NSW Silo Art & Lightning Ridge

THE NSW SILO ART TRAIL + LIGHTNING RIDGE
Monday 14th to Sunday 20th September 2026
Day 01 (MTLD) PORT MACQUARIE TO MOREE MONDAY 14 SEPTEMBER 2026
Welcome to our NSW Silo and Water tank tour. The talent and the enormity of the art we will see will be spectacular. Welcome aboard! Greeting each other with anticipation for the getaway ahead, we set off to start our adventure. We make a morning stop along the way and one at the Apsley Arms Hotel in Walcha for lunch. Heading to Gunnedah we make a stop at the Gunnedah Water Tower Museum and look at the Mural. The mural facing west features a group of soldiers from 7RAR waiting to be picked up by the iconic Huey helicopters, while the mural facing north includes soldiers paying their respects beside the Long Tan Cross. Whilst in Gunnedah we look at the Gunnedah Art Silo that has extracts from the Dorothea Mackellar poem “My Country”. Arriving at the small town of Barraba for a look at the Silo art mural that was painted by Fintan Magee. This mural depicts a local water diviner searching for groundwater, using a y-shaped twig or rod or two L-shaped ones. From here we make our way to the vibrant rural community of Moree with time to unpack and settle in for the next two nights. We are lucky staying here, set on five acres of landscaped grounds, with direct access to its own natural artesian hot thermal pool.
Dinner at the hotel | lunch at Apsley Arms Hotel Walcha
Artesian Spa Motor Inn, Moree | 2 nights
DAY 2 (BD) MOREE TOWNSHIP AND COTTON FARMS TUESDAY 15 September 2026
Spend the morning getting to know this quaint country town, as your guide introduces you to the impressive historical buildings and the rich history of the town. We have some time in town to explore the township and to purchase lunch. This afternoon we have the opportunity to see a major agriculture product produced in the area, Cotton. Be guided around one of the many cotton farms where the cotton is picked and packed ready for transportation to the Cotton Gin. Here you will witness the raw cotton being cleaned and packaged for export. We then finish the day back at our hotel.
Breakfast and dinner at the hotel | lunch own arrangements and cost
Day 03 (BMTLD) MOREE TO LIGHTNING RIDGE WEDNESDAY 16 September 2026
As we approach Lightning Ridge the first thing, we see is Stanley the Emu. Stanley is an 18-metre sculpture made by artist John Murray and he has been made entirely from scrap metal from a VW Beetle. His light-hearted depiction gives you some foresight into the art you will see with in the town. John Murray is an outback artist that now calls Lightning Ridge his home. He is well known for his signature art pieces where he contrasts serious landscape studies with whimsical caricatures of birds and other Aussie creatures. He has many featured art pieces around the town including his own art gallery located in Opal Street, which we visit before lunch. Be sure to check out Phyllis Lane, which is right next door to Johns Gallery, where much of John's wonderful street art is on display. Lightning Ridge is a rich opal field famous as the only source of black opal in the world. With its stark and scarred landscape this town has a peculiar fascination for visitors. Opals can be purchased direct from the miners while the novice fossicker can occasionally stumble across a choice stone among the heaps of mullock known locally as ‘shincracker’. Be captivated by The Chambers of the Black Hand, where local artist, Ron Canlin, has created the most amazing paintings and sculptures 11.2 meters underground. There is the Last Supper, Archangel Gabriel and the Chinese Terracotta Warriors. The second level is a mine that has been worked for over 100 years, and all the old shafts and drives that were dug by the old miners are still there. What an interesting tour to finish the day on.
Breakfast and dinner at motel | lunch at Lightning Ridge Bowling Club
Lightning Ridge Outback Resort | 3 nights
Day 04 (BMTD): LIGHTNING RIDGE THURSDAY 17 September 2026
We are joined by a local guide for a town tour to see the Bore Baths and Coppers Cottage, an authentic miner’s camp. We finish our guided tour at Bevans Cactus Farm, the largest cactus nursery in the Southern Hemisphere. Grown from seeds collected around the world, many plants in this nursery are now over 100 years old. We now have some free time to purchase lunch before our afternoon touring. We experience the atmosphere of an underground mine at Opal Mine Adventure. Here we’ll earn about opal mining through a video presentation and visit the showroom to view the opals from the local area. We finish our day at the Opal Cave, to discover how the opal is cut and polished with a local opal expert.
