What's it like around Margaret River?

[koputai]

Hi Folks,

We're thinking of spending some time around Margaret River, WA.

Is anyone here from that area? What are the skies like? Is there a local observatory?

Thanks,
Jason.

[raymo]

Hi Jason, I live in Margs as it is known. Where to start?
It is a small town of a bit over 8,000 people. The weather is very changeable, rather like Melbourne. We do however get a period of around 8 or 9 weeks in mid Summer when the weather is nice[28-34degs], and the night skies are pretty clear. Bortle 2/3 once a little out of town, 3/4 in town.
We have no observatory here,and I have sold all my gear, so can't entertain you myself. I think the club in Bunbury 1hr North from here do public outreach.
The area is largely wooded, and quite scenic. Many wineries with restaurants including Leeuwin Estate, recently voted Australia's best . Cheese and chocolate factories. Great surfing, kite surfing etc: Some great beaches, but the water is pretty cold, if you are a wimp like me. Stacks of great walking /cycling tracks. We must be doing something right, as this is a very popular spot.
The W.A. observatory in Bickley in the hills East of Perth is manned by volunteers and I think uses large SCTs for public viewing.
Gingin just over an hour North of Perth has what I believe is the largest publically available scope in Oz at 1 metre.

PM me if you need more specific info.
raymo

[leon]

Bugger me, Raymo it seems i don't look at your profile very much, had no Idea you came from Margaret River, been there on our travels a couple of times in fact, lovely place indeed.

Leon

[raymo]

Hi Leon, You wouldn't want to look at my profile, pretty ugly[ that's an
oxymoron isn't it], better from the back. :)
raymo

[koputai]

Thanks very much for the info Raymo, it does look like a lovely place.

Did you sell your gear because the skies weren’t worth it, or was it something else? (You don’t have to say what).

Regards,
Jason.

[raymo]

Hi Jason, I forgot that we also have several very nice caves, although I suspect that if you have done Jenolan you are all caved out.
Half an hour North Busselton has the longest wooden jetty in the Southern
Hemisphere, with a railway out to the undersea aquarium at the end of it.
We also have good whale watching cruises at the right time of year.

To answer your question, Partly the skies, partly because the physical effort
was getting a bit much, partly because I am my wife's carer, which eats into my free time, and partly because as a veteran of 60+ yrs of film AP I find it
hard to be in the mud at the bottom of the digital AP pool because I can't get my head around the processing, converting files from one type to another,
and the plethora of software. I don't like computers; I only use one because I can't communicate with other members without one. I don't even have a mobile phone. Sorry you asked?
cheers raymo

[koputai]

Thanks Raymo, I totally understand!


Cheers,
Jason.