The best way to explore the city is using your Parkes car rental. Learn about the history of the town and area at the Henry Parkes Centre. After that, you can head to the Parkes Aviation Museum, which has loads of airplane exhibits and interesting tours. If you prefer the outdoors, Goobang National Park is less than a 1-hour drive from Parkes, and you can stop at the Australia Telescope National Facility on your way there.