Public Observatories and Visitors Centres

This page provides details of public observatories and planetaria in NSW and the ACT. If you wish to find out about sites in other states please visit the Public Observatories page of the Australian Astronomy website. Please note this page is not actively maintained, and so it is worth checking the webpages or calling the numbers provided to obtain up to date information.

NSW and ACT

Sydney

• Sydney Observatory, Observatory Hill, The Rocks. Tel (02)-9217-0485
• Macquarie University Observatory, North Ryde. Tel (02) 9850 4409
• University of Western Sydney: Nepean Observatory, Werrington North
  Campus. Tel 02-4736 0135

ACT

• Canberra Deep Space Communications Complex, Tidbinbilla (40 km from Canberra).
• Mount Stromlo Visitors Centre, Weston Creek. Mt Stromlo Visitors Centre is closed indefinitely however a walking guide to the observatory is available for download from the Observatory site.

Bathurst

• Bathurst Observatory, 624 Rossmore Park, Limekilns Rd, Kelso Tel 02-6337-3988
• Grove Creek Observatory, Trunkey (about 65 km from Bathurst). Tel 02-9438-1516 or 02 6368-8611 (both 2pm - 7 pm AEST only)

Central Coast

• Koolang Observatory, George Downs Drive, Bucketty. Tel. 02-4998-8216

Coonabarabran

• Milroy Observatory, Coonabarabran. Re-opened in 2017 with the 40inch telescope which was based for 50 years at Siding Spring Observatory and is now open to the general public. For bookings, call 0428 288 244.

Cowra

• Darby Falls Observatory, Observatory Rd, Darby Falls. Tel 02-6345-1900

Dubbo

• Dubbo Observatory, (online booking available for groups and families). Tel. (02) 6885-3022

Gilgandra

• Gilgandra Observatory, Willie St, Gilgandra. Tel. 02-6847-2646. Status of observatory currently unclear (website no longer operational)

Goulburn

• Magellan Observatory, 461 Covan Creek Rd, Lake Bathurst. Tel. 02-4849-4489

Mudgee

• Mudgee Observatory, 961 Old Grattai Road, Mudgee. Tel. 02-6373-3431

Narrabri

• Australia Telescope National Facility Visitors Centre, Paul Wild Observatory. Tel. 02-6790-4000

Parkes

• Australia Telescope National Facility, Visitors Centre, Parkes Observatory. Tel. 02-6861-1777

Wollongong

• Wollongong University Science Centre and Planetarium, Fairy Meadow. Tel. 02-4286-5000 or Fax 02-4283-6665