mine tours in broken hill

Day dream mine

A day to remember, underground and surface tours.

Daydream Mine only operates seven days a week during Victorian and New South Wales school holidays (excluding summer).

Outside of these times and during the summer holidays, the mine will be closed on Monday and Friday.

If you are very large group (15 or more adults) or a coach booking please contact us and arrangements may be able to be made.

We will also be open all Easter long weekend.

We apologise for any convenience this causes, however, due to staff shortages and health issues we’ve had to make this choice after 29 years of operating seven days a week.

So please book ahead of time.

We need everyone to book in before to arrival. please call 0427 885 682..

History will come alive as you drive along the road through the Appollyon Valley thinking “how did they find this mine?”

Then coming over the hill to view the magnificent smelter built by the Daydream Mining Association and used by Broken Hill.

Then the old township which once had a population of approx 500.

Real Tunnels

Real experience, after the tour enjoy some scones in our tearoom, scones so good even the pet horses want some, the scones are absolutely incredible. my partner, a true blue bloke, is not a scone eater, they impressed him so much that they have become his benchmark of what a scone should be like, delicious piping hot fresh scones with cream and jam plus a cuppa tea and 4 hot chocolates, made and served by the owner's son, jason. this alone made it worth the trip., come and visit the mine today.

It is possible to still experience what life was like for the early outback miner.

Tours are 10:00am and 11:30am. Please book by calling 0427 885 682.

We are open Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday   until Easter during quiet months.

Underground Tours

Seniors & Pensioners $31

Students (16 yrs+) $29

Underground Tours (Sunday)

Seniors & Pensioners $38

Students (16 yrs+) $34

Children $16

Underground Tours (Public Holidays)

Seniors & Pensioners $40

Students (16 yrs+) $36

Children $18

Surface Tours

Surface tours are available

$10 Standard

$12 Sunday Rate

$14 Public Holiday

Tour Duration

Wear Enclosed Shoes

Bookings Welcome Anytime

Ph  0427 885 682

Scones $8.50

Sunday Rate $10.00

Public Holidays $12.00

Call Today to book your Visit 0427 885 682

• Films of Broken Hill and Silverton
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Broken Hill Mining

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• The Living Desert and Sculptures
• Broken Hill Local Drive
• Drives around Broken Hill
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• Broken Hill Town Map
• Broken Hill History
• Visit Corner Country

Broken Hill is credited with transforming Australia from a pastoral backwater into a modern industrial nation. Valuable metals and minerals gave the city a strength that supported Australia through two world wars, two global depressions and endless social change.

Broken Hill Underground

Broken Hill is Australia’s longest-lived mining city. The city’s fortunes have come and gone against an extreme economic background of boom and bust which continues today. Most Australians know BHP Billiton , the world’s largest mining company, but fewer people know that BHP actually stands for Broken Hill Proprietary Company Limited. Broken Hill is where it began for BHP in 1885, when it began mining the massive ore body containing the world’s richest source of silver, lead and zinc. The ‘ Syndicate of Seven ’ – the men from Mt Gipps Station – put the city on the map when they discovered ore on an isolated ‘broken hill’ in 1883. That same ore body became the largest single source of silver, lead and zinc ore ever discovered on earth, generating over $100 billion in wealth.

Day Dream Mine tour

As close as you can come today to the tough working conditions underground is by touring the Day Dream Mine , located 33km from Broken Hill near Silverton . Visitors go down in safety and relative comfort, but the tour offers enough of the real thing for you to be aghast at the harshness of the life miners once led.

Miners’ Memorial

The legacy is writ large on the Miners’ Memorial . Its striking contemporary architecture and view over the city add emotional weight to the list of more than 800 miners who lost their lives on the job. The dump truck (two small trucks) nearby adds further weight as a memorial to the only two miners still entombed. Take a moment to read the poem inscribed on it.

The dump trucks and the Miners’ Memorial are sober reminders of why Broken Hill pioneered a culture of trade unionism, including the introduction of the 35 hour working week and the defeat of conscription in Australia.

Living Mining Museum

For a sense of going underground without actually going under, visit White’s Mineral Art and Living Mining Museum on Allendale Street. A visit to the museum will take one on an illustrated journey through the architectural and mining history of the city. Bushy White’s mineral paintings are complimented with many rare mining artifacts, underground memorabilia and models of mine sites.

Line of Lode

Trade unionism.

In the late 1800s, safety in the mines was considered the sole responsibility of the workers themselves. As a result, they existed in intolerable conditions; breathing silicon-laden dust underground or the lead fumes of the smelters. Many died of miners’ phthisis or of lead poisoning. Massive attempts were made to improve working conditions, including a large strike in 1892 which was brutally put down by the mine bosses. While many miners lost faith in unionism as a result, an absolute distrust of mine owners became entrenched for generations.

When trade unions regained influence during the next century, this bitterness flared into open, unrestrained hostility, making Broken Hill notorious for the frequency and intensity of its strikes. A legacy of this militancy is presented in the Trades Hall and in murals on walls of prominent buildings in central Broken Hill.

Did you know?

