldn't have a clue what it's like [here]. It's a bit sad really."
Roger, who ferries tourists from Broken Hill to Lake Wetherell for Silver City Tours never misses the opportunity to jump on a boat tour, and despite the presence of strong gusty winds, today is no exception.
Going out on a river cruise during a wind storm however is bound to bring some surprises. Although there weren't quite as many birds around as there would normally be, the ones we did see looked even more amazing through the viewfinder thanks to the dust in the air. A group of around 100 pelicans were sheltering on the edge of Lake Tandour (which borders Lake Wetherell), and Roger snapped some beautiful shots.
Two brown snakes also made an unexpected appearance swimming in the lake, along with a nesting spoonbill, a whistling kite, waterhens, and a flock of black shags and cormorants.
Thankfully, water salinity is no longer a problem here thanks to the January floods in Queensland, which flushed large amounts of water down the Darling and into Lake Wetherell. The water quality is better than it's been in some time, according to Malcolm, who skippers the "River Lady" for Silver City Tours twice a week.
"Before the water came down, it was close to 3000 parts a million of salt. This water is now around 400 parts a million, which is pretty good. It's beautiful water, this."
Malcolm is also passionate about the area, not just for its wildlife, but also for the Indigenous and European history it encompasses. The great paddle steamers and barges chugged along these waters during the early days of settlement, and there's still some evidence of the many pubs and taverns that serviced them.
"There used to be a pub or a tavern about every 25 miles along this river system, as far as a man could walk in a day," says Malcolm.
Like Roger, he agrees that the area is an unsung paradise.
"The potential for tourism here is big, which at the moment is one of the lifesavers for a lot of the communities like Menindee."
Emma Sleath - Journalist
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