NACAA 2020 and Parkes

[rogerg]

Hi all,

I'm considering if my family and I will go to NACAA 2020. There is a decision to be made between me going on my own or making it a larger family holiday.

Considering the option of my family coming (wife and 4 year old kid), they will need things to do during the four days I'm at NACAA. Looking on google maps and tripadvisor I'm not finding a lot of activities in Parkes or within say 1 hour drive that might keep them entertained. I'm guessing the area is rural agriculture and so basically farms and farming communities?

Nature, photography, destination cafe or kids activities, art things ... are the kinds of things I'm thinking of.

Thanks,
Roger.

[Wavytone]

You guessed correctly.

... Western Plains Zoo is at Dubbo... well worth seeing,
... Age of Fishes museum at Canowindra if keen on fossils,
... the area around Orange is a cool-climate wine district (wife might enjoy that but children won’t)...

To make matters worse most of NSW is badly affected by drought so you will see a lot of bare dry dirt, rather than green.

[AstralTraveller]

Hi Roger,


Thanks for your inquiry and apologies for my tardiness in replying. It's nice to know there will be someone their apart from the organisers :). I've asked the program committee about entertainment for spouses and families accompanying attendees and asked them to raise it with the local organising committee. There has been a suggestion that we could screen movies in the evening (eg The Dish, Apollo 13) but I'm not sure this meets your needs. I assume you have checked the local tourist web sites?


https://www.visitnsw.com/destinations/country-nsw/parkes-area/attractions
https://www.tripadvisor.com.au/Attractions-g255327-Activities-Parkes_New_South_Wales.html


Apart from that the only other thing I know is that the Van Nations are also on in Parkes over Easter 2020. This is more the 'show and shine' crowd than the 'how big is your donk' crowd. I'm sure there will be the hot V8 shaggin' wagins but also stock kombis and bedford campers etc. We were concerned that they would flood all the accommodation in town but it seems most of their attendees will camp with their vehicles and there will be enough motels and hotels for everyone.


http://www.vannationals.com.au/


cheers,
David


PS there is the dish ;)

[rogerg]

Hi David,

Thanks for taking the time to reply.

Yes The Dish is an obvious :) but will only do so much and I'm wondering if the family might come to the BBQ at the Dish anyway, if they are to be there. I vaguely recall when last at NACAA at Canberra my wife came on the excursion to Mt Stromlo.

Thinking about the Movies, that wouldn't suit my family as it's more daytime activities we would be after for while I'm at NACAA and in the evenings I would catch up with them, and evening movies (well, most movies in general irrespective of time) don't suit my 4 year old.

I'm not expecting the organising committee to come up with entertainment specifically, it is more a case of sourcing what there is in the area and assessing if that will suit, and having to ask about that as I'm not familiar with the area :) .

I have had a look through those websites thanks, but will have to do some more digging.

Thanks again.

Regards,
Roger.