Warrumbungle NP · from Sydney by public transport
Siding Spring Observatory is about 8 hours 20 minutes from Sydney by bus, with 2 changes on a typical weekday morning. Public transport gets you as far as Coonabarabran Rd at Pezzutos Rd, 117.1 km short; see the last mile below.
Australia's largest optical telescope, on a ridge inside the country's only Dark Sky Park. Sited for the absence of light, and of much else.
About Siding Spring Observatory
Siding Spring Observatory near Coonabarabran, New South Wales, Australia, part of the Research School of Astronomy & Astrophysics (RSAA) at the Australian National University (ANU), incorporates the Anglo-Australian Telescope along with a collection of other telescopes owned by the Australian National University, the University of New South Wales, and other institutions.
From Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Step by step
- Bus 223 from Central Station to Quirindi Station, leaving at 09:35 (5h 02m).
- Walk 800 m to St Joseph's Primary School, Church St.
- Bus S730 from St Joseph's Primary School, Church St to Kamilaroi Hwy opp 2176, leaving at 15:32 (9 min).
- Bus S730 from Kamilaroi Hwy opp 2198 to Coonabarabran Rd at Pezzutos Rd, leaving at 15:41 (53 min).
- From Coonabarabran Rd at Pezzutos Rd, the last 117.1 km to Siding Spring 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 Siding Spring Observatory. The usual route from Central leaves you at Coonabarabran Rd at Pezzutos Rd, which is the stop to use.
| Kind | Nearest to Siding Spring Observatory | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Bus stop | Siding Spring Observatory, Observatory Rd | 200 m in a straight line |
| Where the usual route stops | Coonabarabran Rd at Pezzutos Rd |
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; the nearest stop is Siding Spring Observatory, Observatory Rd, 200 m in a straight line, but no bus journey from Central reaches Siding Spring Observatory on foot from there.
When to go
- Weekdays: first departure from Central at 07:17, last at 22:13; roughly every 1.5 hours.
- Saturdays: first departure from Central at 07:17, last at 22:24; roughly every 2 hours.
- Sundays: first departure from Central at 14:24, last at 22:24; 5 journeys a day.
Times are departures from Central Station for journeys that reach Siding Spring Observatory the same day, read from the published timetable.
Getting back to Sydney
On weekdays the last journey back leaves at 23:55 and reaches Central at 05:19, by . On Sundays the last one leaves at 23:55 and reaches Central at 05:19, by .
Accessibility
Not confirmed. The timetable does not say whether Central Station, bus 223, St Joseph's Primary School, Church St, bus S730, Kamilaroi Hwy opp 2198 and Coonabarabran Rd at Pezzutos Rd 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 |
| bus 223 (vehicle) | not published |
| St Joseph's Primary School, Church St (change) | not published |
| bus S730 (vehicle) | not published |
| Kamilaroi Hwy opp 2198 (change) | not published |
| bus S730 (vehicle) | not published |
| Coonabarabran Rd at Pezzutos Rd (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 Coonabarabran Rd at Pezzutos Rd, 117.1 km short of Siding Spring Observatory. No bus or coach covers that stretch, so you need a pre-booked taxi or a transfer: about 1 hour 20 minutes by road. Book it before you leave — in country towns there may be only one operator, and none waiting at the stop.
On the ground: ~27 km up Observatory Road.
Nearby places reachable by transit
Warrumbungle National Parkabout 8 hours 50 minutes from Sydney by train and coach
Dubboabout 7 hours 20 minutes from Sydney by train and coach
Taronga Western Plains Zooabout 7 hours 30 minutes from Sydney by train and coach
Questions
- Can you get to Siding Spring Observatory without a car?
- Mostly. Public transport (bus) takes you to Coonabarabran Rd at Pezzutos Rd, about 8 hours 20 minutes from Sydney with 2 changes. The final 117.1 km has no scheduled service; the Last mile section covers how to do it.
- How long does it take to get to Siding Spring Observatory from Sydney?
- About 8 hours 20 minutes from Sydney: the median of 5 weekday journeys leaving between 8 and 10 am.
- Is there public transport to Siding Spring Observatory on Sundays?
- Yes. On Sundays the first journey leaves Central at 14:24 and the last at 22:24; 5 journeys a day.
- What is the closest train station to Siding Spring Observatory?
- There is none within 6.0 km. Siding Spring Observatory is reached by bus 223 then bus S730 then bus S730, getting off at Coonabarabran Rd at Pezzutos Rd.
- Can you get to Siding Spring Observatory by train?
- Not by train alone: no train stop is near enough to walk. The usual way is bus 223 then bus S730 then bus S730.
- Can you get to Siding Spring Observatory by bus?
- Not by bus alone: the nearest stop is Siding Spring Observatory, Observatory Rd, 200 m in a straight line, but no bus journey from Central reaches Siding Spring Observatory on foot from there. The usual way is bus 223 then bus S730 then bus S730.
- What time is the last back from Siding Spring Observatory to Sydney?
- On weekdays the last journey back leaves at 23:55 and reaches Central at 05:19, by . On Sundays the last one leaves at 23:55 and reaches Central at 05:19, by .
- Is Siding Spring Observatory wheelchair accessible by public transport?
- Not confirmed. The timetable does not say whether Central Station, bus 223, St Joseph's Primary School, Church St, bus S730, Kamilaroi Hwy opp 2198 and Coonabarabran Rd at Pezzutos Rd are step-free, so we do not claim it. We found no route from Central that is published as step-free all the way.