White Cliffs

About White Cliffs

White Cliffs is a small town in outback New South Wales in Australia, in Central Darling Shire. White Cliffs is around 255 km northeast of Broken Hill, 93 km north of Wilcannia. At the 2011 census, White Cliffs had a population of 103.

The primary school opened in 1895, and has operated continuously since then. White Cliffs was one of the many places visited by Bill Bryson in research for the book Down Under.

History and Heritage

The town was established in the late 19th century when opal was discovered. Opal has been mined ever since. The first Australian opal was found 20 years before in Queensland in 1872, when a party of kangaroo hunters were operating in the White Cliffs area.

Places to stay

There is a great range of accommodation options in White Cliffs, from underground motels to resorts and hotels. A couple of of high end options include the Fossickers Den Dugout Accommodation and White Cliffs Underground Motel.

Things to do

There are many things to see and do in White Cliffs whilst visiting, including:

  • Bus tours
  • Opal mine tours
  • The outback store
  • The Aussie southern cross opal shop.

While you’re in White Cliffs be sure to watch a sunrise or sunset as they are particularly spectacular.