FREEDOM CAMP OF THE MONTH

HOW DARBY FALLS GOT ITS NAME!

Darbys Falls is a hidden gem of a free camp, tucked away beside the Lachlan River, NSW.

Don’ t be fooled by the name. We saw no waterfall here! Instead, we lunched by the fourth longest river in Australia, 1448km, starting near Goulburn and ending where it flows into the Murrumbidgee River at Oxley, NSW.

As you drive in to this free camp area, note that it is overseen by farm houses, there are some uneven areas, and it is a steep embankment down to the river.

It might look like a basic rest stop at first; however, this spot delivers serious serenity, especially if you’ re after some riverside R & R, bird calls, and a break from the bitumen.

With no power, no water, and no showers, it is truly for selfcontained campers only. There are picnic tables and bins, and a few of our fellow campers said that the Telstra reception was good.

As with most free camps, no bookings are needed. Just roll up and grab your patch of peace. First in, best dressed.

Drop a line in the river, go for a paddle, set-up a campfire or watch the birdlife from your camp chair. The night skies are so good that they built an observatory here. So opt for some stargazing, too!

Toilets? Not on-site. But we ventured 2.5km up to the town’ s playground at grassy Lynne Sawyer Reserve for facilities( also in the Camps app).

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