Day 3 – The Dish, Classic Cars and Our First NSW Silo Art
After a chilly night in Parkes, we kicked off the morning with what every good touring day should begin with — coffee and breakfast!
We headed into town to visit Déjà Brew, a great little coffee shop in the centre of Parkes. With caffeine levels restored and breakfast sorted, we were ready to tackle another day on the road.
Thankfully, there were no dodgy GPS directions or unplanned adventures on the menu this morning. At least, not yet!
The Dish – A Parkes Icon
Before leaving town, we made a quick stop at the famous CSIRO Parkes Observatory, better known to many Australians as The Dish.
This enormous radio telescope became a household name thanks to the 2000 Australian film The Dish, which tells the story of the role played by the Parkes telescope in relaying television images of the Apollo 11 Moon landing in 1969.
The telescope is an impressive sight, and it’s amazing to think about the important scientific work that has taken place there. Standing beneath such a massive structure certainly puts things into perspective — and makes you realise just how small we are in the grand scheme of the universe.
With our photos taken and another destination ticked off the list, it was time to keep heading south.
Forbes – A Trip Through Automotive History
Our next stop was Forbes and the McFeeters Motor Museum.
This private collection showcases a wide range of vehicles spanning more than a century of motoring history, from the early 1900s through to 2015. For anyone who appreciates classic cars, it’s a fascinating place to spend some time.
There were plenty of interesting vehicles to check out, representing different eras of automotive design and engineering. It’s remarkable to see how much cars have changed over the decades, from the early machines that rattled along the roads to the more familiar vehicles of recent times.
There was, however, one slight drawback to our visit.
It was absolutely freezing inside!
The staff apologised and explained that the heating wasn’t working. Unfortunately, our visit had coincided with the sort of weather that makes you question why you ever left home in the first place.
We rugged up, wandered around for a while and enjoyed the collection, but eventually decided it was time to get moving again.
We’d come to admire the cars, not audition for a role as an extra in Ice Road Truckers!
Weethalle – Our First NSW Silo Art
Back on the road, we continued through the New South Wales countryside towards Weethalle, where we stopped to photograph our first silo art of the trip in NSW.
One of the things we love about exploring Australia’s silo art trails is that they give you a reason to visit regional towns you might otherwise pass straight through.
These enormous grain silos have been transformed into colourful outdoor galleries, celebrating local history, people, landscapes and wildlife. They’re impressive works of art, and seeing them in person is a very different experience from viewing a photo online.
Naturally, we had to stop and take a few photos. Our silo art collection was growing, and we’d only just started!
A Historic Stop at Gunbar
Continuing along our route, we stopped to photograph the old Gunbar Memorial Church.
We enjoy discovering these historic buildings along the way. They offer a glimpse into the lives of the people who settled and built communities across regional Australia, often in places that are now little more than a dot on the map.
It’s easy to concentrate on reaching the next destination, but some of the most interesting discoveries happen when you take the time to pull over and have a look around.
With the photos taken, we climbed back into the Mercedes and continued towards the Victorian border.
Euston – Time for a Pub Stop!
By the time we reached Euston, we decided it was time for a quick break at the Royal Hotel.
And what better excuse to stretch the legs than a cold beer at a country pub?
After a morning spent admiring radio telescopes, classic cars and silo art, a little pub time seemed entirely appropriate. We enjoyed a quick drink before climbing back into the car for the final leg into Mildura.
We were making good progress, and the prospect of settling into our accommodation for the evening was becoming increasingly appealing.
Mildura – Checking Into the Grand
Our destination for the night was the Quality Hotel Mildura Grand.
The Grand has a fascinating history and plenty of character, making it an interesting place to stay while exploring Mildura.
There was, however, one aspect of the accommodation that had us feeling a little uneasy.
The parking was off-site, across the road from the hotel.
Normally, parking isn’t something we give much thought to, but when you’re travelling with a vehicle full of luggage and touring gear, leaving it parked away from where you’re staying can make you a little nervous.
We weren’t particularly comfortable having the Mercedes sitting across the road overnight, out of sight from our accommodation. Still, we’d chosen the hotel, so we made the best of the situation and got ourselves settled in.
Dinner at The Corporate Moose
With the car parked and the bags sorted, it was time to investigate the local food scene.
We took a short walk to The Corporate Moose, an American-themed restaurant and bar in Mildura.
The venue had a fun atmosphere, and the food was great. It was exactly what we wanted after another day of exploring regional Australia.
We thoroughly enjoyed our meal, and we’d happily recommend giving The Corporate Moose a visit if you’re passing through Mildura and looking for somewhere to eat.
It’s always a bonus when you discover a restaurant that delivers a good meal without having to drive halfway across town to find it!
Day 3 – Another Day, Another Collection of Memories
Today’s journey had delivered a little bit of everything: a great breakfast and coffee in Parkes, an iconic Australian radio telescope, a collection of classic cars, our first NSW silo art, a historic country church and a well-earned pub stop.
We’d also made it to Mildura, ready to explore more of the region as our journey south continued.
The only real grumbles were the freezing museum and the off-site parking at our accommodation. Otherwise, it had been another enjoyable day on the road.
Tomorrow, we’d continue the adventure, with more Australian country towns, interesting sights and, no doubt, a few more opportunities for a pub stop along the way.
After all, touring is thirsty work!
