Going to NZ/ZA/AU for (astro) holiday ?

[skysurfer]

I started a topic last month about New Zealand and got some nice reactions. But, considering astronomical observing, NZ is not that suitable as ZA (South Africa) is where I went the past 4 times. But we still think to go somewhere else, and Australia might be a better option than NZ. Then I think about WA (around Perth), or northern SA or southern NT (Alice Springs environs) or NW NSW / SW Qld, where the climate is like the Western Cape, South Africa, in late summer. These areas should have many cloudless nights (I was there in 1988).
Alice Sprigs is however a lot of traveling as there are no direct international flights to ASP, but long distance travel by Greyhound bus is OK, while for shorter distances I want to use a rental car. Adelaide, Sydney and Perth are all three reachable from Europe by one-stop with Emirates or Etihad with reasonable ticket prices and short transfer, just like I did to Capetown. Stay will be in B&Bs / guesthouses, easily to be found on booking.com / airbnb.
I bring an ED110 + mount + astrophotography gear like I did to South Africa.

Does somebody know nice places and possible starparties (late summer 2017) in these places ?

[Kunama]

Tak-Attack 2017 tentatively New moon Feb24/25th 2017. :D

[OzEclipse]

The bureau of meteorology has monthly cloudyness charts

http://www.bom.gov.au/jsp/ncc/climate_averages/cloud/index.jsp?maptype=3&period=mar#maps

Lowest mean cloud amount at that time of year is central east South Australia. The Flinders Ranges lie in this region. They are relatively expensive to stay in but have great skies.
Wilpena Pound (Flinders Ranges)
Arkaroola ( Gammon Ranges )

Cheaper would be to find a small motel or farmstay in or near small towns in eastern South Australia such as Hawker. Depending how long you stay, it might pay to hire a camper so you can stay in National Parks depending on approval from the "CEO."

Joe

[ausastronomer]

Hi Skysurfer,

I don't think you could do any better than attending the Autumn Ozsky 2017 event. (http://www.ozsky.org/)This will be held a little later in 2017 than normal, in April 2017. This isn't a public event, as such, in that it is not open to locals apart from the volunteers. It is a private event put on by 3RF Australia for any overseas astronomers wishing to attend. (http://www.3rf.com.au/) It has been running every Autumn for over 10 years with a Spring event (October/November) also running every second year, although we are now going to run this annually also. We usually have about 30 to 36 observers attending predominantly from the USA and Canada but from many other countries also, including Asia, the UK, Russia and Germany. In addition to the observing with some very experienced observers, both the volunteers and several of the repeat overseas astronomers, you also get to do a number of behind the scenes tours of facilities like the Anglo Australian Telescope at Siding Springs and the Compact Array at Narrabri, which are not available to the general public.

We also provide all the equipment (and take it to the venue) which this year included:-

1 x 30"/F4.6 SDM
2 x 25"/F5 Obsessions
4 x 18"/F4.5 Obsessions
1 x 18"/F4.2 Obsession Ultracompact
1 x 16"/F4 SDM
1 x 14"/F4.5 SDM
1 x Takahashi TSA 120
25 x 150 Fujinon Binoculars on a motorised starchair
12"/F5 Binocular Telescope.

You can read some of the testimonials on the testimonials page. Any of these people would be happy for you to contact them and discuss the event with them. Most people who attend rate it the best star party they have ever attended anywhere in the world and just about all come back for seconds. Some have been up to 5 times, including Dave Kriege from Obsession Telescopes..
(http://www.ozsky.org/Testimonials.asp)
You could also contact Alan Dyer a renowned astronomy author and a contributing editor to Sky & Telescope Magazine. Alan has attended about 5 OZSKY events in the last 8 years. (amazingsky@icloud.com)

Alan also has some excellent images from OZSKY 2014 on his website.
(http://amazingsky.photoshelter.com/gallery/2014-Australia/G0000VLW6ohaOQvM/C0000Igzeh9X1c_o)

Alan also took some excellent images at this years OZSKY event but that only finished 2 weeks ago and he hasn't got them up on his website yet.

Don't hesitate to contact me for more information.

Cheers,
John B