🇦🇺 Broken Hill, Australia
Caledonian Bed & Breakfast
📍 140 Chloride St, Broken Hill NSW 2880, Australia
Your stay — Caledonian Bed & Breakfast
Live forecast for your dates · what's on · air quality & pollen📅 Pick your check-in & check-out above to unlock your day-by-day forecast, what's on during your stay, and live air quality & pollen for Broken Hill.
The Property — Caledonian Bed & Breakfast
The Caledonian Bed & Breakfast occupies a sturdy, late-19th-century stone building on Sulphide Street, a five-minute walk from Broken Hill's main drag. Inside, the vibe is solidly no-fuss: polished linoleum floors, floral curtains, and a communal breakfast room where the talk is mines and footy. It's a B&B that doesn't pretend to be a boutique hotel—clean rooms, reliable hot water, and a full cooked breakfast that sticks to your ribs. Best suited to independent travellers who want a quiet, central base without paying for frills.
Chronicles of Broken Hill
Broken Hill was founded in 1883 after a boundary rider discovered a massive silver-lead-zinc ore body on Mount Gipps Station. The city quickly became Australia's most productive mining centre, and its surviving heritage—row upon row of corrugated-iron miners' cottages, grand stone pubs, and the Palace Hotel's ornate facade—reflects that boom-town heritage. Culturally, Broken Hill reinvented itself as a living museum and artists' colony: the Pro Hart Gallery, the Living Desert sculptures, and a thriving silversmith scene root the city in both its mineral past and its present as an outback creative hub. It's also the only Australian city to have its own time zone (Central Standard Time), a quirk that still catches visitors out.
Best Time to Visit
Full Broken Hill guide →Best months
April, September, and October. Days are warm (22–28°C) and nights cool, rain is scarce, and the big summer heat hasn't arrived or has just left. Tourist numbers are moderate enough that you can book a hotel room on short notice.
Peak / festival surge
July for the Broken Hill St Patrick's Race Meeting (horse racing) and school holidays; August for the Palace Hotel's annual Madame Tussauds wax-figure weekend. Hotel rates can double or triple during these events, and properties like the Caledonian fill up weeks ahead.
Budget shoulder season
March and November. March is still warm (often above 30°C) but no longer crowded; November can hit 35°C+ but offers last-minute discounts of 20–30% as hotels try to fill rooms before summer. Fewer crowds at the Living Desert and the Miners Memorial.
Weather & packing
Broken Hill is the driest city in New South Wales outside the desert—it's not unusual to get five months of zero rain. Pack a wide-brimmed hat and long-sleeved shirt even in winter: the sun is fierce at 300m elevation, and ultraviolet levels are high year-round.
Live City Briefing — Broken Hill
- The Silver City Highway north of Broken Hill (towards Tibooburra) is closed after heavy December 2025 rain washed out a culvert near Packsaddle; check RMS road alerts before heading out.
- The Broken Hill City Council has installed new solar-powered EV chargers at the Visitor Information Centre on Blende Street, open 24/7, pay-by-app (Chargefox network).
- Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery is hosting 'Silver & Dust', a contemporary Aboriginal art exhibition from the APY Lands, running until August 2026.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jun 2026Before you check in to Caledonian Bed & Breakfast, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the top floor to minimise noise from above. Corner rooms often have more windows and feel larger.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms next to the ice machine, vending machine, or stairs. Also skip ground-floor rooms near the lobby entrance or car park.
Best views
Ask for a room facing away from the main road or car park. East-facing rooms often get nice morning light.
Quietest floors
Higher floors tend to be quieter since they're farther from street-level noise and common areas. Floors 2 or 3 are a safe bet if available.
🔊 Noise notes
Weekend nights can be busier. Request a room at the back of the hotel to reduce street noise. Bring earplugs as a backup.
Insider tips
1. Call the hotel directly rather than booking online—you may get a better rate or free upgrade. 2. Ask if they have a 'quiet floor' policy or can note your preference for a quiet room.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Caledonian Bed & Breakfast
Free Wi-Fi for all guests, sufficient for email and light streaming. Password provided on arrival; requires login via captive portal every 24 hours.