Galena and Sphalerite are the natural mineral deposits which Broken Hill was founded around. Galena contains lead and silver, Sphalerite contains zinc. Broken Hill has more trucks and sets of traffic lights underground than it does on the surface. The mare called Auraria which belonged to David James, one of the original members of the Syndicate of Seven , won the Melbourne Cup in 1895.

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Day Dream Silver Mine

Day Dream Mine is an authentic Silver Mine once worked by Cornish miners & young boys that picked the silver ore. View original smelter built in 1884 then moved to Broken Hill to be their first smelter.

Miners walked to the area pushing their wheel barrows form Burra, Kadina and Moonta in South Australia.

Come and enjoy our home baked scones… best in the west.

Tours 10am & 11.30am only Bookings required. Closed Monday and Friday over Summer and Easter.

Tour Duration Surface & underground: 1 hour 15 minutes Surface tours only: 30 minutes

Requirements Enclosed Shoes

Further Infomation

Silverton Road (20km along, turn right and follow the road 12.8km)

9:30am – 1:30pm ACST

Open 7 days

Card and cash accepted

0427 885 682 or 0438 527 799

[email protected]

www.daydreammine.com.au

© 2020 Silverton Village Committee Inc. All rights reserved.

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• 1. Kintore Reserve
• 2. Duke of Cornwall Hotel -1888
• 3. Daydream Hotel - 1888
• 4. Barrier Boarding House -1888
• 5. Shops - c1890
• 6. Willyama Hotel -1905
• 7. Old Railway Station - 1919
• 8. BHP Chimney - 1885
• 9. BHP Slag Heap - 1886
• 10. BHP Mill Foundations - 1897
• 11. Delprat Shaft - 1900
• 12. Mullockers Memory
• 13. Line of Lode Miners’ Memorial and Visitors Centre
• 14. Former Crown Hotel - c 1890
• 15. Former Wilcannia Club Hotel - 1888
• 16. Railway Station - 1957
• 17. Bond Store - 1890
• 18. Former Crystal Hotel
• 19. Former Miners Arms Hotel -c 1890
• 20. Duke of Cornwall Park
• 21. Central School - 1907
• 22. Gaol - 1891
• 23. High School - 1919
• 24. Former Police Barracks - 1900
• 25. Central School Building - 1900
• 26. Pig and Whistle Hotel - 1890
• 27. Synagogue - 1910
• 28. Joe Keenan Lookout
• 29. Sulphide Street Cottages - c1900
• 30. Hospital - 1941
• 31. Thomas Street Uniting Church - 1911
• 32. Regeneration Reserve
• 33. White Rocks Reserve
• 34. Cummins Street Residences - c1890
• 35. Thomas Street Residences - c1890
• 36. Tydvil Hotel - 1891
• 37. Mulga Hill Hotel - 1890
• 38. Oxide Street Row Cottages - c1890
• 39. St Andrews Uniting Church - 1905
• 40. St Peters Anglican Church - 1928
• 41. Former Caledonian Hotel - 1898
• 42. Catholic Bishop’s Residence - 1887
• 43. Sacred Heart Cathedral and adjacent Convent 1905 and 1900
• 44. Sacred Heart College - 1927
• 45. The Towers - c1890
• 46. Wesley Church - 1888
• 47. Sturt Park
• 48. Trades Hall - 1898/1904
• 49. YMCA - c1890
• 50. Miners Lamp Motel - 1888
• 51. Imperial Hotel - 1888
• 52. Scout Hall - 1900
• 53. Old Royal Hotel - 1904
• 54. Iodide Street Row Cottages - c1890
• 55. Wades Shop - c1890
• 56. Baptist Church - 1917
• 57. Shop and Residence - c1890
• 58. Williams Street Residences - c1890
• 59. Mosque - 1891
• 60. North Primary School - 1902
• 61. School of the Air - 1956
• 63. South Australian Brewery - 1893
• 64. North Mine
• 65. Junction Hotel - 1892
• 66. Junction Circle - 1950
• 67. Thompson Shaft - 1910
• 68. Junction Mine and Lookout
• 69. British Mine Housing - c1910
• 70. MMM Dumps
• 71. All Nations Hotel - 1891
• 72. Assay Office c1890
• 73. Central Power Station - 1930
• 74. Former Central Mine Manger’s Residence (now St Ann’s Nursing Home)
• 75. Alma Hotel -1891
• 76. South Broken Hill Hotel - 1889
• 77. Former South Police Station - 1889
• 78. South Post Office - 1898
• 79. South Fire Station - c1900
• 80. Patton Park
• 81. Bells Milk Bar – 1956
• 82. Alma Mechanic’ Institute – 1898
• 83. Former Salvation Army Hall 1900
• 84. Gladstone Hotel - 1888
• 85. South Primary School 1910
• 86. St James Anglican Church 1903
• 87. South Baptist Church - 1911
• 88. South Mine Offices - 1910
• 89. Zinc Oval and Zinc Mine (not accessible to the public)
• 90. Former All Saints Catholic Church - 1890
• 91. Union Club Hotel - c1890
• 92. Zinc Lakes - 1948
• 93. NBHC Mine Housing - c1950
• 94. NBHC Mine Haulage and Service Shafts –1946 (not open to the public
• 95. Southern Cross Shaft - 1966
• 96. South Mine Headframes 1919/1932
• 97. Ryan Street Cottages - 1890
• 98. A.J. Keast Park
• 99. Hillside Hotel - 1891
• 100. Burke Ward Hall - 1905
• 101. Railwaytown Post Office - 1925
• 102. Nicholls Street Methodist Church - c1890
• 103. Cornish Street Lookout
• 104. Broken Hill Cemetery - 1889
• 105. Former Freiberg Hotel - 1899
• 106. Burke Ward School - 1897
• 107. Ambush Site
• 108. St Marys Catholic Church - 1922
• 109. Railwaytown Baptist Church - 1913
• 110. The Salvation Army Hall 1960
• 111. The Former Railway Town Post Office - 1900
• 112. The Gasworks Hotel - 1891
• 113. St Phillips Anglican Church - 1903
• 114. The South Australian Hotel
• 115. Railway Residences 1890
• 116. Tramway Residence - 1902
• 117. Rising Sun Hotel - 1888
• 118. Block 10 Lookout
• 119. Queen Elizabeth Park
• Patton Street Park
• Queen Elizabeth Park
• National Heritage Listing
• Cameron Corner
• Sturt's Steps
• White Cliffs

