Location of planets
Visitors can choose to travel one or more of five drives as part of their Solar System experience. Starting points are at the dwarf planet Pluto, which is located at five sites:
- Dubbo
- 6km south of Birriwa (north of Gulgong)
- Merriwa
- Tamworth
- Bellata (south of Moree)
All drives lead to Siding Spring Observatory, 28 kilometres west of Coonabarabran where the 37-metre Anglo-Australian Observatory dome represents the Sun. The Solar System Drive is a daytime experience. Visitors are encouraged to stop at each planet in a safe manner, taking care when pulling off and back onto the roadway. It is important visitors note that Siding Spring Observatory is only open during the day, between 9.30am and 4pm Monday to Friday and 10am to 2pm weekends and public holidays. Night-time experiences of the Solar System are on offer at various observatories located along the drive.
Note: Distances are in kilometres and are measured from Siding Spring Observatory. Distances and times are approximates only.
Drive 1 - Dubbo to Siding Spring Observatory
Pluto |
Dubbo Visitor Centre, Newell Hwy |
190 |
2.25 hours |
Neptune |
Gilgandra Cooee Heritage Centre, Newell Hwy |
119 |
1.5 hours |
Uranus |
Tooraweenah Rest Area, Newell Hwy |
79 |
70 mins |
Saturn |
Camkeena Rest Area, Newell Hwy |
40 |
40 mins |
Jupiter |
Timor Road, west of Coonabarabran |
21.5 |
20 mins |
Mars |
Timor Road, west of Coonabarabran |
5.5 |
5 mins |
Earth |
Observatory Road, west of Coonabarabran |
4.1 |
3 mins |
Venus |
Observatory Road, west of Coonabarabran |
1.9 |
2 mins |
Mercury |
Observatory Road, west of Coonabarabran |
1.2 |
1 min |
The Sun |
Siding Spring Observatory |
0 |
0 |
Drive 2 - Gulgong to Siding Spring Observatory
Pluto |
6km south of Birriwa, Castlereagh Hwy |
157 |
2 hours |
Neptune |
OL Milling Park, Golden Hwy Dunedoo |
132 |
1.5 hours |
Uranus |
New Mollyan, Mendooran Rd |
70 |
1 hour |
Drive 3 - Merriwa to Siding Spring Observatory
Pluto |
Rotary Park, Golden Hwy Merriwa |
205 |
2.5 hours |
Neptune |
Jorrock’s Park, Binnia Street, Coolah |
118 |
1.5 hours |
Uranus |
Ulinda, Warrumbungles Way |
74 |
1 hour |
Saturn |
Deringulla Bridge, Warrumbungles Way |
41 |
40 mins |
Drive 4 - Tamworth to Siding Spring Observatory
Pluto |
Rest Area opposite Tamworth Airport |
197 |
2.5 hours |
Neptune |
Gunnedah, Oxley Hwy, near Rural Museum |
133 |
1.5 hours |
Uranus |
Oxley Hwy, Goolhi Rd turn-off |
79 |
1 hour |
Saturn |
Oxley and Newell Hwy Rest Area |
34 |
35 mins |
Drive 5 - Moree to Siding Spring Observatory
Pluto |
Sugar’s Park, Newell Hwy Bellata |
193 |
2.5 hours |
Neptune |
Pilliga Rest Area 2, Newell Hwy, south of Narrabri |
119 |
1.5 hours |
Uranus |
Yaminbah Rest Area, Newell Hwy |
79 |
1 hour |
Saturn |
Oxley and Newell Hwy Rest Area |
34 |
35 mins |
Accredited Visitor information Centres are located at the following towns:
