Planetary Imaging Camp - Nambucca, end June 2008

[bird (Anthony Wesley)]

Update:

I'm back home now, got in about an hour ago. I went back up to Nambucca Heads yesterday to have a second look at that venue now that I'd seen all the other options. There was only one other place that was close to scoring the same on features, but in the end the Nambucca Heads location just came out on top in all categories:

- Cabins: all nice, well located on the top of the headland. Sleep up to 5 per cabin, 6 cabins available, located together away from other campers.

- Trees: none that will get in the way. Low trees and scrub for good windbreak.

- Open space: each cabin has open grass (flat) and there's a large open (flat) area close by within reach of power.

- Wind protection: The grass areas are well protected from the direct wind.

- Cost: As low as any other place I could find (see below).

-Owners: friendly and interested in what we're doing

- Privacy: good, the park is at the end of the road, boom gates at entry, the cabins are at the far end of the park. Should be very little passing traffic.

- Location: On top of the headland, about 50m above the ocean. Can stand there and look down at the beach and water. Bushland in all directions.

Overall rating: Perfect.

Now we have to determine numbers and how much accommodation to book. 6 cabins are available - ideally I'd like to book them all so we have that end of the park all to ourselves :-) But realistically we might only have enough to book 2 or 3 over that period.

I'd suggest that people bringing families to mix holiday with astronomy pleasure will likely want to have a cabin to themselves, and people travelling alone should consider sharing with other people to keep the costs down. Each cabin has a master bedroom and separate bunk beds.

I'd like to make the booking at the end of January, so lets try to get the word out to everyone we think might be interested. I'll email everyone I know including some overseas people that have expressed interest.

Check out the link near the top of the thread to the tourist park for prices. The system I'll use will be to share the cost of adults evenly among those staying each night, and the cost of children is charged to their parents.

eg 2 adults is $65, so that's $37.50ea per night, 3 adults would be $75, ie $25 per head.

Children under 5 stay for free, otherwise $5 per night each.

If we book for a week we pay only for 6 days. For that reason I'll book for 2 weeks so we pay for 12 days.

For people with families booking out a cabin to themselves it's easy to calcuate the cost, but for people sharing it's not so easy as it depends on who is there on each night of the camp. I'll try and get everyone to commit to exact dates as soon as possible so we can sort out who will be in which cabin.

At this stage the camp will be from Saturday June 21 to Friday July 4 inclusive. That makes exactly 2 weeks, of which we pay for 12 days and get 2 days free.

These dates can change up to the time that we book. School holidays start on July 5, the day after the end of the camp. I'd hope to have very few campers there during the camp (other than us).

All in all Sounds pretty darn good to me :-)

cheers, Bird

[bird (Anthony Wesley)]

Paul, you'll have to edit your opening post to update it with these details as we go along :-)

cheers, Bird

[iceman (Mike)]

Anthony, the place looks perfect. I'll only be going for 1 week, and will book out a cabin for my family.

I'm not sure which week we'll go yet - i'll check the moon phase and get back to you.

[bird (Anthony Wesley)]

Update: Only one week until bookings for cabins are made, so if you haven't already put your name down and are thinking of coming along, now is the time to speak up!

The camp is open to anyone who's keen on one or two weeks of Jupiter imaging in possibly the best location in Australia, up on a headland overlooking the pacific ocean.

Let me know asap if you'd like to come along so I can make allowances in the cabin bookings.

regards, Bird

[iceman (Mike)]

Hi Anthony.

I'll be coming on my own now, so will need to think about accommodation options again.
Having a look at their website, the powered campsites are only $110/week, as opposed to $390/week - quite a difference when i'll be on my own.

How far are the campsites from the cabins? Are there trees near the campsites, or are they out in the open like the cabins?

Although a cabin, nice and warm, with TV/DVD/cooking etc, will be much more comfortable than a lonely tent! hmm, will have to see how much i'm prepared to spend.

