We have been to Broken Hill a couple of times, havn`t been out to Lightning Ridge though. I don`t think you will get the humidity like they get further north, even as far up as Alice Springs it`s not very humid, we went through there in Feb last year and it was hot but not humid. Don`t worry to much about the indigenous, there`s a few of them that don`t do the right thing and give the rest a bad name, steer clear of them and they will do pretty much the same. I actually miss them, when we came back to Tassie it just seemed strange that there was none around !!
Must go, will catch up later.

Hurry up Em, we are all going nuts !!!