Welcome to Ice in Space Kaye!
As above - but also keep an eye on the Events forum closer to New Moon and you'll see smaller group events pop up. You'll find any of the folk in here are friendly and welcoming and happy to give you the guided tour
Be prepared to go a couple of hours out of Sydney for a dark sky, as the light pollution extends quite a long way.
Also be prepared to stay up late, as around this time of year the Magellanic Clouds will be high early on and the good stuff around Carina, Crux etc rises later on.
When it comes to wilderness and wild life, never go alone. Much like Canada, places get remote here fast and in the event of emergency you don't want to be without help. To be fair, California has its fair share of nasty snakes and spiders, and Canada has bears
My rule of thumb (and Aussies will no doubt laugh at this) is not to go knocking on doors where snakes live...that means walking through long grass (for me long means above ankle height!) or bushes, loitering under trees, etc. And so long as you don't turn your back on them, you should be OK with the drop bears
indeed to IIS.
