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View Full Version here: : Pilliga Pottery 'Barkala Farm'


ourkind
19-02-2013, 06:25 AM
Where to start?

My wife 'Alison' and I took a weeks holiday and stayed on a farm under some of Australia best dark skys.

We stayed in wonderful quaint wooden house, originally built as a school for the children who grew up on this farm. (photograhed with the milky Way streaming from it's peaked roof)

Pilliga Pottery is located in the beautiful Pilliga forests just North of Coonabarabran on the Western Slopes of Central New South Wales - Australia.

They have all the facilities you can't live without and some of those that you can. But best of all they have pitch black surroundings, plenty of room to set up telescopes, go for bushwalks, bird watching, swimming, or just plain lazing around.

And of course only moments away from the Siding Springs Observatory and less than an hours drive to The Australian Telescope (Radio Telescopes).

I had originally planned to use my telescopes with a mount lent to me by Poita but it turned out that due to my naivity my C11 had a vixen dovetail and not a Losmandy style dovetail so in the end I couldn't use it with the mount I borrowed.

I spent my evenings wondering the properties paddocks and bush trails with my tripod and camera thinking 'what could I photograph next and taking in the surroundings'.

I finally found some time to read a book I'd been wanting to start for over a year 'The Black Hole War' by Leonard Susskind, a very interesting discussion and development on Black Hole Physics.

As for the Barkala Farm I definately plan on returning in August/September for our winter skys. Discussions with the owners resulted in the idea of making some permanent concrete slabs for future Amatuer Astronomers who visit to place their mounts on rather than plonking them on the dirt.

Plus they teach you how to spin that wheel, the pottery wheel that is, lots of fun, check it out!
http://www.pilligapottery.com.au/


High resolution versions are on my flickr page below.

More happy snaps coming soon :)

Thanks for looking :hi:

iceman
19-02-2013, 06:39 AM
Looks like a great spot for nightscapes! Would love to visit.
Great shots.

theodog
19-02-2013, 06:53 AM
Nice images Carlos. The Pilliga Pottery people are great people in a great area.



Everywhere out here is great for nightscapes (and lunarscapes:eyepop:) ATM.

Larryp
19-02-2013, 07:40 AM
Nice series of photos, Carlos!

ourkind
20-02-2013, 12:41 AM
Thanks Mike :) Definately recommend it. Great spot for star parties too, lots accomadation, big empty paddocks surrounded by low tree lines, and no lights!!



Thanks Jeff, without a doubt they are! Maria,her son, extended family and farm hands are all very charming and down to earth!

I would urge others thinking of visiting Coona to consider staying at the Pilliga Pottery Farm.

As for the rest of the folks in Coona, from the checkout attendants at Woolies, the staff at the library or the guy sipping his beer at the Royal Hotel, everyone was friendly and happy to have a chat.

Oh and I bought a little meteorite at the Crystal Kingdom, sad he's selling the business, wish to could buy it.



Thanks Laurie I'm glad you like them :)

Poita
20-02-2013, 03:17 AM
Great to see these images on 'the big screen'. Thanks for sharing them Carlos.

xstream
20-02-2013, 11:14 AM
Pilliga pottery/Barkala farm stay certainly is a great place to stay. There wood fired pizza's and coffee can also be highly recommended.
Anna and I will be there for a week next month with Rodstar, sally1jack and their families. We're more than looking forward to going back again. :thumbsup:

ourkind
20-02-2013, 11:19 AM
haha Maria mentioned there was a group of amateur astronomers that come overy so often with their GIANT telescopes as she descibed to me :) was that you?? She said she will never forget seeing Saturn through one of the telescopes!

I can definately vouch for those pizzas, I had one almost every day!! Tried some of their home cooking too, it was to die for!

xstream
20-02-2013, 12:00 PM
Yes, that probably would be us. :)

Rodstar
23-02-2013, 06:21 PM
Hi Carlos - that is us indeed! I have been twice so far - once last March with John, Anna, Phil & Family and JJJNettie, and then I went back in October last year just with my family. As John says, we will be back during March New Moon.

We love Maria - such a big heart, so welcoming.

There is a lot of love going on in that place. I have a theory - lots of fondling of clay during the day, and each other at night. LOL.

Davros
23-02-2013, 08:35 PM
That sixth image is fantastic

ourkind
24-02-2013, 02:04 AM
LOL! Eagle Valley Cottage is practically finished now, running water and electricity, sleeps 14. Such a good spot for a family getaway and star gazing.

Please give her my regards when you see her next!


Thanks Lauren! It's such a cool sculpture it stands almost 4 metres tall, very abstract, Gaudi'esk.

jjjnettie
25-02-2013, 12:41 AM
:) I thoroughly enjoyed my time there.
We stayed in the school house too.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQEL0qWc4yg

ourkind
25-02-2013, 12:58 AM
Very cool timelapse Jeanette! Liked and Favourited :thumbsup: It's only been a week since I got back and I already miss it so much. So much so that I was just in the middle of editing another photograph I took of the Old Schoolhouse :)

Carmen4594
16-03-2013, 04:38 PM
Wow Carlos! They are beautiful photos.

That does look like a great place for dark skies, i'll have to try and get over there too, before it's all booked out.

Great timelapse Jeanette.

The house looks like a really place to hang out too.

Carmen

ourkind
18-03-2013, 02:41 PM
Thank you Carmen :) I'm glad you liked them!