Things to do in Parkes, New South Wales [FREE EXPERT GUIDE]

The best things to do in Parkes, New South Wales, are the CSIRO Parkes Observatory and the Henry Parkes Centre. The Goobang National Park also makes Parkes worth visiting.

6 best things to do in Parkes, NSW

The best things to do in Parkes are:

Flit between the museums at the Henry Parkes Centre.
Visit the replica of Moat Cottage, where Henry Parkes was born.
Attend the annual Parkes Elvis Festival in January.
See the dish that broadcast the Apollo 11 moon landings at the CSIRO Parkes Observatory.
See heritage planes at the Parkes Aviation Museum.
Go walking and wildlife spotting in Goobang National Park.

Where is Parkes, NSW?

Parkes, New South Wales, could easily get lost in a pack of interchangeable inland towns. But there are a few attractions that make this Central West town on the Newell Highway a bit different.

The tourism hub of Parkes, New South Wales, is the Henry Parkes Centre. This doubles as the visitor information centre and the host of four different small museums. Of the Henry Parkes Centre Museums, the Henry Parkes Museum and Antique Machinery Collection is the most generic small town Australia museum. Basically, it’s scrappily-presented local history and old farming equipment.

Things to do in Parkes, New South Wales: Moat Cottage Replica

The Motor Museum is for car enthusiasts only, while the Moat Cottage Replica has quirk factor. This is a largely faithful remake of the cottage in Warwickshire, England, where Sir Henry Parkes was born. Sir Henry was a statesman, and known as the Father of the Federation – he is credited as the driving force behind Australia federating and becoming an independent nation.

The museum inside the Moat Cottage Replica tells Sir Henry Parkes’ story.

Things to do in Parkes, New South Wales: King’s Castle and Parkes Elvis Festival

Most fun of the museums in the Henry Parkes Centre, however, is the King’s Castle. This is a collection of Elvis artefacts, owned by Greg Page – better known as the original Yellow Wiggle.

Parkes has a bizarre affinity for Elvis Presley, and hosts the annual Parkes Elvis Festival. This usually takes place in the second week of January, coinciding with the King’s birthday.

What to do in Parkes: CSIRO Parkes Observatory

Top of the list of things to do in Parkes, however, is the CSIRO Parkes Observatory. This is home to Murriyang, a 1,000 tonne radio telescope. In 1969, this giant dish received the images of the Apollo 11 moon landing and broadcast them to the world.

"The Dish" in Parkes, New South Wales — “The Dish” in Parkes, New South Wales. Photo courtesy of Destination NSW.

There’s a viewing area at the CSIRO Parkes Observatory where you can gaze upon Murriyang. You can learn more about it, and CSIRO’s space research work, in the 3D theatre and space science exhibition.

Other things to do in Parkes include seeing the heritage plane collection at the Parkes Aviation Museum. This is at Parkes Airport.

Parkes attractions: Goobang National Park

Just north-west of the town, in a triangle between Parkes, Dubbo and Wellington, is Goobang National Park. This is a good spot for camping, with the campgrounds often visited by native wildlife. The Burrabadine walking track from the Greenbah campground, is 4km long, and heads to the top of Burrabadine Peak for pretty excellent views to the west.

You’ll pass by this national park on the Dubbo to Parkes leg of the Brisbane to Melbourne inland drive.