The Dish, near Parkes · from Sydney by public transport
Parkes Observatory is about 8 hours from Sydney by train and coach, with 1 change on a typical weekday morning. Public transport gets you as far as Parkes Station, Coach Stop, 20.2 km short; see the last mile below.
About Parkes Observatory
Parkes Observatory is a radio astronomy observatory, located 20 kilometres (12 mi) north of the town of Parkes, New South Wales, Australia. It hosts Murriyang, the 64 m CSIRO Parkes Radio Telescope also known as "The Dish", along with two smaller radio telescopes.
From Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Step by step
- Blue Mountains Line from Central Station to Lithgow Station, leaving at 14:09 (2h 50m).
- Coach 571 from Lithgow Station, Railway Pde, Bay 1 to Parkes Station, Coach Stop, leaving at 17:20 (4h 15m).
- Walk 1.1 km to Gap St at Orange St.
- From Parkes Station, Coach Stop, the last 20.2 km to Parkes Observatory has no scheduled service: see Last mile.
Plan this trip live for your date
Closest station and stops
There is no train station within 6.0 km of Parkes Observatory. The usual route from Central leaves you at Parkes Station, Coach Stop, which is the stop to use.
| Kind | Nearest to Parkes Observatory | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Where the usual route stops | Parkes Station, Coach Stop |
Walking distances follow the footpath network; where a stop is not joined to it the distance is a straight line, and the walk is longer.
By train, ferry, bus or light rail
Each line is a separate search of the timetable using only that kind of transport (and the train to reach a wharf or light rail stop), on weekday mornings from Central.
- By train alone: not possible; no train stop is near enough to walk.
- By bus alone: not possible; no bus stop is near enough to walk.
When to go
- Weekdays: first departure from Central at 07:17, last at 14:08; 2 journeys a day.
- Saturdays: first departure from Central at 07:37, last at 07:37; one journey a day.
- Sundays: first departure from Central at 07:17, last at 14:24; 2 journeys a day.
Times are departures from Central Station for journeys that reach Parkes Observatory the same day, read from the published timetable.
Getting back to Sydney
On weekdays the last journey back leaves at 15:11 and reaches Central at 04:49, by bus and train. On Sundays the last one leaves at 13:45 and reaches Central at 20:53, by coach 520 then bus 428.
Accessibility
Not confirmed. The timetable does not say whether Central Station, Blue Mountains Line, Lithgow Station, Railway Pde, Bay 1, coach 571 and Parkes Station, Coach Stop are step-free, so we do not claim it. We found no route from Central that is published as step-free all the way.
| On the usual route | Timetable says |
|---|---|
| Central Station (board) | not published |
| Blue Mountains Line (vehicle) | not published |
| Lithgow Station, Railway Pde, Bay 1 (change) | not published |
| coach 571 (vehicle) | not published |
| Parkes Station, Coach Stop (get off) | not published |
From the wheelchair fields Transport for NSW publishes with the timetable. It has no information on lifts, ramps or whether a lift is working today; check Transport for NSW before you travel.
Last mile
Scheduled services end at Parkes Station, Coach Stop, 20.2 km short of Parkes Observatory. No bus or coach covers that stretch, so you need a pre-booked taxi or a transfer: about 15 minutes by road. Book it before you leave — in country towns there may be only one operator, and none waiting at the stop.
Nearby places reachable by transit
- Wellington Cavesabout 6 hours 40 minutes from Sydney by train and coach
Mount Canobolasabout 7 hours 50 minutes from Sydney by train, coach and bus
Orangeabout 5 hours from Sydney by train and coach
Taronga Western Plains Zooabout 7 hours 30 minutes from Sydney by train and coach
Dubboabout 7 hours 20 minutes from Sydney by train and coach
Mount Tilgaabout 11 hours 50 minutes from Sydney by bus and coach
Questions
- Can you get to Parkes Observatory without a car?
- Mostly. Public transport (train and coach) takes you to Parkes Station, Coach Stop, about 8 hours from Sydney with 1 change. The final 20.2 km has no scheduled service; the Last mile section covers how to do it.
- How long does it take to get to Parkes Observatory from Sydney?
- About 8 hours from Sydney: the median of 5 weekday journeys leaving between 8 and 10 am.
- Is there public transport to Parkes Observatory on Sundays?
- Yes. On Sundays the first journey leaves Central at 07:17 and the last at 14:24; 2 journeys a day.
- What is the closest train station to Parkes Observatory?
- There is none within 6.0 km. Parkes Observatory is reached by Blue Mountains Line then coach 571, getting off at Parkes Station, Coach Stop.
- Can you get to Parkes Observatory by train?
- Not by train alone: no train stop is near enough to walk. The usual way is Blue Mountains Line then coach 571.
- What time is the last bus back from Parkes Observatory to Sydney?
- On weekdays the last journey back leaves at 15:11 and reaches Central at 04:49, by bus and train. On Sundays the last one leaves at 13:45 and reaches Central at 20:53, by coach 520 then bus 428.
- Is Parkes Observatory wheelchair accessible by public transport?
- Not confirmed. The timetable does not say whether Central Station, Blue Mountains Line, Lithgow Station, Railway Pde, Bay 1, coach 571 and Parkes Station, Coach Stop are step-free, so we do not claim it. We found no route from Central that is published as step-free all the way.