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 $600, with advance-purchase discounted fares around $350 on the web. ATNF speakers should book their own flights through the regular CSIRO travel procedures and will be offered the most economical fares by the consultant. Non-ATNF speakers please contact Joanne Houldsworth to organise domestic travel.

Going by train: Countrylink runs a daily train service to Narrabri (this operates 7 days a week). The Sydney-Narrabri train departs 10:05am, arriving at 5:41pm on Sunday the 17th of September, whereas the Narrabri-Sydney train departs at 9:25am, and arrives at 5:03pm on Saturday, the 23 September. The return fare is $160. Students receive a 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: Greyhound Australia also operate regular services connecting Narrabri with Brisbane and Melbourne, the buses arrive in Narrabri at 10:20am. McCafferty's Coach Service also operate regular services connecting Narrabri with Brisbane and Melbourne, but 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 - Prices as of 29 May 2006

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 Outback Shack restaurant at 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 privately for a group at the RSL. The cost is $88 per night for a single or double room, $98 for a twin, $130 for a family unit.

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. The cost is $79.20 per night for a single, $86.40 for a double, $99.90 for a triple, $124 for a family unit (up to 4).

Narrabri Motel & Caravan Park

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

The caravan park provides economical ensuite cabins including linend cost $53 a night for a single or double, $58 for a twin, $63 for three people, $74 for four people (or $75 for five people maximum). So 4 people can share a cabin for $18.50 each per night. All units are open plan with ensuite and kitchen/tv. There are seven units with a double bed and 2 single beds, and 4 units with double bed and 3 bunk beds. We have a block reservation for 11 cabins.

A variety of budget and other rooms are also available in the motel section. The costs for various configurations of rooms range from $50 - $75 for budget rooms and $75 - $115 for other rooms.

Foodworks is nearby which has a cafe, fuel and a small supermarket section.

Useful links

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