Suggestions for getting away to dark spot from Sunshine Coast

[batema]

Hi,


A friend and I are looking at packing my caravan up with generator and imaging equipment and heading away for about 4 nights to somewhere that is out of the way and dark. We plan on the new moon coming up.

We are thinking of driving maybe 5 hours away from Sunshine Coast and literally going remote with no people, setting up the van and our gear and using the generator image for 4 nights.

Its seems like a ridiculous question but maybe someone has done something similar and could suggest some places.

Thanks

Mark B

[LewisM]

Closest I know of within your radius would be out past Kilkivan, on the road to Tansey. You get SOME light cone from Kilkivan and Kingaroy, but not too bad.

I used to go on the family farm outside Monto - half way to Cania Dam/National Park. So dark you can't see your hand in front of your face, and you can hear people talking kilometers away (quite literally!). REALLY dark. Even my wife, when I first took her out there said she'd NEVER seen anything like it. You can see a LOT of DSO's naked eye out there. It's a 4.5 hr drive from maroochydore, so add 15 minutes from Sippy Downs lol.

[glend]

Why not go to the Qld Astrofest, during the August New Moon. It's a dark site, plenty of other IIS members going, plenty of room for caravans, imaging area, heck you can even get meals cooked for you if you want. It's within your desired distance.

http://www.qldastrofest.org.au

Here is the map

http://www.qldastrofest.org.au/index.php/astrofest/192-getting-there

Google maps says it's 127kms West of you, so a drive of less than two hours.

There is a cost.

[Londoner]

Mate of mine has recently bought a thousand acre block 25k NE of Stanthorpe. It's over 750m high up on granite belt with no light pollution.
PM me for his details if you're interested.

Mick

[AussieTrooper]

Go west young man.

Stanthorpe is good. The only thing to be wary of is that it's one of the windiest parts of Qld. Pick your day and you'll be fine though.

[alan meehan]

hey Mark are you going to astrofest this year

[Kathleen]

Ho

[Kathleen]

Where is it?

[Kathleen]

How much?