All visiting staff, observers and contractors must complete the booking form

Please complete a booking for site visits, computing needs or accommodation at the observatory. After completing the form, a notification to complete an online induction will be emailed to you.

Booking form

Site information

Our Paul Wild Observatory is located 25 km west of Narrabri in NSW. It is at latitude -30.31, longitude +149.55 (east) and is 240 m above sea level. Narrabri has a population of about 5,500 and is the centre of a large irrigation and dry-land farming district producing cotton, wheat and pulse crops, as well as raising cattle & sheep.

Temperatures are typically above 30C on summer afternoons and close to 0C on winter mornings.

The site used to be home to CSIRO’s solar radioheliograph but in 1988 the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA) became the main instrument.

ATCA consists of five movable antennas on a 3 km east-west rail track with a 200 m north-south spur, and a sixth antenna 3 km further to the west. The observatory contains a control building with offices, laboratories, workshops, a lodge for visiting astronomers, and the Paul Wild Observatory Visitors Centre.

Please note that mobile phones are not to be used on site unless in flight mode with WiFi and Bluetooth turned off. Please speak to admin staff for the appropriate phone numbers if you wish to be contacted while visiting.

For those not requiring an onsite stay at the observatory lodge, there is plenty of accommodation available in the township of Narrabri, however you must complete a booking form, selecting Day Visit.

Prior to arriving on site, you are required to complete an online induction. The link to the online induction will be emailed to you.

Kangaroos in long grass, with a telescope dish in the distance.

Paul Wild Observatory Visitors Centre

For information on our visitors centre, which is open to the public, visit the CSIRO.au website.

Travelling to the observatory

Always let the observatory staff know of your travel plans and route when visiting for work or observing.

Narrabri can be reached by road, rail & air from Sydney and road & air from Brisbane.

Road

  • Narrabri is at the intersection of the Newell and Kamilaroi Highways, about 525 km from Sydney and 580 km from Brisbane.
  • The drive from Sydney takes approximately 7 hours, driving north via the Pacific Highway/Hunter Expressway (Hunter Valley region). An alternative but longer route is to drive over the Blue Mountains via Orange, Parkes & Dubbo.

Air

  • Link Airways offer flights four times a week from Sydney and Brisbane to Narrabri.
  • From Narrabri Airport take a taxi to the observatory. Observatory staff can help you with the taxi booking.
  • Alternative options are to fly Qantas from Sydney to Moree or to Tamworth. Moree is 120 km from the Paul Wild Observatory and Tamworth is 180 km from the observatory. These options require hiring a car to drive to the observatory.
  • Car hire is available from all airports.

Rail from Sydney

  • NSW Regional Transport offer a daily train service from Sydney to Narrabri, departing Sydney in the morning and arriving in Narrabri late afternoon.
  • The return journey departs Narrabri in the morning.
  • Travel time is approximately 7.5 hours.
  • From the railway station take a taxi to the observatory. Observatory staff can help you with the taxi booking.

Lodge accommodation and meals

On site accommodation is available for observers and CSIRO staff visiting for work purposes.

On arrival at the lodge, you will find your room allocation listed on a board located on the dining room/kitchen door.

The lodge has:

  • 4 single bedrooms
  • a queen bedroom
  • male & female bathrooms
  • a lounge room/tv room
  • dining area
  • laundry

Although the bedrooms do not have private bathrooms facilities, they are all equipped with hand basins.

All meals are provided, and the room charge includes the cost of meals:

  • Some meals (mostly evening meals) will be prepared and stored in the lodge refrigerator to be re-heated in the convection oven at your own convenience.
  • Tea & coffee is available at the lodge and on the first floor of the control building.
  • Soft drinks & snacks can be purchased at the lodge.

If you have any special dietary requirements, please indicate this when you are booking your accommodation.

Costs

As from 1 September 2022, the rate for a single or queen room, including meals, is AUD 70.50 per day. This price includes the Good and Services Tax (GST). A 50% discount is available for students.

Flat accommodation

There is also a one bedroom, self-contained flat available for a minimum stay of 3 nights with no meals included.

As from 1 September 2022, the rate is (including GST):

  • AUD 75.00 per day
  • Lunch is AUD 10.00 per person
  • Dinner AUD 15.00 per person

Contact

Paul Wild Observatory
1828 Yarrie Lake Road
Narrabri NSW 2390
Australia

Telephone: +61 2 6790 4000

Email: narrabri@csiro.au