Astronomy holiday suggestions

[TheCrazedLog]

Hey all:

I'm looking at taking a week off with the wife somewhere in NSW. We've got a 10" dob as well as an ED80 EQ6 and a pair of binocs.

I'm looking for a reasonably dark site not too far from Sydney (say.... 4-5 hours drive?) where we can stay for a week or so and bring the scopes. A cabin somewhere'd be nice.

Anyone have any suggestions?

Ta

Anthony

[rustigsmed]

Coonabarabran

[el_draco]

Specifically, Warrumbungles N.P. or, if you can sneak it, Siding Springs Mtn :D

[rustigsmed]

yes, i probably should've been more specific! :thumbsup:

[julianh72]

Or drive a bit further north, up to Ballandean in the Granite Belt just across the Queensland border. Stay at Twin Star Guest House http://www.twinstarguesthouse.com/ and use his 18" telescope (or binocular telescopes) at night, and visit the local wineries in the day.

Bliss!

[seeker372011]

Should you decide to go to Coona, the warumbungles mountain lodge is very used to amateur astronomers

I have stayed there a couple of times

http://www.warrumbungle.com

You'll like the dark skies there and you are close enough to town

[Wavytone]

From the warrumbungles... Head north to visit this http://www.narrabri.atnf.csiro.au/public/

If you're taking your scope there's Mt Kaputar, where there are cabins at Dawson's Spring camping ground (it's on the top) or camp there (it's a very nice site). Call the NPWS office about the cabins.

[pmrid]

I took my caravan to the National Park there in March with a view to staying a while and setting up my scope. But the place was still looking terrible after the fires. It'll take a long time to recover I'm afraid. We didn't stay - kept going across to Mt Kaputar but the road to the Cut Rocks area was still closed. So we kept going to Bingara.
Peter