Breakfast and dinner at motel | lunch own arrangements and cost
Day 05 (BLD) THE GRAWIN FRIDAY 18 September 2026
With our local expert again joining us we head out to The Grawin, a group of Opal Fields that are made up of Grawin, Glengarry, Sheepyard and Mulga Rush. It was at Grawin that the largest opal ‘Light of the World’ was found in 1928. We’ll also experience the delights of the Glengarry Hilton pub where we will have lunch. It is a welcoming place that will treat us like a local. After such an interesting day, we head back to ‘the Ridge’ and relax prior to dinner. (Breakfast and dinner in motel, lunch own expense and arrangements)
** Please Note: Today’s Touring depends on local weather and road conditions**
Breakfast and dinner at motel | lunch at Glengarry Hilton
Day 06 (BMTLATD): LIGHTNING RIDGE TO GILGANDRA SATURDAY 19 September 2026
Leaving Lightning Ridge this morning we head to Walgett, where we see the Walgett Water Tower which depicts Jimmy Little, a celebrated and beloved Australian Aboriginal musician, actor and advocate whose career spanned six decades. The water tower at Coonamble was painted by John Murray and Sooty Welsh in June 2017 and took just 11 days to complete. It features Australian Pink and Grey Galahs' and fence posts to signify the rural aspect of Coonamble. It also includes the sun, moon and the Southern Cross. Aboriginal dreamtime artwork was painted by Sooty Welsh and decorates the bottom of the tank. Located near the eastern bank of the Castlereagh River in Aberford Street is the history museum which is situated in the old police station. This building dates to 1886 and is worth checking out while in Coonamble also. Before we make our way to Gulargambone; you will love this town for its artwork. to see the water tower showing a Kingfisher bird diving for fish. Whilst in town there are several murals we can see. We enjoy afternoon tea at Two eight Two eight before travelling to Gilgandra for the night.
Breakfast and dinner in motel | picnic lunches included
Gilgandra Motel | 1 night
Day 07 (BL) GILGANDRA TO HOME SUNDAY 20 September 2026
This morning, we make our way to Dunedoo for a look at the Silos that feature Winx, a retired champion Australian thoroughbred racehorse and her famous rider Hugh Bowman, who was also born in Dunedoo. From here we head to Merriwa where we take a look at the The mural depicts a flock of sheep wearing red socks in a canola field, why the red socks? The artist pays homage to the town's beloved annual Festival of the Fleeces. We enjoy an early lunch in the Merriwa RSL Club before our afternoon travels to home, arriving with many wonderful memories of our travels with friends.
Breakfast in motel | lunch at Merriwa RSL Club
Tour Inclusions
• 6 night’s motel accommodation
• 6 motel breakfasts
• 5 motel dinners and 1 dinner at the Gilgandra Services Club
• 5 included lunches – see below
• Lunch at the Apsley Arms Hotel, Walcha
• Entry to the Water Tower Museum, Gunnedah
• Locally guided town tour in Moree
• Cotton Farm and gin tour Moree with O'Dempsey's Tours
• Lunch at the Lightning Ridge Bowling Club
• Visit to John Murray Art Gallery, Lightning Ridge
• Entry to the Chambers of the Black Hand
• Locally guided tour including Bore baths and Coopers Cottage, Lightning Ridge
• Entry to Cactus Sanctuary, Lightning Ridge
• Potch package - guided underground tour and fossicking at Opal Mine Adventure, Lightning Ridge
• Entry to the Opal Cave, Lightning Ridge
• Full day guided tour Grawin-Guide
• Lunch at Glengarry Hilton
• Packed Lunch from the Lightning Ridge Outback Resort and Caravan Park
• Afternoon tea at Two eight Two eight
• Lunch at the Merriwa RSL Club
Confirmed Accommodation
• Artesian Spa Motel, Moree (2 nights)
• Lightning Ridge Outback Resort and Caravan Park (3 nights)
• Gilgandra Motel (1 night)
$3,018 pp twin share | Plus $641 pp single sup | $600 pp deposit
For more information or to book;
Phone: 02 6583 3330
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.portbus.com.au
Book Online: https://events.humanitix.com/silo-art-26
The itinerary may be subject to change without notice. Whilst every effort is made to adhere to the itinerary as provided. Port Bus reserves the right to alter the touring and attractions as dictated by circumstances and conditions outside the company’s control. Alterations may be made to ensure the smooth running of the tour. Every attempt will be made to ensure alterations do not adversely affect the operation of the tour. Port Bus will not be held responsible for weather-based cancellations, or those closures made at the venue’s discretion.
Please Note
• Price is based on a minimum of 20 paying passengers. If numbers fall below 20 paying passengers, this quotation may need to be recosted.
• Price is valid for above tour dates only and includes GST.
• We highly recommended that you have travel insurance in the event of travel disruptions.
• Accommodation is subject to availability. If alternative accommodation needs to be sourced, the price could change.
• Attractions are subject to availability.
• Morning teas or afternoon teas are not included unless specified.