16 A perfect country escape c o onabar Coonabarabran is widely regarded as the “Astronomy Capital of Australia” owing to its crystalclear, dark night skies. The town is home to the country’s largest optical astronomy research facility, Siding Spring Observatory, and is the gateway to the Warrumbungle National Park, Australia’s only Dark Sky Park. The area is ideal for stargazing with high altitude, low humidity, a non-turbulent atmosphere for viewing clarity, clean air and an average of 70 per cent clear night skies. Pronounced “koon-uh-barra-bran” (or Coona for short) one meaning of the name derives from Gamilaraay language as "inquisitive person", however, this has been widely debated. Established as a village in 1860, the town was an important stopover point for those travelling west to the coast. Not much has changed today, as Coonabarabran remains a vital connection for travellers, marking a halfway point from Melbourne to Brisbane along the Newell Highway, as well as being the start of the Oxley Highway. While Coonabarabran is the central hub of the Warrumbungle region, the country charm remains strong with beautiful shopfronts, numerous accommodation options and eateries.
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