Fast facts
- Known as the Astronomy Capital of Australia
- Nestled in the foothills of the Warrumbungles, a gateway to the national park
- 452 km north-west of Sydney, population 2,500
Why go there
Coonabarabran is the closest town to the craggy peaks and spires of the Warrumbungle Ranges. Warrumbungle National Park is popular for bushwalking, camping and encountering wildlife.
The area is great for stargazing, and is the location of Australia’s largest optical astronomy research facility, Siding Spring Observatory.
History
The Warrumbungles are the remnants of a colossal volcanic upheaval that spread ash and lava over a 50-km radius 13 million years ago.
The name Coonabarabran is thought to come from a local Aboriginal word for ‘inquisitive person’.
Things to do
- Go camping or bushwalking in the spectacular volcanic scenery of the 23,000-hectare Warrumbungle National Park.
- Join a nightly stargazing tour at Skywatch or Warrumbungle Observatory.
- Admire the bulldozer-like teeth of a diprotodon, the largest marsupial ever identified, at the Coonabarabran Visitor Information Centre.
Events
- Festival of the Stars in November is a month-long event celebrating arts and astronomy in Coonabarabran. Highlights include concerts, exhibitions and "Science in the Pub", where scientists debate hot topics in astronomy over a cooling ale.
Don’t miss
- Hiking the "Grand High Tops" trail, one of Australia’s Top 10 great walks.
- Seeing the bizarre 90-m-high slab of solidified lava called the Breadknife.
- Watching potters transform clay into works of beauty at Pilliga Pottery.
- Crystal Kingdom, for a huge collection of rare crystals found in the local area.
