Quote:
Originally Posted by Allan_L
Greetings from out west.
Night 1 Broke
2 Coolah
3 Lake Keepit
4 Glen Riddle.
Excellent conditions so far  |
It was good to do a comparison of these 4 sites under similar conditions on 4 consecutive nights.
Broke was good and reasonably dark, but there are plenty of trees around to restrict your horizons. However, the living conditions were good, with flush toilets, 3 day free camping, and general store across the road.
Coolah was darker, but I was restricted to the van park for camping and the rates have gone up to $33 a night for a powered site. The elderly locals retire early after happy hour, but there are not many places to escape the mandatory van park lights.
Lake Keepit this was my first time.
The western shore is very commercial. But the Eastern shore is VERY Bush Camping like. Acres of free space, mainly treeless (partly due to the low levels of the dam). For $16 you get isolation. With the option to travel over to the Western side to use their Hot Showers, Dump Point, and other facilities. I liked this place. Enough water still in the dam for swimming fishing boating and water skiing.
The night promised to be great but
3 light domes (SE; E; & NE) are noticeable on the horizons. Lights from the Western (civilized) side were obvious but could be blocked out by careful placement of vans etc.
But the worst for me was 3 big yellow and 1 white light due north probably only a kilometre or two distant. Possibly the Dept of Sport and Recreation facility just north of Lake Keepit.
Maybe these can be shielded out too. Sky was good and dark and may be a potential interest for the future.
Glen Riddle (near Barraba) (upper reaches of Split Rock Dam)
Water level nil in some places, ankle deep in others. It would be good to see it when it is fuller. FREE Camping, well maintained long drop toilets, non potable water on tap (good for showers) council mows the area. Gently sloping in places, very few trees, usually a few other campers well spread out. Only 14k to shops and good town facilities.
I had forgotten how GOOD the nights are here. DARK does not begin to describe it. This was by Far and Away the best site for dark skies, good seeing. No noticeable light domes that I can recall. It was the best by far.
This has to be a regular on our calendar. Especially in cooler months.
(Oh! One thing. There were a few cows around,but they are far less assertive than the Bretti Breed, and shy away from humans, and really caused no concern to us or any other campers as far as I could see).
I took a few daytime photos of Lake Keepit and will post them once I shrink them down to 200k. Or I can email to anyone on request.
[After Glen Riddle, we travelled to Moree and spent a couple of days soaking in their thermal pools. And travelled home vial Wallabadah "Free"* Camp (and First Fleet memorial site - very interesting) (*they request a $10 donation) pleasant big site, but the facilities are in need of repair/attention - damned vandals.