Red Earth Opal Mine Tour

100 The Blocks, White Cliffs 2836

Since the 1890s, people have flocked to White Cliffs in the hope of finding their fortune. With Red Earth, you can go more than 13.5m beneath the ground into a working opal mine within the historic diggings. See how miners are still searching for these glittering gems using modern equipment. You’ll even have a chance to dig at the mine face yourself and may be lucky enough to discover a piece of opal. Tours depart from the Red Earth Opal Gallery and Coffee House at 3pm.

100 The Blocks , White Cliffs 2836

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Historic Day Dream Mine

To experience the life of early miners in and around Broken Hill, visit the Historic Daydream Mine near Silverton. Descend beneath the earth and walk through the same tunnels that Cornish silver miners did in the 1880s. Tours last about 90 minutes and guides offer plenty of details about life in the mines and the harsh conditions miners endured. There is also an above-ground tour which includes a replica miners’ hut. After the tour, enjoy a hot drink and a plate of freshly baked scones at the on-site tearoom. Bookings are essential and sturdy footwear is required. Both underground and surface tours are available.

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The Ultimate 1-Day Itinerary in Broken Hill

Broken Hill is a sleepy mining town near NSW’s state border with South Australia.

As Australia’s longest-running mining town , built on its silver orebody discovery, Broken Hill is widely known as the Silver City . In Broken Hill, you can easily find streets named after minerals & grand historic buildings from Broken Hill’s mining boom in the 1800s and early 1900s. Operating mines can also be easily viewed from the town centre.

As one of the largest cities in central Australia, Broken Hill is also known as the ‘ Capital of the Outback ‘. Located off Berrier Highway, Broken Hills is the central hub for surrounding towns. Having passed its most glorious mining boom, Broken Hill is still buzzing with modern shops, quirky cafes, and various restaurants. Multiple art galleries can also be found throughout Broken Hill.

That said, Broken Hill is still a downright outback town with its red soil, scorching hot summer days, and old country pubs. Since Broken Hill is experiencing a shrinking population, just like many other outback towns, you can also find many abandoned buildings during your visit to Broken Hill.

However, there is a lot more to discover in Broken Hill.

Broken Hill is home to a diverse landscape featuring the impressive Living Desert State Park and peaceful Menindee Lakes. They are all worth a visit in their own right.

Since attractions in Broken Hill are spread out all over this sizeable region, it can take at least 2-3 days to cover them all . However, you can undoubtedly cover Broken Hill’s most popular attractions in only one day with a packed itinerary .

Line of Lode Miners Memorial

Standing on the edge of a large mullock heap in the middle of Broken Hill , the Line of Lode Miner Memorial is the best place to start your visit to Broken Hill with its miners’ memorial and a commanding view of the city .

After parking at its massive car park, you will first walk through an open-air museum with various old mining machinery before arriving at the Line of Lode Miners Memorial.

The Line of Lode Miners Memorial is a towering monument completed in 2001 to pay tribute to the lives lost in the mines of Broken Hill . It is a sobering reminder of the cruel reality of mining and the people who paid the ultimate sacrifice in Broken Hill’s thriving past.

Towards the end of this memorial walk, you will find an incredible lookout overlooking the entire Broken Hill town centre and the expansive outback . This is an excellent spot for you to get acquainted with the impressive landscape of Broken Hill and beyond.

Near Line of Lode Miners Memorial, you can also find a visitor information centre and a cafe . However, it was under construction during my recent visit. So you may wish to check if the construction has been finished if you are planning to have your breakfast here.

The Big Bench

Atop the mullock heap where the Line of Lode Miners Memorial is located, you can also find The Big Bench, one of Australia’s iconic Big Things .

