You will find much to enthrall you in the Parkes region; it is an ideal destination for an overnight stay or a weeklong visit. Parkes is a great place to stop and explore what the Central West of New South Wales has to offer. For fantastic views of Parkes, take a drive up Memorial Hill (Bushmans Street), one of the highest points in Parkes offering great panoramic views over the shire.
No visit to Parkes would be complete without a visit to its "star" attraction, the CSIRO Parkes Radio Telescope - star of the Australian hit movie "The Dish." The purpose of the mysterious looking dish can be described as 'listening to the stars". Astronomers, curious about the features and working of the universe have used the telescope for more than 40 years.
Parkes Radio Telescope is one of Australia's most prominent landmarks and part of our scientific and engineering heritage. The Discovery Centre features attractive displays, interactive exhibits, audio visual shows, educational material and souvenirs. The Discovery centre opens daily from 8.30am-4.15pm except Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Admission to the Visitor Centre is free.
The newly opened Dish Cafe situated nearby the Telescope offers light meals through to hearty lunches Enjoy the beautiful aroma of Lavender at Tyndall's Lavender Corner located just on the outskirts of Parkes. Your friendly hosts Marion and Bob will explain the finer details of lavender and provide a guided tour of the farm. Open daily between 10am - 5pm. Craft Corner located in Dalton Street provides paintings, pottery, knitwear and jewellery produced by local craftspeople. Open Monday - Saturday (& Public Holiday) 10am - 5pm.
Pioneer Park Antique Machinery Museum allows you to 'step back in time' and see agricultural machinery used in the early 1900s. This large collection includes the only Fowler "Reins driven" tractor of its kind in the world! Plus the restored 'Big Four' and a wide selection of antique tractors, trucks and farming implements. Located on the Newell 600m north of the Visitor Centre.
Pioneer Park is also the site of the highly anticipated $1.5 million Henry Parkes Museum and replica of the Moat Cottage, the birthplace of Sir Henry Parkes in Coventry (due for completion in late 2006). Bushmans Hill is the site of one of Parkes' first Gold Mines, in operation over 100 years ago. Walk to the top of the hill, where you will pass some historical relics and a memorial to those few who have lost their lives to mining in the area.
Temperatures for Parkes
Parkes has hot summer temperatures. The summer high temperature for Parkes is approximately 31 °c. The summer low temperature is approximately 17 °c.
Parkes has mild winter temperatures. The winter high temperature for Parkes is approximately 14 °c. The winter low temperature is approximately 4 °c.
Purchase this DVD that captures the sweeping contrasts of New South Wales. Includes footage of the Great Dividing Range to Bathurst, Goulburn and Albury, through the rich grazing lands.
Marvel at Dubbo's Western Plain Zoo and discover the rare opal at Lightning Ridge. Explore the Ghost Towns and outback city of Broken Hill and admire the splendour of the Menindee Lakes in the Kinchega National Park.
Investigate the Minnamurra Rainforest and enjoy the waterfalls of the Illawarra Plateau. Explore the snowfields of the Snowy Mountains, Mt Kosciusko and traverse the Murray River from the Alpine headwaters to Lake Hume. Moving on to the Southern Coast of New South Wales and the panoramic vistas's of Jervis Bay, the famous Blow Hole at Kiama and north to Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour and Byron Bay.
PLEASE NOTE: The New South Wales travel destinations outlined above are only a small selection from the tens of thousands of Australian travel information pages available on Australian Explorer. A comprehensive list of destinations for New South Wales Holidays can be found on the main New South Wales Holidays location guide.
