This site has the best horizon of ANY site that I've ever been to.
Totally unobstructed. East, South, West AND North!
I stayed all night with Oleg, and we saw Andromeda RISE out from the horizon. No waiting for it to clear trees. AND, it was the best view of M31 I've had in years that night. Dusty lanes could be seen that define the spiral arms, and its two satellite galaxies with huge extended halos around them. Spectacular.
Thanks to all of you who came on this leap of faith of my judgement,
. The fire was most welcome to warm up from the cold. Yes, the site is exposed, but hey, its a hill top! And to be able to see the Harbour Bridge from Mt Victoria, it is honestly unbelievable, but there it was! If you walk 50m further up the road you can also see Centre Point and the MLC buildings.
Wai Keen, that is a lovely photo of Mark & his scope!!!
Ivan, thank you so much for coming out on the site examination with me earlier that arvo. It made site selection a better one in having your thoughts & experience in the mix. Ta mate!
Ivan and I looked at four sites.
1, Point Pilcher first, and the tree line is too high.
2, The old Quarry, yes the gate is now locked because of tossers dumping rubbish there. It would have been a great site, surrounded by trees yes, but it is a large site and the expanse of sky is still very good, and the trees form a reasonable wind break. However, the surface is very sandy, with nasty gouges cutting through the site from rainwater, and really requires a 4WD to sure footedly negotiate, so we discounted it for our immediate purposes. Crown Lands I contacted about it, and the regulations regarding the Quarry meant we were free to use the site too!
NOTE, the gate is really just to stop cars. The "fence" on either side of it are just a few boulders so walking access to the Quarry is unhindered. So if you don't mind carrying your gear from the gate-side, the Quarry is still viable. Parking at the gate is plentiful. This site is certainly one to keep in mind if you don't mind carrying your gear,
3, Crown Lands suggested the third site we visited as a site also at Mt Vic and we could freely use. But this location was too sandy for sedans to negotiate, and some jerk had also dumped dozens of bags of fiberglass batts that were broken and exposed. So no need to think any more about that location.
4, The last site visited was Vic. Falls Rd. Wavy, the obs site is 3km from the Great Western Highway turnoff - same length of unsealed road as that leading to the Airfield, and in the same condition.
NOTE: This site is 1050m above sea level - it is VERY FREAKING COLD up there. If you do go to this location,
dress appropriately. The cold is unforgiving! Even in summer it can get cold here too at night.
The pic below is looking east. The peak in the picture is Mt Banks, named after Sir Joseph Banks. The lumpy profile of Mt Banks can be see from Sydney on those wonderful clear mornings. I have often seen Mt Banks from Sydney's Eastern Suburbs over the past 40 years, and had often wondered of its name and if it was just one peak or three separate places. It took this trip down Victoria Falls Rd to be enlightened on the topic. It is a really curious sensation to look back on Sydney from the other side of Mt Banks!
Something like looking back at yourself, but from the other side of the mirror. Mark's photo of the Bridge is actually a tiny, tiny section of the horizon. What can be seen of Sydney is just through a tiny gap to the right of the third and shortest 'lump' of Mt Banks and the bright yellow cliff face just off to the right of this 'lump'. Mark, thanks for posting the photo of the Bridge from the Obs site,
.
I've also attached a map showing the location of this site's location along Victoria Falls Rd. As a note, there is a fork in the road very soon after turning into Vic. Falls road - take the track to the right.
Alex.
PS - What should we call this location? I have two options, 1, "Vic Falls Obs Site" or 2, "Bald Ridge at Vic Falls Rd". The second option is more descriptive if you are looking for the site along the tree lined road.
Any other suggestions?
Should be ready for the next opportunity. 
