Best Dark Skies in NSW?

[Peter]

Hi all,

I wonder if members here could give an opionion on where are some of the best dark skies in NSW, both North and South of Sydney?

Thanks,
Peter

[xelasnave]

Welcome Peter. Cant help you with South of but to the North take the turn off at Mt White drive down the road to Wendoree Park find a spot before you start down to the river and you should get relatively dark views to the Northwest. Hope that will work for you.
Alex

[iceman]

Hi Peter.

How far do you want to drive?

We go to Kulnura (1hr north of sydney) for new moon meets, and while it's not spectacularly dark, for the convenience and company it's great. And it's significantly darker than anywhere around Sydney.

Go further northwest, and anywhere up in the hunter valley area will be very dark. Lostock, where IISAC2007 (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/iisac) is held, is very dark! And it's only 3.5hrs from Sydney.

SPSP is held at Ilford, 3-4 hrs West of Sydney, and that's very dark too.

South, I don't know :)

btw :welcome: to the site! How did you hear about us?

[Peter]

Thanks for the advice guys. And thank you for the welcome.

> How did you hear about us?

Thanks to google :) Was searching for astro information in Aus and was very happy to find this forum. I've been happily browsing the forums since then.

[ving]

not interested in going west young man? not trying to steal you away from mike ;), but Macarthur Astro Soc has 2 dark sites, one at the oaks (15 mins out past camden) and one in balangalo forest about 1.5 hours from campbelltown. all you have to do is join and the sky is yours :D

[sejanus]

hi,

Down South past wollongong, turn right at albion park head up macquarie pass and stop up the top. incredible late at night with a clear sky.

[ving]

that at robertson sejanus?

[sejanus]

very close to robertson, about 5-7km away the spot i have in my head

basically head up the pass, and just after you hit the top theres a straightish bit of road, pull over there on the side. like looking at black velvet.

[ving]

i have a freind in robertson... he gets great views too :)

welcome abaord sejanus :)

[netwolf]

I am also looking for a site is there anything north west, up near middle dural or futher out toward wisemens ferry?

[Omaroo]

The Snowies. High elevation (1,000m and up), cold conditions (fewer updrafts caused by rising air from warm ground at night) and no lights or people for miles...and miles.....

[JohnG]

Hey Omaroo

If you want some really dark skies in the Snowies, go up to Mount Selwyn then travel about 3-4 Ks south along the Mt Selwyn-Kings Cross-Cabrumurra Rd to the old township of Kings Cross, it is on top of a rise with incrediable views for 360 degrees, if you pull off the Tumut Ponds Fire Trail about 100 meters from where it intersects there are some nice observing locations with plenty of flat ground.

Used it a lot.

Cheers

JohnG

OOPS: Forgot to mention, it is only available in summer, the road is closed by snow in the winter.

[Omaroo]

Yep - I know where you're referring to John, and I agree - it'd be awesome. I wouldn't mind staying in Cabrumurra for a while because it's also on a good spot. Only problem is that you can't.

I gues that's why I like the Cooma area so much - it's below the normal snow line and accessible because of that. We have hills around us that go to 1,200 metres, which is still pretty good as far as being able to see 360 degrees to the horizon.

Cheers - and thanks!
Chris

[JohnG]

All my contacts at Cabramurra have long since retired (Like me) so I can't help you with that one, Lived in Adaminaby and Cooma for about 14 years, can vouch for the skies.

May get up that way again soon.

Cheers

JohnG

[xstream]

Kiandra would also be worth trying, plenty of nice flat ground for camping and observing through that high plains area.