In the past, visitors could sit on top of The Big Bench to enjoy a panoramic view of Broken Hill while posing for an Instagrammable photo. However, it has now been fenced off, so visitors can no longer sit on it to pose for pictures.

With that said, it is still a fun spot to check out and take photos of, especially when you are already in this area.

Broken Hill Heritage Trail

Since its establishment in the 1880s, Broken Hills has been a thriving mining town well into the 1900s. Although mines are still operating in Broken Hill, mining is no longer the primary industry in Broken Hill nowadays. However, reminders of Broken Hill’s glorious old days are all over its compact town centre.

Alternatively, you can grab a map from the visitor information centre to discover Broken Hill Heritage Trail at your leisure. This 2-hour walk will take you through many streets named after minerals and metals to visit a vast collection of Broken Hill’s heritage buildings on foot, which is the best way to get a feel of this charming town centre.

Here are a few interesting heritage buildings along Broken Hill Heritage Trail which you may want to pay special attention to:

• Palace Hotel : the most famous & iconic hotel in Broken Hill, as it was featured in the iconic Australian movie, Priscilla Queen of the Desert. Its interior is also covered with beautiful murals, which should be checked out during your visit to Broken Hill. To make your Broken Hill visit more special, you can also choose to dine and stay in Palace Hotel if desired.
• Trades Hall : a reminder of the miners who fought for better wages and working conditions in Broken Hill’s early mining days.
• Post Office : a beautiful red-brick Federation-style building with a 26-metre tall clock tower from the 1890s. A great example of buildings from Broken Hill’s early mining boom.

JP Keenan Lookout

JP Keenan Lookout is located in a small grassland near the corner of Kaolin Street and Mica Lane. It is only a short uphill walk from Broken Hill city centre and offers a stunning bird’s eye view of the city centre . Information boards are also available at JP Keenan Lookout to help identify the landmarks of the Broken Hill skyline.

Directly facing the huge mullock heap, where the Line of Lode Miners Memorial stands, JP Keenan Lookout also provides a great view of the Line of Lode Miners Memorial & the original site where BHP began as a mining giant.

With a small grassland, JP Keenan Lookout is perfect for a peaceful picnic with a stunning view . So you may wish to pick up some food from the city centre and enjoy a picnic before heading to the next attraction.

Kevin Charles ‘Pro’ Hart is the most recognised and influential artist from Broken Hill . He has dedicated most of his life to capturing the spirit of Australia’s outback with paintings and sculptures.

For those who love arts, a visit to Broken Hill is incomplete without checking out the Pro Hart Gallery.

For only a small entrance fee of AUD 5 per adult , you can admire an extraordinary collection of Pro Hart’s work and check out his studio.

Historic Day Dream Mine

Although you will not be able to check out any of the operating mines here in Broken Hill, you can still experience the underground life of miners back in the day at the historic Day Dream Mine, one of the original silver mines from Silverton’s short-lived mining boom .

This well-preserved 1880s silver mine runs guided underground tours twice a day. It will provide visitors with a great insight into the challenging working condition during the early mining days while exploring the tunnels and voids of this historic silver mine.

The tours usually start at 10 am and 11.30 am , except on Mondays and Fridays, when the mine is closed. The ticket for this tour is AUD 33 per adult , but booking is highly recommended .

After the tour, you can enjoy delicious scones at its tea house. Rocks and crystals are also available for purchase as souvenirs.

Silverton is an outback town 25 kilometres northwest of Broken Hill. It is where silver mining first started in this region back in the 1880s before it moved to the richer fields in Broken Hill in the late 1890s.

During its mining boom, Silverton was the place to be with thriving pubs, various shops, a hospital, and even a stock exchange. A tramway was also constructed from the state border between NSW and SA to Silverton.

However, once the mining boom busted, all activities started to die down, with people moving to the new mining hub, Broken Hill. Leaving Silverton with a shell of what it once was. Nowadays, there are only around 50 residents in this old mining town.

With various heritage stone buildings, dusty streets with red dirt, free-roaming donkeys, quirky art galleries, and a historic outback pub featured in many popular films, Silverton is a classic outback town full of characters.

Having been featured in countless movies and TV shows, such as Mad Max 2, Razorback, The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, and The Flying Doctors, a visit to Silverton can somehow make you feel like you are transformed into one of those outback movie scenes.

Some of the interesting places to visit in Silverton are:

• Mad Max Museum : for the fans of Mad Max, visiting Mad Max Museum to admire its collection of original and replica items and vehicles from Mad Max is a must-do when visiting Silverton.
• Mundi Mundi Lookout : an impressive lookout overlooking the expansive and seemingly never-ending Mundi Mundi Plains. It also makes an excellent spot to watch the sunset.

Living Desert State Park

Living Desert State Park is a 180-hectare sanctuary, 12 kilometres north of Broken Hill city centre. It houses a wide variety of native plantations and wildlife , giving visitors an excellent opportunity to get acquainted with all the beautiful fauna and flora of outback Australia at the doorstep of Broken Hill.