No lift. The property is a two-storey 19th-century terrace; all rooms and the dining room are accessed via stairs.
Complimentary digital newspapers via PressReader (login code on arrival). No physical newspapers delivered.
Standard check-in 14:00-18:00. Early bag drop from 10:00 if room not ready. Late check-out until 11:00 free, after 11:00 charged $40 AUD until 14:00, subject to availability.
Free storage in locked luggage room behind reception, accessible 08:00-20:00.
Main entrance has one step (approx. 15 cm) into lobby – no ramp available. All guest rooms upstairs, no lift. Not suitable for wheelchair users or those with mobility issues.
Free on-street parking directly outside (first-come, first-served, no time limit). Nearest public car park at Beryl Street (pay & display, $4 AUD per day, 200m walk). No EV charging on site.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None
Deposit & card hold: First night charged as non-refundable deposit at booking; a $100 AUD incidental hold on credit card at check-in.
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: St Peter's Anglican Church (234 m · ~3 min walk)
- Church: Sacred Heart Catholic Cathedral (260 m · ~3 min walk)
- Church: Silver City CRC (1.4 km · ~17 min walk)
- Church: Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses (1.7 km · ~22 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Westside Plaza — 2.0 km · ~25 min walk
Sturt Park — 415 m · ~5 min walk
Synagogue Of The Outback Museum — 533 m · ~7 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 1.8 km · ~23 min walk
Outback Pharmacies / CP Peoples Chemist — 920 m · ~12 min walk
Broken Hill — 1.1 km · ~14 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Australian Dollar, AUD
Use ATMs at banks for the best rates; avoid airport or tourist bureau exchanges as they take a heavy commission.
Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted at hotels, supermarkets, and most shops; contactless pay is common, but some smaller cafes and stalls prefer cash.
Tipping is not expected; if service is good, rounding up the bill or leaving a few dollars is appreciated but not required.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A basic filter coffee or flat white from a local bakery or service station cafe costs around AUD 4-5.
A meat pie or pastie from a bakery or takeaway shop with a drink is typical and costs about AUD 10-12.
A main at a pub bistro or RSL club is the standard affordable dinner, priced around AUD 20-25.
Street food is limited; the main budget eat-in options are the pubs and clubs along Argent Street and the train station cafe.
The main budget supermarket chain is Coles, with IGA as an alternative; there is no Aldi in Broken Hill.
For affordable clothes, head to Target in the city centre or the op shops (thrift stores) along Argent Street.
Walking is the cheapest way around town as it's compact; there is no airport public transport, so a taxi or pre-booked shuttle from the airport costs about AUD 20-25.
Eat at the RSL club for lower-priced meals and drinks; buy snacks and water from Coles instead of the tourist shops; fill up your car fuel tank in Adelaide or Mildura before driving out, as Broken Hill's fuel is more expensive.
Good to know — Broken Hill
Type I · 230V
safe
$1 ≈ A$1.44 · AUD
Emergency Contacts
Broken HillFor police, ambulance or fire in Broken Hill, dial Triple Zero (000). For non-urgent police matters, call 131 444. The Broken Hill Police Station is at 252 Blende Street, phone +61 8 8087 1999.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
Book a table →💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Broken Hill, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Caledonian Bed & Breakfast
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 1.8 km · ~23 min walk — pharmacy · Outback Pharmacies / CP Peoples Chemist — 920 m · ~12 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Broken Hill Railway Station (1 km from motel) → Sydney Central (or Dubbo/Orange connecting services)
💡 Book the 'Country Comfort' seat well ahead – it's roomier. From the motel, it's a 15-minute walk or a $8 taxi ride to the station. Bring snacks; the buffet car is erratic.
Broken Hill Airport (BHQ) → Charles Rasp Motor Inn
💡 Call the shuttle company at least 24 hours ahead – they can drop you right at the motel's reception door. Cash only, so have $20 ready.
Broken Hill Airport (BHQ) → Broken Hill Outback Resort
💡 Cheaper than a regular taxi if you're solo. Call a day before to confirm timing.
Broken Hill city centre (Post Office stop) → Broken Hill Outback Resort
💡 No direct service from the airport on this route. Useful for day trips from the Resort into town—get the driver to stop near the resort turnoff.
