Pack your Blue Suede Shoes for a Road Trip to the Parkes Elvis Festival

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Start the New Year with an incredible festival experience at the Parkes Elvis Festival – a truly unique regional event that celebrates the life of “the King.

In the second week of January each year, this Central NSW festival celebrates the life and music of Elvis Presley, the date coinciding with his January birthday. Five days of fun offer more than 150 events with plenty of hip-swivelling, sequins and Elvis impersonators.

Now in its 24^th year, the festival attracts international and national Elvis tribute artists as well as more than 20,000 visitors. Other highlights include concerts, the famous street parade, the Elvis gospel service, the renewal of vows ceremony, and Elvis and Priscilla look-a-like competitions. And don’t miss Elvis sound-a-like competitions, rock ‘n’ roll dancing, a poets’ breakfast, and the ever-popular busking competition.

"The journey is just as important as the destination, and with an itinerary showcasing the World-Heritage Blue Mountains, food and wine in Orange, and the world-famous ‘Dish’ once you arrive in Parkes, there’s no better time to enjoy a road trip through regional NSW,” says Sandra Chipchase, Destination NSW CEO.

Here she offers suggestions for a road trip from Sydney to Parkes:

1.   Head west on the Great Western Highway out of Sydney. Within an hour, you’ll be climbing into the Blue Mountains, inscribed on the World Heritage List as a place of outstanding universal value. Take in the views of the Three Sisters pinnacles and the majestic Jamison Valley from Echo Point. Visit Scenic World and ride the skyway suspended 270 metres above ancient ravines and waterfalls or the world’s steepest passenger railway that descends to the rainforest on the valley floor

2.   Stop in Bathurst in time for lunch at Cobblestone Land Restaurant and to take in the sights. In the heart of the city is Machattie Park with many monuments from the late 1800s including King’s Parade, the War Memorial Carillon, and the landmark Court House that now houses the Bathurst District Historical Museum.  Home to the famous Bathurst 1000, pay a visit to Mount Panorama for a lap on the famous track and visit the National Motor Racing Museum

3.   Bathurst to Orange direct is just a 45-minute drive, but take a detour through Millthorpe, a picturesque historic village enjoying a renaissance with great food and wine experiences, antiques, galleries and boutiques

4.   Park up for the day and stay overnight in Orange to enjoy the incredible food and wine this bustling city has to offer. With 13 wineries, 34 cellar doors and amazing local fare, Orange is a food and wine lover’s paradise.  Stop by the pretty picnic and Recreation Park at Lake Canobolas, then travel on up to the summit of Mount Canobolas.  Enjoy an evening meal at Racine or Lolli and sleep the night in style at the boutique hotel de Russie Suites, Orange

5.   Start the day right with a caffeine fix in Orange, which has a lively and innovative coffee and cafe culture.  The Factory Expresso is guaranteed to put a swing in your step before you hit the road to Parkes

6.   No trip to Central NSW is complete without a visit to the world-famous ‘Dish’’ located 20 kilometres north of Parkes off the Newell Highway, this impressive structure is the perfect Central NSW selfie spot, before enjoying a coffee at Dish Café at the base.  Welcome to the ‘Elvis capital’ of Australia!

Held in Parkes from 6-10 January 2016, the Central NSW festival celebrates the life and music of Elvis Presley over five days. With an abundance of fresh local produce, charming historic villages and stunning countryside – Central NSW is the perfect locale for a rock ‘n’ roll road trip to experience the one and only Parkes Elvis Festival this January.

For more information please visit www.visitnsw.com

Alison Carmichael-Rulten

Hi, I'm Alison Carmichael-Rulten the Publisher of Vacation Goddess, and I want to thank you for visiting Vacation Goddess – the one-stop shop for insider travel news, deals, 'Guest Goddes's stories, and of course our personal travel experiences. Plus, as we love to cruise we also try to find some amazing cruise deals for you too. From luxury, longer escapes right down to weekend breaks we know you love everything travel related. Here at Vacation Goddess, we hope you will find loads of inspiration and of course some amazing travel deals. We love a holiday at a great price and that's why we seek out what we call 'Champagne Experiences, on a Sparkling Wine Budget.' We constantly showcase a variety of special deals and offers and from time to time some very special competitions. Our recent 'Win a Trip to London' competition received over 24,00 entries. We invite you to visit us often, join our mailing list and please tell your friends