Parkes to Bendigo

Parkes Observatoru

This morning we visted the Parkes Observatory, just outside the central-west NSW town of Parkes. Fantastic place, certainly worth a visit. Parkes Observatory's claim to fame was in 1969, it received television signals from the Apollo 11 Moon landing and relays them to a worldwide audience of 600 million. The movie, The Dish tells it's part in the story.

Parkes to Bendigo Day 2

We travelled down to Narrandera, and had lunch at the town's "Narrandera park". The Tiger Moth memorial celebrates the Airmen who trained at Narrandera's No 8 EFTS (Elementary Flight Training School) during the Second World War. The Memorial is located on the edge of the Park. The display features the DH 82 Tiger Moth, a comprehensive collection of model airplanes and a range of photographic memorabilia relating to the training school at Narrandera.

The trip from Narrandera was very pleasant, with rolling plains, native forests and quaint country towns being the main highlights. We crossed the border at Tocumwal near Gobram NSW, then over the great Murray River. After long drive, we stopped 6km later at Koonoomoo "The Big Strawberry" for well earned rest and afternoon tea. Very nice.

Late afternoon, we arrived in Bendigo and checked into the Bendigo Budget Oval Motel. The motel staff were very friendly, and the Motel well priced. We walked down through the park to the CBD for dinner. Excellent dinning. Bendigo is notable for its Victorian architectural heritage and gold mining history. Very pretty city with lush gardens and plenty of old world charm.