The Solar System Drive in regional New South Wales is the "World's Largest Virtual Solar System Drive". The project was created to allow tourists to explore the true vastness of our solar system and offers an incentive for travellers to stop and rest, which supports the RTA's campaign for safe driving.
The experience can be enjoyed throughout five different driving routes, each beginning at various locations in central New South Wales. Generally benefited from during the day time, the drives feature three-dimensional planet models that are situated on the roadside of the five main roads that lead to Coonabarabran. The planets are carefully placed in their relative position to the sun, and each stopping point features interesting facts and information about that individual planet.
All of the driving routes end at the Siding Spring Observatory. This observatory is home to some of the world's major telescopes and is the resting place of the scale model of the Sun. The Observatory has an ideal location in the beautiful Warrumbungle National Park. The Warrumbungle region includes the communities of Coonabarabran, Coolah, Dunedoo, Mendooran, Binnaway and Baradine. Coonabarabran is the largest of these towns and boasts spectacular views of the Warrumbungle Mountain Ranges. The entire Warrumbungle region offers a friendly country atmosphere and makes this part of the Solar System Drive an inviting and pleasant experience.
Drive the entire Solar System: Dubbo to Siding Spring Observatory
Begin your Solar System tour in Dubbo, home of Western Plains Zoo. After exploring this extraordinary wildlife park, make your way to the Dubbo Visitor Centre on Newell Highway, where you will find the most distant planet from the sun, Pluto. In reality, Pluto is 5955 million kilometres from the sun, yet this carefully scaled structure is situated just 205 kilometres from the Observatory.
Venturing 45 minutes further along the Newell Highway will bring you to the "home of the windmills", Gilgandra. At the Gilgandra Cooee Heritage Centre you will find Neptune, the first planet to be discovered by way of mathematical calculations. Its 4508 million kilometre distance from the sun has been scaled down to a mere 133 kilometres from the Observatory!
A further 40 kilometres down the Newell Highway will bring you to the Tooraweenah Rest Area which is the ideal place to stop for a picnic. Explore the wonder of Uranus, the third largest planet in the system which in reality rests 2877 million kilometres from the sun.
The final planet on the Newell Highway stretch is Saturn, the planet with the rings of rock an ice. Saturn rests in the Camkeena Rest Area, which is located just 40 kilometres from the Observatory. Stopping here offers another great opportunity to stretch your legs and take a break from driving.
Newell Highway takes you straight through to Coonabarabran, where travelling west along Timor Road will bring you to Jupiter. Jupiter's real location of 778 million kilometres from the sun has been scaled down to just 21.5 kilometres. Be careful when stopping along here, as it is not situated in a rest area and simply sits on the roadside!
Just a 15 minute drive up the road brings you to Mars, our closest neighbour! This site is perhaps the most interesting of the planets as it is considered to be the best candidate to harbour life (that is besides earth of course). Learn some interesting facts about the "red planet" and explore the surrounding Warrumbungle region while you're there!
Drive or chose to walk the 1.3 kilometres to our home, Earth, which is located on Observatory Road. The remaining 4 kilometres of the route will take you along Observatory Road, past Venus and Mercury, the closest planets to the sun!
The final destination in your journey is of course the Siding Spring Observatory, which is where the sun is situated. Known as the closest star to earth, the sun provides us with the light and warmth that we need to survive. This display sums up the entire Solar System experience and allows you to reflect on the vastness of this spectacular system.
This route is just one of the many you can take on your experience of our solar system. The drive offers spectacular scenery along the way, taking you through rural communities that welcome you with a friendly, inviting atmosphere. The close proximity of all the planets will keep the kids amused for the trip which will allow you to soak up the natural wonders of this area and enjoy the pleasant drive!
Christine Barton
