Driving into Carnarvon for the first time, I spotted something peculiar on the horizon. A slanted dinner plate silhouette loomed over a hilltop.
While edging closer to this big dish off Western Australia's Coral Coast Highway, it soon became apparent that it was no novel ‘Big’ tourist attraction to lure hungry drivers to the town of 4900; rather, it was a satellite. And not just any satellite; this out-of-theworld fixture literally put Carnarvon on the world map.
The far-flung coastal hub, 896km north of Perth, played a large part in the broadcast of the first moon landing in 1969. Since then, the town with the odd outback skyline has continued to embrace its role in the historic feat for all humankind, weaving its space legacy with other eccentric country charms.
Planets, palms and plantations; a place like Carnarvon is a rarity. Just a few hours’ drive from Western Australia's famed aquatic playgrounds, Coral Bay (238km north) and Exmouth (364km north), Carnarvon offers different kinds of coastal fun beyond the deep sea, and that's what makes the town a stellar choice to venture.
