'Sun and Stars Festival' to be held in Yanchep National Park

19/2/97

Star-gazing, bushwalking trails, market stalls, a bush band, native animals, aerial water bomber displays, rowing, golfing and exploring mystical crystals caves will all be on offer at Yanchep National Park on Saturday, March 1.

The Perth Observatory and Yanchep National Park have joined together to host the 'Sun and Stars Festival', offering people the opportunity to enjoy Yanchep's many activities under the sun and view stars and galaxies at night.

Environment Minister Cheryl Edwardes said the festival was an opportunity to showcase the major improvements undertaken at the park and give people the opportunity to utilise the services offered by the Perth Observatory.

"Yanchep National Park has undergone a major improvement program aimed at providing better educational, informative and recreational facilities for visitors," she said.

"The Perth Observatory likewise has embarked on a program aimed at taking its services out to Perth suburbs and Western Australia's regional areas.

"The festival day means people will be able to relax and enjoy the end of summer and experience all that Yanchep National Park and the Perth Observatory has to offer."

Festivities will be begin at noon with arts and crafts stalls and recreational activities on offer. CALM's own aerial fire-fighting planes will do a fly-by of Loch McNess during the afternoon. Enjoy entertainment by the infamous Bizircucus group and the 'Fairies, Pixies and Pirates' group. Browse through market stalls, view native animals and enjoy twilight tours of Loch McNess. The Southern Cross Bush Band will strike up at 5.30 pm while people settle down for an evening picnic.

The Perth Observatory will set up its telescopes within the park and be available to point out features of the night sky and answer questions from 8 pm.

Mrs Edwardes said people could expect to see the craters and plains of the moon, Jupiter (the giant gas planet), Saturn (the ring planet) and the red giant star Antares when viewing the night sky.

Media contact: Diana Russell Coote 421 7777