DISCOVER lakes in semi-arid zones, submit to the lure of opal country and fall in love with the wide sweeps of landscape in the Bulloo Shire and beyond.

If you’re coming from Brisbane, take the Adventure Way on the Warrego Highway through Toowoomba and Dalby, then follow the Moonie Highway through Moonie to St George where it becomes the Balonne Highway. Drive through the little township of Bollon and then to Cunnamulla where the highway name changes to the Bulloo Highway. Stop in Eulo for a look around this tiny but tidy town on your way to Thargomindah.

If you’re keen on fossicking, visit the Black Gate Opal Fields. They’re connected by track to the famous Yowah Opal Fields and are just 4km off the Adventure Way.

Leave the highway not far west of Eulo to visit the Currawinya National Park and Caiwarro Homestead. This area has more than 200 species of birdlife. It is also home to bilbies that have been released into the wild within a feral animal free area. Currawinya features two large lakes, and although they’re just 3km apart, one is saltwater and the other is freshwater! For more information about access and camping, contact the Queensland Parks and Wildlife in Charleville on (07) 4654 1255.

Only a few kilometres away is Hungerford. This small centre has a population of 18 and is famed for its biennial field day in June. Hungerford is located on the Queensland/ New South Wales border. See the Royal Mail Hotel, originally a Cobb and Co staging post. It was built in 1873 and is still in use today.

Back on the Adventure Way, set off for some more nature appreciation. Only 34km east of Thargomindah is the Lake Bindegolly National Park, which is the habitat of waterbirds and has the largest known occurrence of a rare acacia tree.

Thargomindah itself has all the facilities you need, including mechanical services, tyres and oil, general store, walks to take, historic displays and accommodation.

If you’re leaving the Adventure Way to head to Perth via Broken Hill, you’ll see the Noccundra Pub. It’s just 20km off the Bulloo Highway. Built in 1882, the picturesque stone building sits near the Wilson River where you can camp and fish.

This part of the world is gas and oil country. About 160km west of Thargomindah is the Jackson Oil Field, Australia’s largest onshore oilfield. The oil is transported by pipeline to Brisbane. Although the oil fields are private property, pumps can be seen from the road. The Ballera Gas Field, along with Moomba in South Australia, services Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney with natural gas.

At Nappa Merrie, travel over the Burke and Wills Bridge which is the outback gate for people coming from the west.

This remote area was once the stamping ground of Australia’s greatest explorers. See the Dig Tree near Oontoo where Burke, Wills and King returned in 1861 after a horror expedition from the Gulf. Burke and Wills both died in this area.

Continue over the border to Innamincka. Here, you’re in “inner” Australia. See the Australian Inland Mission hospital, now restored and used by the National Parks and Wildlife Service.

From Innamincka, you can venture even further. Go down the Strzelecki Track to Arkaroola, a breathtaking wilderness sanctuary in the Flinders Ranges. Or head for Birdsville to see the outback in a different guise.