Stargazing and Wildlife Adventure

Please Note: The venue for this event has changed to Thomas Hogg Oval in Narrogin.

Enjoy a day of telescopes and wildlife as you take in the wonders of the beautiful Dryandra Woodland and the Wheatbelt town of Narrogin. Take a picnic to Dryandra Woodland and go for one of the many walks, then finish a perfect day with stargazing at the Thomas Hogg Oval in nearby Narrogin. Look through amazing telescopes to see marvellous Mars, Saturn, Jupiter and more. Enjoy a sausage sizzle at sunset before taking a tour of the constellations with Stargazers Club WA. Hear about WA’s incredible Square Kilometre Array Telescope and enjoy talks from the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research!

Before stargazing, take some of the wonderful walks around Dryandra Woodland. Keep your eyes open for local kangaroos and other wildlife, especially the State’s faunal emblem, the numbat, which is not a nocturnal animal so can be seen during the day!

Accommodation is filling fast, so book early. Local accommodation options are available via the Dryandra Country Visitor Centre in Narrogin. Or you can stay in Dryandra Woodland at either the Lions Dryandra Village, or at the fantastic camping facilities in the park.

Sausage sizzle and telescope viewing: A free sausage sizzle will be available at the Thomas Hogg Oval from 6.00pm. Head over to the telescopes at any time during the evening to take a closer look at our Universe and chat with local WA astronomy guides.

Telescope Viewing

Runs for the entire evening (7:30pm to 9:30pm)

Head over to the telescopes at any time during the evening to take a closer look at our Universe and chat with local WA astronomy guides.

Green Laser Pointer Tour of the Constellations

Sessions run at 7:30pm/8:15pm/9:00pm

A spectacular show that points out what constellations are up in the night sky. Tour includes stories of the stars and introductory astronomy. Choose the time that suits you.

Exploring the Hidden Universe

Sessions run at 7:30pm/8:15pm/9:00pm

Did you know WA is a world centre for radio astronomy? Astrophysicists from the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research are revealing the hidden universe using different wavelengths of light. Our researchers will explain the soon-to-be-built SKA (Square Kilometre Array) radio telescope and the what we expect to find with this powerful new instrument. Choose the time that suits you!

This event is supported by the WA Parks Foundation as part of Spring into Parks. The event will go ahead regardless of rain.

You can experience a nocturnal wildlife tour at the Barna Mia Centre within the park if you want to stay on for another day – as the tours are in the evening they will be at the same time as this stargazing event. All the more reason to stay an extra day at Dryandra or come back again in the future, to experience the magic of the Barna Mia Centre nocturnal wildlife tours. As numbers are limited, advance bookings are essential at Barna Mia.