As for the dates, I'll probably look for coming later in the 2 weeks, though not right up until the 4th because it's my wife's birthday on the 5th, and we'll hopefully be heading to Parkes for the CWAS Astrofest. The moon is in a waxing phase after the 20th or so, and would to take advantage of the darker skies later in its phase.

[bird (Anthony Wesley)]

Mike, I've email back with some details - it's about a 200m walk from the tent sites up hill to the cabins, not sure if thats too far for you or not... my memory is that the campsites have lots of trees so I doubt you could set up down where you'd be camping.

If the weather is nice then camping would be a nice way to go, providing you can sleep in a tent during the daytime :-)

cheers, Bird

[iceman (Mike)]

Thanks, Anthony. As per email, upon reflection I think a cabin is the way to go. Air-conditioned, easier to sleep during the day, and I wouldn't be able to pitch a tent near the cabins.

I'll either save up for the cost of the cabins, or bunk with someone if any others are planning on coming.

[bird (Anthony Wesley)]

I've made the first round of bookings - at this stage I've booked a cabin for 2 weeks for myself and a cabin for one week for Paul (Rumples). Mike and I will be sharing a cabin for the second week.

Each cabin costs $325 per week for 2 people, ie either $46 per night if you have one to yourself or $23 a night each if you're sharing - you're not going to find a better deal that that!

There are still cabins available in the group (6 cabins) at the top of the headland, but the park operators tell me that they usually book out a couple of months in advance so if you're still pondering coming along then please let me know asap.

cheers, Bird

[iceman (Mike)]

Just an update on this:

Place we're staying: http://www.headlandtouristpark.com.au

At this stage, the only people going are Anthony and myself.

Anthony is there for 2 weeks from the 21st June and I'll be there for about a week starting from the 28th June.

If anyone else would like to come along, please post here! Not sure what accommodation you'll be able to get but at this time of year i'd imagine there'll still be a lot of cabins free.

There'll be 240v power available as well.

Hope to see you there!

[Outbackmanyep]

Hi Iceman, i should be able to make it, might just make it a day trip from home i think, would be good to come and catch up. I won't be needing accommodation.

Cheers!

[iceman (Mike)]

Sounds great, Chris!

[bird (Anthony Wesley)]

Chris, that sounds great - look forward to catching up.

cheers, Bird

[AlexN]

i'm going to find out how far it is from me when i get home then have a think about it.. If its not mega long distance then it could be on the cards

[matt]

Hi Alex.

It's about 7.5 hours from Brisvegas.

That's according to my TomTom sat-nav unit.

So it all depends on what you consider to be a 'long' distance.

I guess it's all subjective

[iceman (Mike)]

It's about 5.5 hours for me to get there, and about 8.5 for Anthony, so 7.5 is nothing

[AlexN]

7.5 hrs isn't too bad.. I.ll have to have a look see at what else is on... Should be ok just depends on work..

[schrodingersCat]

wow your going to Nambucca Heads!!!
I was there about a week ago. I grew up In Nambucca Heads and my parents live right there in Hyland Park. Its a great spot! I wasnt really following this so Im not sure whats being organised here, but people are going there to image Jupiter I take it?


edit: Ill be going to Nambucca Heads at some point next month, I go there regularly(its only 4 hours or so from Newcastle, but the roadworks between Karuah and Tea Gardens, and again near Kempsey are a pain at the moment) so If its an open invitation Id love to come and see what everyones up to

[iceman (Mike)]

It's an open invitation, you're welcome to come along!

[AlexN]

looks like I'll be taking the friday off work, heading down friday morning, should be there in time to set up and get a feed in.. stay friday/saturday night, come home sunday..

[iceman (Mike)]

Just another reminder about this - not long now!

I've measured my little Hyundai and my 12" tube should just fit - so it'll be jam packed with gear. Cheaper than hiring a station wagon for the week!

Let's hope this current weather pattern clears by then!