There are various walking tracks within Living Desert State Park to suit different needs. Among all the walks, I highly suggest checking out the walking trails within the Flora and Fauna Sanctuary for a tranquil walk surrounded by beautiful native floras.

Depending on your preference, you can choose the short 1-kilometre walk along the Flora Walking Track or the longer 2.2-kilometre Cultural Walk Trail when visiting Flora and Fauna Sanctuary. However, the gate to this sanctuary closes by 2 pm during the Summer months (December to February) & 5 pm during the remaining months. So make sure you have enough time for this visit.

After checking out Flora and Fauna Sanctuary, there is a 1.2-kilometre walk near the sanctuary’s gate to bring you to one of Broken Hill’s most famous attractions, Sculpture Hill.

Sculpture Hill houses a group of 12 unique sandstone sculptures carved by different artists from around the world. Located on top of the highest hill within the Living Desert State Park, the beautiful silhouettes of these sculptures are incredible additions to the Broken Hill skyline . They are especially beautiful and peaceful around sunset, which makes it one of the top spots for watching the sunset in Broken Hill .

If walking up Sculpture Hill is outside your consideration, you can also drive up to it. There is a decent-sized car park right next to the sculptures. From the car park, there will only be a short 2-minute walk to the sculptures.

With that said, the drive to the sculptures is relatively narrow and steep, so make sure you drive carefully. Also, when driving around sunset, there tends to be a lot of wildlife along the road & make sure you are hyper-vigilant during the drive.

Access to Living Desert State Park requires a ticket, AUD 6 per adult , paid via a ticket machine near the park entrance. Not sure if it was due to the pandemic, but the ticket machine was only receiving card payments when I visited recently, so make sure you have a bank card ready before visiting.

More than One Day in Broken Hill

There is so much to see in and around Broken Hill & I highly suggest spending at least a couple of days in Broken Hill, so you can check out other interesting attractions Broken Hill has to offer.

Here is a list of attractions to check out if you have more than one day in Broken Hill.

Royal Flying Doctor Outback Heritage Experience

As the ‘Capital of the Outback’, Broken Hill is home to the biggest base for the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS). So why not check out the RFDS base at Broken Hill when you are here?

Regular guided tours are available at the Broken Hill RFDS, which lets you see some behind the scene activities of the RFDS.

Entrance fee is AUD 15 per adult , which include the guided tour. Souvenirs are also available for purchase at the base. All the process will go towards supporting the RFDS, which is essential for everyone living and travelling in outback Australia.

Albert Kersten Mining and Minerals Museum (GeoCentre)

Albert Kersten Mining and Minerals Museum, a.k.a. GeoCentre, is home to an extensive collection of minerals from the Broken Hill region. It is also an excellent place to learn the science behind the geology of this region and the history of Broken Hill’s mining industry.

Entrance to Albert Kersten Mining and Minerals Museum is free, but donations are highly encouraged . You can also purchase some beautiful souvenirs from its gift shop if interested.

Silver City Mint & Art Centre

Silver City Mint & Art Centre has a good collection of gemstones, silvers, minerals, paintings, and sculptures. Visitors can also purchase some artwork and silver pieces from this place.

The biggest drawing card for Silver City Mint & Art Centre is its 100 metres long & 12 metres wide canvas drawing, The Big Picture , which captures the impressive landscape of Broken Hill with lifelike models complementing the drawing.

The Silver City Mint & Art Centre ticket is AUD 8.50 per adult . There are also plenty of souvenirs for purchase within the centre.

Broken Hill City Art Gallery

Broken Hill City Art Gallery is an incredible regional gallery focusing on artworks about outback Australia and from local artists. The building Broken Hill City Art Gallery is located in is also a charming old emporium building worth checking out in its own merit.

Entrance to Broken Hill City Art Gallery is free, but donations are encouraged .

Sulphide Street Railway & Historical Museum

Sulphide Street Railway & Historical Museum is a building complex that houses various collections reflecting every aspect of life in Broken Hill.

Here, you can find a Railway Museum with the original locomotive from the Silverton Tramway, mineral collections from the Broken Hill region, and a range of historical artefacts helping you to re-imagine the thriving life in Broken Hill back in the day.

Ticket to Sulphide Street Railway & Historical Museum is AUD 8 per adult & concession and family tickets are also available.

Kinchega National Park & Menindee Lakes

Just over 100 kilometres drive southeast of Broken Hill, you will find the peaceful Kinchega National Park and the stunning Menindee Lakes.

Kinchega National Park is a tranquil park surrounding Menindee Lakes. It offers visitors an excellent opportunity to discover the nature and history of this area . Lakefront campsites are also available, allowing visitors to enjoy this magnificent park at their own pace.

Where to Stay in Broken Hill

With room rates below the national average, you can easily find a standard double room for under AUD 200 per night here in Broken Hill. A few suggestions are:

How to Get to Broken Hill

Visit broken hill by air.

Being the ‘Capital of the Outback’, Broken Hill has a commercial airport located only 6-kilometre south of the city centre, with flights regularly departing to and arriving from Adelaide, Sydney, Dubbo, and Mildura via REX and QantasLink .