Blende Street (nearest stop to motel) → Broken Hill CBD (Sulphide Street)
💡 Buy a $6 all-day pass from the driver – useful if you're visiting the Palace Hotel or Living Desert. The motel is a 5-minute walk from the Blende Street stop; no Sunday service so plan around it.
Broken Hill Airport (BHQ) → Broken Hill Outback Resort
💡 Book ahead if your flight arrives late. Cash is useful; some drivers won't take card.
Broken Hill Airport (BHQ) → Charles Rasp Motor Inn
💡 Airport taxis are scarce after 9pm – pre-book via 08 8087 2555. For short hops into town, flag one on Argent Street near the motel; it's a flat rate zone so no meter panic.
Broken Hill Airport (BHQ) → Broken Hill Outback Resort
💡 Bus stop near airport entrance—no shelter. The Resort is a 10-min walk from the 'Outback Resort' stop on Argent Street.
About Broken Hill
Wikipedia ↗
Broken Hill is a city in the far west region of outback New South Wales, Australia. An inland mining city, it is near the border with South Australia on the crossing of the Barrier Highway (A32) and the Silver City Highway (B79), in the Barrier Range. It is 315 m (1,033 ft) above sea level, with a c...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Caledonian Bed & Breakfast?
Request a room on the top floor to minimise noise from above. Corner rooms often have more windows and feel larger.
Which rooms should I avoid at Caledonian Bed & Breakfast?
Avoid rooms next to the ice machine, vending machine, or stairs. Also skip ground-floor rooms near the lobby entrance or car park.
Is Caledonian Bed & Breakfast noisy?
Weekend nights can be busier. Request a room at the back of the hotel to reduce street noise. Bring earplugs as a backup.
Which rooms have the best views at Caledonian Bed & Breakfast?
Ask for a room facing away from the main road or car park. East-facing rooms often get nice morning light.
What are insider tips for staying at Caledonian Bed & Breakfast?
1. Call the hotel directly rather than booking online—you may get a better rate or free upgrade. 2. Ask if they have a 'quiet floor' policy or can note your preference for a quiet room.
What time is check-in at Caledonian Bed & Breakfast?
Check-in at Caledonian Bed & Breakfast is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Caledonian Bed & Breakfast have Wi-Fi?
Free Wi-Fi for all guests, sufficient for email and light streaming. Password provided on arrival; requires login via captive portal every 24 hours.
Is there a city or tourist tax at Caledonian Bed & Breakfast?
None
Where can I eat cheaply near Caledonian Bed & Breakfast?
A meat pie or pastie from a bakery or takeaway shop with a drink is typical and costs about AUD 10-12.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Caledonian Bed & Breakfast?
Walking is the cheapest way around town as it's compact; there is no airport public transport, so a taxi or pre-booked shuttle from the airport costs about AUD 20-25.
When is the best time to visit Broken Hill?
April, September, and October. Days are warm (22–28°C) and nights cool, rain is scarce, and the big summer heat hasn't arrived or has just left. Tourist numbers are moderate enough that you can book a hotel room on short notice.
Top Attractions in Broken Hill
💡 Go on a Thursday morning when the magistrate is sitting – you can watch from the public gallery. The stained-glass ceiling is worth a look.
💡 Entry is donation-based, so pop a few coins in the box. The attached shop sells original prints for under $50.
💡 Bring your own water—there’s a tap but it’s not always on during drought. The best picnic spot is under the big river red gums at the south end.
💡 Bring a torch for the small mining museum underneath (free, but unlit). The walk is 800m round trip, wheelchair accessible.
💡 Go just before sunset—the desert light turns the memorial and the city below gold. There's free parking and a small museum (paid) next door if you want more context.
💡 Drive to the start of Ridgeview Loop (loose gravel road, fine for 2WD in dry weather). Do the walk early morning to avoid heat. The sculptures are unlit at night, so bring a torch if you want dusk photos.
💡 Walk the 2km loop trail from the car park; the sunset colours on the sculptures are far better than midday glare. No water on site, so bring your own.
💡 Check their website for free entry days—often on the first Saturday of the month. The gallery shop sells quality prints and books at reasonable prices.