11-Sep-2026 -- It has been 22 years since this confluence was first and last visited. It is one of eight confluences on the straight part of the NSW-QLD border, which is more known for its continuous wild dog fence (officially the Queensland Border Fence) than for it being on the 29th parallel. In fact, topographic maps show that the parallel (i.e. the border) lies slightly south of the fence. We had camped the night before on the QLD side in Culgoa Floodplain NP but then crossed the border and approached the confluence area from the NSW side along West Culgoa Road, passing through Culgoa NP. We wondered which of the two tracks shown on topo maps we could follow ー and which one the previous visitor took. The NSW 1:100k and Hema 1:250k maps show Back Cawwell Trail heading NW from 29.0686°S, 147.0529°E (the latter map also showing West Culgoa Road as Brenda Road), with this track eventually joining Merrinong Fire Trail before reaching the border close to the confluence. The alternative was just to follow the fire trail along the NP boundary. As we crossed into the NP the boundary fire trail appeared on our right and looked easily driveable by 4WD ー but also signposted 'Authorised Vehicles Only', and with tyre tracks indicating regular use by NP and fence patrol vehicles (which I read later happened twice weekly). We decided to move on and try Back Cawwell Trail. This was similarly signposted but clearly little used. Up we headed, enjoying the company of mobs of red roos bounding alongside. It was slow going on the track though, the main concern being deep potholed friable soil that we feared could simply collapse under the weight of our vehicles. We got about 6km along then turned back. After cruising along West Culgoa Road for a while and checking out the old Cawwell homestead, we decided that we were, in fact, on a mission of high authority and decided just to head up the ~10km boundary trail to the border. Easy 4WDing (although def not in the wet) and border fence soon reached. It was then a matter of strolling through open dry scrub for a few hundred metres to reach the confluence point and lock in the zeroes. And Yes the border/29th parallel lies about 100m south of the dog fence, with our zeroes wonderfully appearing as we stood on tangly rusty old bits of fence wire extending from century-old fence posts. A beaut sight. And no encounters with patrol vehicles on the way in our out.