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The Inland Astro-Trail (IAT) is a community-driven initiative to establish a world-class astro-tourism, education and cultural heritage road-trip connecting sites of astronomical and space-science significance across Southeastern Australia.
And we want to do this by 22 July 2028, when a total eclipse of the sun will darken the sky over much of our region.
The IAT’s designated routes link astro-sites in the coastal capitals to dozens of astronomy and space-themed destinations in our rural and remote Inland. Together, these sites reveal the richness of our astronomical heritage and the many ways we Australians have been understanding the Cosmos, and our place in it, over tens of thousands of years, and, of course, how we’re continuing to expand our knowledge and imaginings into the future.
Our short-term goal is to build a Community of IAT co-creators, collaborators and supporters who will ensure that … our Inland Astro-Trail is universally recognised as one of Earth’s most awe-inspiring roadtrips.
The project is led by writer Dr Merrill Findlay, who is visiting hundreds of sites along the IAT routes in her astro-van to photograph or video sites of astronomical significance, and to meet local knowledge-holders and invite them to share their site-specific experiences as blog posts on this site.
Above: Merrill and her astro-van, Photo by Sarha Hodge, Essjay Photography, Forbes, NSW, 19 February 2024.
The IAT Routes
The IAT’s interconnecting routes begin in Southeastern Australia’s capital cities, where the overwhelming majority of Australians live. They then take you deep into our rural and remote heartlands where, beyond the light-polluted cities, roadtrippers can experience the full glory of our wide inland vistas and dark inland nights, and learn more about ancestral skylore and the thrilling discoveries astronomers, astro-physicists and other knowledge-holders are making about celestial phenomena and our place in the Universe.
‘Above: Donna The Astronomer’ (aka Donna Burton) from Milroy Observatory, Coonabarabran, with Steve Taylor, Waiwan stargazer and a dancer with Dinawan’s Connection, at Condo SkyFest Miima Warrabinya, Wiradjuri Study Centre, Condobolin, NSW. Credits: Merrill Findlay, Condobolin, 19 October, 2019.
The IAT Destinations
Our diverse IAT destinations include ancient cultural sites, places of spiritual significance, world acclaimed astronomical observatories, private and public telescopes, dark sky parks and reserves, space and earth science centres, rocket launching pads, satellite tracking stations, archaeological sites, fossil grounds, mineral deposits, mining sites (because most of the elements in the universe were created in exploding stars), solar and wind farms, meterorites, atomic weapons testing facilities, sky-themed artworks, astro-festivals, and, in time, a few quirky campsites, cafes, bars and restaurants (our ‘astro-gastronomy’ sites) where travellers can experience the full awe, wonder and majesty of the Milky Way at night while enjoying delicious local food and beverages.
On a more serious note, we’re also introducing a new category of astro-sites we’ve labelled as Planetary Good. At these sites, astro-travellers will be able to pause, reflect and celebrate the efforts Inland communities are making to repair and heal some of the damage our species has inflicted upon our planet.
Building a Community of Supporters
Our short-term goal is to build a Community of IAT co-creators , collaborators and supporters who will ensure that, by 2028, our Inland Astro-Trail is universally recognised as one of Earth’s most awe-inspiring roadtrips.
Please click <Contact> if you’d like to be part of this emerging community.
Page created August 2024. Last updated 27 September, 2025.