The Parkes Shire is located on the western Edge of the Great Dividing Range within the Central Slopes and Plains region of New South Wales. It covers an area of 5919 square kilometres with the town of Parkes being the major urban centre, followed by Peak Hill. The other major centres are Bogan Gate, Trundle & Tullamore in the west of the Shire.

The topography in the shire can generally be described as flat to undulating. The area forms part of the catchment for two main river systems, the Bogan and the Lachlan Rivers, which are major tributaries of the Murray-Darling Basin System. Most watercourses in the Shire are not permanent, being reduced to a series of waterholes for the majority of the year.

Rainfall varies across the Shire with the eastern part receiving slightly more than the western part. From the rainfall data gathered over the past 104 years the average rainfall per annum is 588 mm.

The shire can experience climatic extremes with typically hot conditions in the summer months and regular frosts in the cool winter months with occasional snow on higher ground. The average daily temperature for the summer is 30 degrees Celsius and in winter 16 degrees Celsius.

Parkes is predominately a Rural area, however in recents years mining for both, gold & copper has had a  a significant influence on the districts prosperity. At certain times of the year it is possible for tourists to have their own  mining experience by visiting an open cut mine.