Getting to Narrabri

Going by air: QantasLink (formerly Eastern Australian Airlines) operates 1-3 flights daily between Sydney and Narrabri. Follow this link for the latest timetables. Note that the flights now leave Sydney from T2 (formerly Ansett terminal). The unrestricted Sydney-Narrabri return airfare is around $609, with advance-purchase discounted fares around $337 on the web. Speakers coming from within Australia and CSIRO staff should contact Joan Archer to make flight arrangements.

Going by train: Countrylink runs a daily train service to Narrabri (this operates 7 days a week). The Sydney-Narrabri train departs 9:35am, arriving at 5:16pm, whereas the Narrabri-Sydney train departs at 9:33am, and arrives at 5:00pm. The fare is $79.20 and $111.10 one way for economy and first class respectively. Students receive a 40% discount. If you are coming from the Epping area you can save some time and money by taking the train from Hornsby. Reservations are required, and trains are often full (make plans well ahead of time).

Going by bus: McCafferty's Coach Service operate regular services connecting Narrabri with Brisbane and Melbourne; check with your travel agent regarding fares and timetables. However the buses tend to arrive in Narrabri at midnight.

Going by car: The 575-km drive from Sydney takes approximately 8 hours. You have a choice of two routes: North via the Pacific Highway through Cessnock (Hunter Valley wine country), or west over the Blue Mountains (very scenic). See the maps of Narrabri and the surrounding district.

Accommodation

Narrabri Motel & Caravan Park

52 Cooma Rd (Newell Hwy), Narrabri NSW 2390, ph. (02) 6792 2593

The caravan park provides economical ensuite cabins for $55 a night (including linen) for 3 people. Additional people are $5 each per night, so 4 people can share a cabin for $15 each per night. Each cabin typically has a double bed and 2-3 single beds. We have a block reservation for 11 cabins.

Budget accommodation is also available in the motel section. The cost is $45 per night for a single room, $50 per night for a double or twin. They also have two room units available for $95 per night with a queen bed and fold down bed in one room, and two singles in the other room.

The Country Kitchen is nearby which has a cafe, fuel and a small supermarket section.

Southern Cross Motel

24-28 Maitland Street, Narrabri NSW 2390, ph. (02) 6792 3838

This new motel is opposite the RSL club in town. Rooms will be booked here for speakers and tutors that cannot be accommodated at the observatory. The RSL provides evening meals for Southern Cross customers and will charge back to the motel. Breakfast is available in the rooms, or can be arranged for a group at the RSL in a private area. The cost is $78 per night for a single room, $88 per night for a double or twin, $95 per night for a triple (large family size rooms).

Narrabri Mid-Town Inn

41 Maitland Street, Narrabri NSW 2390, ph. (02) 6792 2233

If we exceed the rooms available at the Southern Cross Motel, some participants will be accommodated at the nearby Mid-Town Inn. The RSL will also provide a charge back service to the motel and breakfast is provided in the rooms.

Useful links

• Addresses and phone numbers for hotels in Narrabri township
• Maps of Narrabri and the surrounding district