Parkes

The town was renamed from Bushman's Lead following a visit by Sir Henry Parkes, the "father of Australian Federation"; the connection is somewhat tenuous, as Parkes was English-born and lived elsewhere, but the name stuck. Today the town is a regional agricultural and rail centre on the Newell Highway, the main inland route between Melbourne and Brisbane.

Its most famous landmark is the CSIRO Parkes radio telescope ("Murriyang"), about 20 km north of town, which played a celebrated role in relaying television images of the 1969 Apollo 11 Moon landing — the story dramatised in The Dish. The other great drawcard is the Parkes Elvis Festival, held each January around the King's birthday, which transforms the town into a celebration of Elvis Presley and draws tens of thousands of visitors and impersonators from far and wide.

Sitting inland on the central west plains, Parkes has a warm-to-hot summer and cool winter; the Elvis Festival in January is the busiest (and hottest) time, while spring and autumn are mild and comfortable.

By Plane

Parkes Airport (PKE IATA) is a short drive from town, with regular flights to Sydney.

By Train

Parkes is a significant rail town and is served by NSW TrainLink, with connections toward Sydney and the central west (including the Central West XPT and connecting coaches).

By Car / Road

Parkes sits on the Newell Highway, the main inland route between Melbourne and Brisbane, and is well connected across the central west. It is roughly 365 km (about 4.5 hours) west of Sydney via the Great Western Highway and Bathurst, and close to Forbes and Dubbo. Coach services also serve the town.

The town centre is compact and walkable. A car is needed to reach the radio telescope north of town and the surrounding rural attractions. Local public transport is limited.

• CSIRO Parkes Radio Telescope ("The Dish" / Murriyang) — The iconic 64-metre radio telescope about 20 km north of town, with a visitor centre, exhibitions and café telling the story of its role in the Apollo 11 Moon landing and ongoing astronomy.

• Henry Parkes Centre — A museum complex in town covering local history, motoring, and (fittingly) an Elvis collection.

• Parkes streetscape — A pleasant, broad-streeted country town with heritage buildings.

• Visit The Dish — Tour the radio telescope visitor centre and see the famous instrument up close.

• Parkes Elvis Festival — If visiting in January, join one of regional Australia's biggest and most joyful festivals (book accommodation far ahead).

• Stargazing and astronomy — The clear inland skies and the telescope's presence make Parkes a natural astronomy stop.

• Day trips — Forbes, with its bushranger (Ben Hall) history, and the wider central west are close by.

Parkes has a practical spread of cafés, bakeries, pub bistros and casual restaurants serving the town and Newell Highway travellers; during the Elvis Festival the dining scene expands with pop-up venues and themed events.

The town's historic hotels and cafés cover the social scene, busiest by far during the Elvis Festival. Tap water is safe to drink.

Accommodation books out far ahead for the January Elvis Festival; outside that period it is easy to find.

• Budget — Motels along the highway and a caravan park.
• Mid-range — Motor inns and modern motels near the centre.
• Upscale — A handful of higher-end stays serve the town.

The town centre covers everyday shopping, and during the Elvis Festival the streets fill with themed stalls and memorabilia. Local produce and crafts from the central west are sold at markets and farm gates.

• Forbes (around 35 km / 25 min) — Historic town steeped in bushranger (Ben Hall) and gold-rush history.
• Dubbo (around 110 km / 1 hr 15 min) — Regional hub and home of the Taronga Western Plains Zoo.
• Orange (around 110 km / 1 hr 30 min) — Cool-climate wine and food city to the east.
• Cowra (around 110 km / 1 hr 15 min) — Town with a renowned Japanese Garden and WWII history.
• Condobolin (around 100 km / 1 hr 10 min) — Outback-edge town further west on the Lachlan River.