This is undoubtedly the fastest way to visit Broken Hill. However, as can be expected from a regional flight, the cost of these flights is pretty expensive compared to other modes of transport.

You will likely also need a car rental on arrival to make the most out of your stay in Broken Hill. This will add to your travel expense as well.

Visit Broken Hill by Car

Depending on where you are travelling from, visiting Broken Hill by car can potentially be your best option.

Visit Broken Hill by Rail

Weekly Outback Explorer service is available between Sydney Central Station and Broken Hill. This ride departs early in the morning, arrives late at night & takes about 13 hours one way . It is much more affordable than regional flights & a more chilled-out experience than driving.

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Day Dream Mine

Broken Hill

The first mines were walk-in, pick-and-shovel horrors. For an eye-opening experience, tour this historic mine (dating from the 1880s) where you squeeze down the steps with your helmet-light quivering on your head. Sturdy footwear is essential. It's a scenic 13km dirt drive off the Silverton road – a total of 33km from Broken Hill. Check road conditions at the Visitor Information Centre . There are additional tours during school holidays, and claustrophobes can tour the surface area only for $10. Cash only.

Get In Touch

0427 885 682

https://www.daydreammine.com.au

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The road beyond Silverton becomes isolated and the horizon is vast. Just 5km from town, this lookout, a glorified roadside dust-mound at the highest point…

Mad Max 2 Museum

This is probably the last thing you expect to find out here, on the edge of nowhere: an eclectic collection of original Mad Max movie props and…

Nearby Broken Hill attractions

1 . Living Desert State Park

2 . Living Desert Sculpture Symposium

3 . Pro Hart Gallery

4 . Jack Absalom's Gallery

Born in 1927, Jack Absalom is one of the celebrated 'Brushmen of the Bush', a group of five artists that hailed from Broken Hill (Pro Hart was another…

5 . Silver City Mint & Art Centre

This is home to the Big Picture, an amazing 100m-by-12m diorama of the Broken Hill outback – the work of one painter, completed over two years. It's…

6 . Sulphide Street Rail and Historical Museum

In the heart of downtown Broken Hill, this interesting museum has a bunch of rusty old rolling stock and rooms full of artefacts relating to local history.

7 . Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery

8 . Albert Kersten Mining & Minerals Museum

This Broken Hill museum houses fascinating displays (and a mind-bending video) which explain how the richest lode of silver, lead and zinc in the world…

White's Mineral Art and Mining

Due to Covid-19, our individual Day Tours will only be offered as part of our Packaged Departures eg: Broken Hill Wanderer & Broken Hill Experience.

Experience mining life at White's Mineral Arts and Mining Museum where you can experience the underground without actually going under! Explore a realistic walk-in mine, detailed mining models and learn about Broken Hill's mining history with an amazing guided tour.  See mining minerals turned into works of art at the museum's exhibition of crushed mineral collage art works.  ​White's Mineral Arts and Mining Museum is a complete show for the whole family. Located at the highest point of the Line Of Lode overlooking the city atop of the richest ore body in the southern hemisphere. Learn about the origins of BHP and their eventual departure from Broken Hill. Observe the city’s unique architectural range as you pass palatial federation and victorian buildings followed by the curving faces of 1930s art deco and classic tin miner’s cottages.

What our guests say

I am a member of the Chermside Bowls Club in Queensland and organised a trip for 22 of our members through Silver City Tours. We chose to do the Outback Adventure tour. We travelled overnight on the train and were met early next morning by coach which took us to our motel for the start of a fantastic 5 days. The tours around Broken Hill and surrounding areas were enjoyed by all members, who found the whole trip to be very interesting - lots to see. The coach drivers were excellent and knew the areas we passed through very well. Our accommodation was great, with the friendly staff looking after our every need. I would have no hesitation in recommending this trip to anyone.

I am a member of the Chermside Bowls Club in Queensland and organised a trip for 22 of our members through Silver City Tours.  We chose to do the Outback Adventure tour.  We travelled overnight on the train and were met early next morning by coach which took us to our motel for the start of a fantastic 5 days.  The tours around Broken Hill and surrounding areas were enjoyed by all members, who found the whole trip to be very interesting - lots to see.  The coach drivers were excellent and knew the areas we passed through very well.  Our accommodation was great, with the friendly staff looking after our every need. I would have no hesitation in recommending this trip to anyone.

“Amazing service. Can’t wait to find out what’s next!”

The "Outback Wanderer" package catered for the mature age of our Probus Group with a good balance of touring and free time. As a longtime, world wide "package deal" traveller I must rate this as one of the best I have ever experienced for value , variety and service.                                

“Not sure what I did before discovering this Product. It’s super!”

On behalf of the 16 of us who visited Broken Hill just a word of thanks for a wonderful, well organised "Outback Break" tour. As some of us were seasoned caravaners, this was our first "organised" tour and we were a little apprehensive as to what to expect. As it turned out we could not have asked for more. A very special thanks to Roger, our tour guide and driver.                     

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Just a few words to thank you for setting up a really good trip for us "The Darling River Run". It all worked out very well, it was a happy group, and Chris looked after us beautifully. I hope you gave him a few days off!

