Nockatunga
Heading along the Bundeena Road West of Thargomindah you come to the turnoff for Nockatunga. Its an intersection that you can’t miss but if you’re not paying attention you could easily keep driving and miss out on a night by the Noccundra Hotel.
We arrived a few days after the Birdsville races had finished and it looked a lot busier
The Noccundra Hotel offers most services such as accommodation, food and beverages. There was no camping allowed directly within the grounds of the hotel, but a common area was located across the road and beside the river. You can get a good spot on the river within walking distance of the pub. We decide to cook our own meal and relax by the camp fire on the river. The next day we headed for the Dig Tree.
The Dig Tree
Through out the outback there are many historical points of interest, specifically those relating to the early explorers. Many a tail of survival can be relived by visiting some of these remote locations that have not changed for centuries. Its amazing how the traditional owners could survive in these places whilst many explorers struggled without their help.
The story of Burke and Wills is very familiar with many Australians but until you experience the land itself its difficult to understand the remoteness and harshness of the Australian Outback.
Burke and Wills setup a supply depot on Coopers Creek, leaving William Brahe and several men behind whilst they traveled North in there quest to reach the northern Australian coast. William Brahe waited for several months as directed but couldn’t wait any longer thinking the worst had come of Burke and Wills. Brahe buried the supplies to protect them from theft by local Aboriginals. The instructions DIG were engraved in a tree so that the supplies could be found if Burke and Wills did return.
Various Timbers 
Dig Tree Monument 
Dig Tree Engraving 
Dig Tree Carving
On arriving at The Dig Tree we noticed a lite plane land at the air strip. Only took the guy about 10 mins to fly there from his previous location. Certainly a different way to see everything but I’m sure you don’t get to really experience the outback the same way.
After exploring The Dig Tree we headed for the site of Burke’s Grave. Burke died in a location where Aboriginals had survived for 1000’s of years, if only he had sort the help of local Aboriginals maybe our explorer history would have been different.
Next stop Innamincka.
