Australia, New Zealand & the South Pacific - A bit of "outback" for the day from Sydney?

I'd like to take a flight or train from Sydney to somewhere interesting for a day. So I'm looking for the smallest place with a direct flight or train access from Sydney say a max journey time of say 2hrs with early morning out and latish reliable travel back. Perhaps a mining town, or something for me to get a bit of contrast atmosphere from Sydney. It'll be summer!

Is the idea just plain daft?

Any inventive ideas really appreciated.

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2 hours drive or train from Sydney will not reach "the outback". The Blue Mountains and Hunter Valley are in that range and quite nice, but neither are "the outback".

Flying, Alice Springs or Ayers Rock are options, but airline schedule is not friendly for a day trip.

uncertaintraveler - I think Mt Isa and Longreach will take more than 2 hours by flight from Sydney, they are both a fair distance from Brisbane which itself is more than an hour's flight from Sydney.

Australia is big. If you really want to get a taste of "the outback" you need to allow more time than a day.

The closest place you could call the "outback" is probably Broken Hill. You can fly direct there, but flights are not day-trip friendly. Even then, that flight is 2hrs. So, maybe kind of daft (your words, not mine).

You could do a day tour (bus) to the Blue Mountains or Hunter Valley - that would be more enjoyable and you will get to see a bit of the countryside.

KiwiFlyer is correct, SYD-ISA is around 6 hours via BNE.

There are a heap of 'outback towns' that are within 2 hour flight from SYD. Check out http://www.rex.com.au/ . Personally I'd be heading down to Leeton, which is between nowhere and nowhere (it's a real 'blink and you miss it' town) . It's pretty much spot on 2 hour flight.

The Leeton Tourism Board (http://www.leetontourism.com.au/) has some good info on what to do while you're there.

If you're there in October, check out the Ag Show (www.leetonshowsociety.org.au). Worst website ever, but Ag Shows aren't really known for their web design...

I would fly to Dubbo (http://www.dubbotourism.com.au/bwWebsite/default.asp) . There is a flight from Sydney-Dubbo 8.20-9.25 and a flight back at 17.30.

The Western Plains Zoo is out there plus plenty more to see like the Dubbo jail and wineries.

Dubbo isn't really outback, but nice enough (I've been there a couple of times - you can also take the train as a 2 day trip).

I'd like to take a flight or train from Sydney to somewhere interesting for a day. So I'm looking for the smallest place with a direct flight or train access from Sydney say a max journey time of say 2hrs with early morning out and latish reliable travel back. Perhaps a mining town, or something for me to get a bit of contrast atmosphere from Sydney. It'll be summer!

Is the idea just plain daft?

Any inventive ideas really appreciated.

I think you probably need to consider an overnight rather than a straight day trip because as KF pointed out flight schedules are not conducive to day-trips.

I would look at Broken Hill (Birthplace of a rather large mining company, the Broken Hill Proprietary;) ) otherwise as has been mentioned Dubbo is great and Western Plains zoo is one of the best.

That being said if you really want a unique outback experience, Coober Pedy is what you are looking for but thats a trip in itself.

............... just to say thanks for the very helpful advice and wise counsel.

What I've decided to do is to make my next trip after this one revolve around "small town" Australia. On the current one I'm already planning trips into the mountains and Hunter Valley - and I'm not going to compromise - I'm going to do both seperately and properly instead.

Luckilly the follow on trip will be within a few months of the first as I have a rather large stash of BMI miles to burn ......

Thanks again for the advice.