The Harry Nanja guy at Mungo was a great entertainer, and very good value.The girl at the Back o' Bourke centre was excellent. The guide at the Dubbo Zoo was excellent, and it was really very worthwhile to have the guide there - we saw the maximum  amount possible in the time available, whereas we would have seen hardly anything left to our own devices. Liz Murray at Trilby was really excellent, but you don't need me to tell you that!  The chocolate slice lasted until morning tea at White Cliffs! 

Best regards, and thanks again,   

Our members who participated in the recent "Outback Adventure" tour of Broken Hill were absolutely delighted with your company's service. The tours were memorable for the interesting sights, the pleasantness of your coach drivers and the fun. I am sure they will have no trouble in recommending your service to others, particularly other Probus club members.                         

As organiser of our Club's Away Trip to Broken Hill, I would sincerely like to thank you for all the arrangements you made for us. You were always courteous, most helpful, you kept us fully informed, which we appreciated. Please pass on our appreciation to Cheryl and to John, our coach driver, who really looked after us. The accommodation at the Silver Haven Motor Inn was excellent. Everyone in the group assured me they enjoyed the trip. 

My sincere thanks once again. 

I am writing to thank you for your effort in arranging the  itinerary, accommodation and the guide/coach driver for our recent visit to your city. We were kept busy at all times with little being  heard from anybody in our group after 09:30 p.m.

A special mention must be made for Les our coach driver/tour guide. Les was enthusiastic and knowledgeable about his city and other parts of the country and at all times was most courteous to our group as well as other road users. He would go out of his way to make our understanding of your city and environs complete and should he not know the answer to questions raised he would come back with an answer the next time we met him.  

Our accommodation was good with again the proprietors Michael and Dana going out of their way to make our stay a most enjoyable one.

All went well and again I thank you for your assistance in making it happen.

We would like to thank you for making our Broken Hill trip that much more interesting. We were with the group from Merewether Ladies Probus and your drivers on all the tours were first rate, their knowledge of the region and how they presented it was great, it was obvious to us all that these people love Broken Hill.

I have just returned from the "Outback Adventure" in Broken Hill and its surrounds. I didn't know what to expect, and had no idea what it would be like, but my expectations were met and exceeded. Broken Hill is a fascinating place with so much to see and learn. The tours were well organised and most interesting. Your drivers(Les, Roger and Eric) were helpful, knowledgeable, courteous and friendly in addition to being excellent drivers of course.

The motel (Silver Haven Motor Inn) provided excellent accommodation, and meals, the manager taking the time each evening at dinner to speak to those of us on the tour and enquire to our day.

My personal thanks to you and your team for everything.

We just had a six day holiday in Broken Hill. We had the most memorable time in Broken Hill and we will recommend it to anyone. Thank you for the best budget holiday ever. All of the arrangements were perfect. Our bus driver Chris was an excellent tour guide, he was very informative. The motel was very good and the food was excellent.  Regards.

380 Argent Street Broken Hill NSW 2880

+61 8 8087 6956 [email protected].

Historic Day Dream Mine Review - Silverton NSW

Broken Hill-Silverton, NSW

With fully guided underground and surface tours, Day Dream Mine just outside Silverton was a no brainer day trek for our little tribe. After days learning about silver, lead and zinc ore mining in Broken Hill, we had two very eager boys keen to explore an underground silver mine- so we headed out to the authentic, family owned and run attraction and boy were we impressed.

On arrival, the history was everywhere to be seen. Jeff the days tour guide, took us on the surface tour first. What an incredible insight into what the miners and the ladies of the late 1800’s-early 1900’s endured on the mine fields.

From the underground black-powder storage bunkers/room (dually used to keep away from the deathly hot summer heat), to the mia-mia (self made tiny temporary sleeping shelters) of individual miners, to an old open mine entry that even still had the visible parts of the horse drawn cable mechanisms used to pull the mine carts out.

Then came the underground tour, strapping on our sexy white miners helmets- flicking on the lights, the group of 13 or so of us descended down the spiral staircase and into the silver mine. With 3 levels to explore and the 4th under water, the depth and directions of the mine that we travelled could put the best explorer in doubt.

But with Jeff at the lead we learnt all about the ‘what and how’ of the mines history. Seeing the types of beam structures in place were incredible engineering feats and learning how the miners, including boys as young as 8- navigated the tight enclosed spaces was mind boggling.

We got a first hand experience of how it was to mine by spider candle light, it’s not surprising the shear amount of related accidents from poor working conditions. Awesomely we also got to see some real silver still glinting in the underground rock walls.

And as if that wasn’t enough of an awesome experience- we returned to the homestead/shop, out of the chilly lunch time breeze greeted with delicious pipping hot fresh scones with cream and jam plus a cuppa tea and 4 hot chocolates, made and served by the owners son, Jason.

Something you wouldn’t know before you came out to Day Dream Mine was that it was originally opened in 1882, and was an active mine for 101 years bringing fortune to many and was a key part of the beginning of the booming silver industry before Broken hill was discovered and established.

