10 Things to Do in Parkes During Your Stay

Parkes is one of the Central West’s most surprising country towns, and once you start looking, there is far more to do here than a quick highway stop suggests. From a world-famous radio telescope to the biggest Elvis celebration in the Southern Hemisphere, the range of things to do in Parkes will keep travellers, families and couples happily busy for a long weekend or a mid-road-trip break. If you are planning to visit Parkes NSW, here are ten Parkes attractions and experiences worth building your stay around.

1. Marvel at The Dish (CSIRO Parkes Radio Telescope)

About 20 kilometres north of town on the Newell Highway sits Murriyang, the CSIRO Parkes Radio Telescope, better known to most Australians as The Dish. This 64-metre telescope helped relay live television of the 1969 Apollo 11 Moon landing and remains one of the country’s most important scientific landmarks. The visitor centre includes exhibits, a 3D cinema, a café and a gift shop, making it an easy and genuinely memorable half-day outing.

2. Explore the Henry Parkes Centre

The Henry Parkes Centre on the northern edge of town is a one-stop cultural complex and home to the Parkes Visitor Information Centre plus four separate museums. It is the best single place to understand the region’s history, its transport heritage and its famous connection to the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll. Allow a couple of hours here, as there is a lot to browse both indoors and out.

3. Step inside The King’s Castle Elvis Museum

Housed within the Henry Parkes Centre, The King’s Castle holds the largest collection of Elvis Presley memorabilia in the Southern Hemisphere. Even casual fans are charmed by the mix of original and replica pieces documenting Elvis’s life and career. It is one of the most talked-about Parkes tourist attractions and a big part of why the town wears its Elvis identity so proudly.

4. Time your visit with the Parkes Elvis Festival

If you can, plan to visit Parkes NSW during the annual Parkes Elvis Festival, held every January to mark Elvis Presley’s birthday. The five-day event brings more than 200 performances, street parades, concerts and tribute artists to a town of fewer than 10,000 people, drawing in excess of 25,000 visitors. Accommodation books out fast during the festival, so reserve your room well ahead.

5. Take in the views from Memorial Hill Lookout

Just a few minutes from the town centre, Memorial Hill Lookout offers sweeping 360-degree views over Parkes and the surrounding farmland. The hilltop is crowned by a 33-metre Shrine of Remembrance, and there are gardens, memorials and a remembrance walk to explore. It is a quiet, moving spot and one of the easiest free things to do in Parkes, especially at sunset.

6. Wander the town’s street art and murals

Parkes has embraced public art in a big way, and the central streets and laneways around Clarinda Street are dotted with large murals and sculptures. The artworks celebrate the town’s links to astronomy and The Dish, its Elvis heritage, and the local landscape and wildlife. A self-guided mural walk is a relaxed way to spend an hour and see the town centre.

7. Relax at Cooke Park and Kelly Reserve

For a slower pace, Cooke Park in the heart of town is a well-kept, family-friendly green space and a favourite gathering spot during festival season. Nearby, the Kelly Reserve precinct has been refreshed with a splash park, café, dog park, barbecue facilities and picnic areas, making it ideal for families travelling with children or pets.

8. See the vintage cars at the Motor Museum

Also part of the Henry Parkes Centre, the Parkes Motor Museum showcases an impressive collection of cars and motorcycles spanning almost a century of automotive history. Restored everyday vehicles sit alongside genuine rarities, with plenty of context about their place in regional New South Wales. It is a highlight for anyone with an interest in classic machinery.

9. Take a day trip to the Peak Hill Open Cut gold mine

About 48 kilometres north of Parkes, the Peak Hill Open Cut Mine Experience lets you walk safe trails and viewing platforms around a series of former open-cut gold mines. The 360-degree views across the rural landscape are excellent, and the site tells the story of the region’s gold-mining past. It pairs well with a scenic drive back through the small country towns of the district.

10. Get into nature at Goobang National Park and Bushman’s Hill

For fresh air and walking, Goobang National Park offers bushland, wildlife and quiet trails that most highway travellers speed straight past. Closer to town, Bushman’s Hill marks one of the area’s earliest gold-mining sites, with walking tracks that reveal relics from the mining days. Both are great options for stretching your legs during a longer stay.

Where to stay while you tick off your list

With so many Parkes attractions spread between the town centre and the surrounding region, a central and flexible base makes everything easier. Hotel Gracelands, on Bushman Street just minutes from the CBD and the Newell Highway, offers 24-hour check-in, on-site parking right outside your room, pet-friendly rooms and comfortable amenities, so you can come and go around your sightseeing plans. Book direct at hotelgracelands.com.au for the best rate and a warm country welcome.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top things to do in Parkes?

The most popular things to do in Parkes include visiting The Dish (CSIRO Parkes Radio Telescope), exploring the four museums at the Henry Parkes Centre, seeing The King’s Castle Elvis collection, enjoying the views from Memorial Hill Lookout, and taking a day trip to the Peak Hill Open Cut gold mine experience.

When is the Parkes Elvis Festival held?

The Parkes Elvis Festival is held every January, timed around Elvis Presley’s birthday. It runs for about five days and attracts more than 25,000 visitors, so accommodation should be booked well in advance.

How far is The Dish from the centre of Parkes?

The CSIRO Parkes Radio Telescope, known as The Dish, is roughly 20 kilometres north of the Parkes town centre along the Newell Highway, about a 20 to 25 minute drive.

Is Parkes worth stopping at on a road trip?

Yes. Parkes sits on the Newell Highway and offers world-class attractions, museums, parks and dining, making it an ideal overnight stop or a base for a longer Central West NSW visit.