Below please find some practical advice for planning your visit -
The Cobar Sound Chapel is located about 1.5km west of the town of Cobar in Outback New South Wales, Australia (see Google Maps below).
It is at a driving distance of about 710 km from Sydney, and about 820 km from Melbourne. This can be done either in a solid one-day drive, or else the trip can be broken up into a very pleasant two days. If you are driving from Sydney, there are a number of interesting towns along the way, such as Mudgee, Orange or Dubbo, lending themselves well for an overnight stay. Coming from Melbourne, Griffith NSW is about halfway and is a great option for an overnight stay as well.
Alternatively, there are also direct Sydney-Cobar flights with FlyPelican Airlines several times a week.
Cobar itself has a number of good accommodation options (although a bit scarce at certain times of the year, so do not book too late). It also boasts great pub dinners and the odd excellent cafe.
Please note -
- There are no toilet facilities at the Chapel, so use facilities in town before heading up.
- There is no drinkable water on site.
- The car park area is clearly signposted and is located about 30 metres east of the Chapel. Kindly do not park right in front of the Chapel.
- Disabled patrons on the other hand should feel free to ignore the above parking instructions, and can drive or be driven right up to the flat concrete ramp outside the Chapel gates.
- Brown snakes (highly poisonous!) are rare, but can be present in the general area. Keep your eyes open at all times. Brown snakes will not attack people unprovoked, just do not step on them or frighten them.
- There are no lights outside the Chapel at night. Bring your own torch (such as the one on your phone for ex.).
- Access to the Cobar Sound Chapel is free of charge. The Chapel is locked by two gates which allow the casual visitor without a key to peep into its interior and hear some of the sound emanating from the artwork. To gain access to the inside, visitors should pick up the key from the Great Cobar Museum located about 2 km from the Chapel at the Eastern end of Marshall Street in the centre of Cobar. If you are coming from far away, we recommend you contact the Museum ahead of time to reserve the key for your chosen day and time, in order to make sure you don't miss out - phone 02 6836 5806 or email [email protected]. Visitors will be required to leave proof of ID as well as a $100 cash bond, which will be fully refunded to you upon returning the key. Please note you must return the key yourself. Do not hand the key to third parties, or you will not get your bond back.
- During more rainy periods, we thank you for being considerate and not leaving the cushions on the central seat, where they will be drenched by rain, but for putting them against the wall out of the rain.
The opening hours of the Museum are
Mon-Fri, 8.30 am - 4.30 pm
Sat-Sun, 9.00 am - 4.30 pm