Beth and Kevin together with their son, have done an amazing job restoring and keeping the mine in as close to original condition since it was last mined in 1983, when the previous owner switched from Day Dream being an active mine to a site for guests to come and explore.

With so many authentic relics, the attention to detail and a tour guide with more knowledge than you’d get from Wikipedia, The tours of Day Dream Mine exceeded our expectations and was well worth the investment of time and admission. Strap on some sneakers and take a walk down the steps of a different world, we Trekkers would never have wanted to miss this one!

Big thank you to Jeff for all your incredible knowledge and endless stream of historical stories with hilarious hidden jokes and punch lines. It was the most memorable tour to date.

*Tours run 7 days a week, 10am and 11.30am. You can experience both surface and underground tours together with your delicious morning/afternoon tea or just enjoy the surface tour separately.

20km from Broken Hill along the Silverton Road, look for the big sign on the right and head up the scenic drive 13km.

#travelling #mine #tour #daydreammine #daydreammine #silverton #brokenhill #minetour #underground #surface #NSW #newsouthwales

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Day Dream mine

History will come alive as you drive along the road through the Appollyon Valley thinking "  how did they find this mine?  ". Then coming over the hill to view the magnificent smelter built by the Daydream Mining Association and used by Broken Hill. Then the old township which once had a population of approx 500.

As you head underground, you'll go through 3 levels, never knowing what's around each corner... viewing tiny drives (tunnels) the miner dug & seeing the rocks the picky boys sorted & returned as backfill. It's a mine where if you let your imagination run, you can almost hear the miners swinging their hammers hitting the chisels.

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The Living Desert & Sculptures

The Living Desert is Broken Hill City Council’s contribution to the environment, for the protection of native flora and fauna and for the better management of our ecosystem and sustainability.

Venture underground in this quirky little town built into rocky cliffs and fossick through opal fields to find your very own treasure.

Travel distances between outback townships can be long and the road rugged. Doing some homework on your route options can make all the difference!

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Day Dream Mine

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Day Dream Mine - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Opening hours Day Dream Mine

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Day Dream Mine

• Current: Opening hours

The daily opening times of Day Dream Mine in Broken Hill

The following overview lists the visiting hours for Day Dream Mine in Broken Hill . The hours of the current day (today) are highlighted. Please note that opening hours on special days or holidays may differ from what is displayed here. We therefore recommend you to always check the opening hours with Day Dream Mine before your visit and see if it might be needed to reserve a time slot.

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Want to know when Day Dream Mine is open? These are the opening hours:

Two mine tour per day at 10:00am and 11:30am

More about Day Dream Mine

Iron Knob is located 40 minutes NW of Whyalla, adjacent to the Eyre Highway. Learn the history of iron ore mining and experience a mine tour.

The Broken Hill Propriety Company Limited (BHP) was granted iron ore leases at Iron Knob in November 1899. Ore was initially used at Port Pirie as a flux during the smelting of silver, lead and zinc ore.

At one time the Iron Knob and Iron Baron mining operations supplied the iron ore for all BHP blast furnaces, but since the development of the Pilbara deposits in WA, the local mines have concentrated on fulfilling Whyalla's needs.

After nearly 100 years, mining at Iron Knob ended in April 1998 when the last ore was taken from the Iron Monarch open cut pit. In 2012, the Iron Monarch pit was re-opened and ore once again transported to Whyalla.

Over the years other mines have been opened to meet demands - Iron Baron in 1933, Iron Prince and Iron Queen in the 1970s; and the most recent major development in 1990 with the opening of Iron Duke 55kms south-west of Whyalla off the Lincoln Highway.

The town has a post office with internet access, camping ground, public toilets and a community tourist centre.

The mainline is 76kms to Iron Duke. Trains are made up of two locomotives hauling 50 trucks each carrying 60 tonnes of ore - a total of 3,000 tonnes each. Up to four trains per day can be loaded depending on plant requirements.

Tourist Centre

The Community Tourist Centre is well signposted and has also been developed as a mining museum.

It displays old mining equipment, mineral specimens, interpretive displays and photographs, and a theatrette that presents the story of mining in Iron Knob. Visitors can enjoy refreshments and browse the range of souvenirs on sale. Facilities include shady trees, toilets and ample parking.

Open weekdays from 9.00am-3.30pm. Ph. +61 8 8646 2129 .

Guided mine tours depart from the Iron Knob Tourist Centre where a mini-bus transports visitors to where there are views of the original Iron Knob pit and from which work at the Iron Princess and Monarch pits may be seen. Enclosed footwear is compulsory.

Tours are run by volunteers and can be booked in advance via 08 8646 2129.  Tours availible Monday to Friday between 9.15am to 12.30pm and 1.15pm – 2.45pm depending on tour guide availabilty and weather/mining activities permitting.

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talk to us about your next Holiday

Whyalla Visitor Centre, Lincoln Highway Open: 7 days Mon–Fri 9am–4pm.  Weekends and public holidays 10am–4pm.  Closed: Good Friday and Christmas Day  Phone: (08) 8645 7900 Email: [email protected]

TOLL FREE: 1800 088 589

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