Here at Trilby Station there’s lots of outback activities for the energetic traveller.
However, you won’t be pushed and prodded staying at Trilby Station. If you just want to put your feet up and relax with a good book and a drink – then just do it.
Gary and sons Tom & Will tend to keep a low profile. “The station doesn’t run itself” they say, and there are thousands of four legged ‘guests’ to keep happy.
You might spot them overhead as they muster the sheep and check the station bores from one of their Cessna 172’s – their “Toyota’s in the sky”. Or you may even come across them ‘out the back’ as you explore the outback activities on Trilby Station with your ‘mud map’ inhand.
Outback Activities | Mud Map Drives:
The station ‘Mud Map’ tours has approximately 90 km of self-guided tracks, divided into two trips. The tour is complete with detailed trip notes and pictorial guide to the most common plant and tree species in this region.
The Mud Map provides our visitors with an overview of the station from the black soil floodplains of the river to ironstone ridges and red loam soils further west.
Discover what we do in a flood, why the fences are like they are, how we water this vast property and what plants are edible for stock and what are not. Explore the open air museum of early settlers farm machinery, a typical 1950’s homestead and snippets of the Murray family history as you peek and poke around at your own pace.
Exploring the outback activities and wandering around the historic station using the station ‘mud maps’, sets you to wondering what life must have been like in this remote outback spot at the turn of the century.
- When paddle steamers were the backbone of this vast country and the thriving port of Bourke was the largest wool railhead in the world.
- Modern shearing was pioneered at Dunlop Station (Trilby was originally part of the million acre Dunlop)
- Samuel McCaughey shore his entire flock of over 180,000 sheep with the newly invented Wolseley shears in 1888.
- Stockmen on horseback, teamsters, shearer’s and landowners shaped this regions early history and gave it the reputation of being a hard, dusty frontier land.
Fishing & Yabbying:
The Darling River is renowned for its fishing capabilities, with Murray Cod and Yellow-Belly (aka Golden Perch) being most prized.
Cod season is closed from September 1st until December 1st to allow the fish to reproduce in peace and quiet, without anglers harrassing them. This helps to provide a more sustainable and robust river system.
Liz will also provide you with a yabby net or two, along with some bait (if available), to try your hand at catching a few yabbies. This is an old favourite past-time for anyone connected with the land.
Yabbies are freshwater crustaceans and grow between 10-20cm (and even up to 30cm on occassion). Boiled just like a prawn or served in a creamy garlic sauce… you can’t beat the taste!
Outback Activities | Canoeing:
The majestic Darling River is an awesome spot to enjoy your peaceful surrounds from a slow-moving canoe. Share your experience with only the wildlife drinking from the edge, the pelicans fishing and the birdlife overhead. Canoes and kayaks are available on site for loan.
Outback Activities | Bushwalking, Cycling or Jogging Tracks:
I love the sunburnt country, the land of black soil plains… For more outback activities take advantage of our 10km of cleared tracks around the accommodation and camping complex .
Our tracks are are wonderful for peaceful walks, cycling or maybe even daylight jog amongst the dense river gums and the coolabah trees. Catch a glimpse of kangaroos, emus, feral goats, sheep and more as you go.
You will be reminded that you are in outback river country if a flock of red-tailed black cockatoos fly over. Their sounding rendition of kree kree kree echoing through the majestic River Red Gums as you walk.
Memorabilia dating from those times found on the station are on display, along with a vast collection of mounted prints.
A lot of the day to day running of the station happens out in the ‘nether regions’ but shearing, crutching, lamb marking and some of the mustering are occasionally within easy reach for you to observe.
Historic Dunlop Station Tour
Nearby ‘Historic Dunlop Station Tour’ is situated only 10km from Trilby Station.
Join Kim for morning smoko at 11am followed by a tour of her historic 1880’s stone homestead, built from stone quarried from a nearby hill, the store and the shearing shed – the first in the world to complete a mechanical shearing back in 1888.
It’s a fascinating walk back in time!
Open everyday except Monday’s and Wednesday’s.
Bird Watching:
Trilby Station, with more than 116 identified outback bird species in 2020, is a wonderful place to go birdwatching because seeing birds is easy … they’re everywhere you look! Trust us, wherever you go, there are birds.
Follow this link for an up to date summary of our birding Hotspot, and from here you can also print the eBird Field Checklist – Trilby Station Homestead and Camping Area to tick off yourself. https://ebird.org/hotspot/L3030320?yr=all&m=&rank=mrec
