Arthur Alchin
22-06-2007, 10:18 PM
Deb (My wife) and I and the LXD75 8"SN went out to Ryder Homestead about 3 weeks ago as I had seen it advertised in Astronomy 2007 and thought it would a good break from the kids (ages: youngest 20yrs).
We arrived mid morning at wattle flat after travelling via the blue mountains and bathurst. What a beautiful location. We stayed in the larger self contained cottage, a bit rustic but extremely comfortable with spa bath, log fire and all the bedlinen and cooking utensils etc supplied. Cabin could easily sleep 6 very enthusiastic Amateur astronomers.
There is a fair bit of bush around the cottage but closer to the main house (about 200mts or closer) there is a large magic clearing where Rodney (the owner) has a ? celestron schmidt casellgain permanently set up in an enclosed observatory . I didn't get the opportunity to meet him as he was in sydney but what he has there is great.
The sky is brilliantly dark and I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity of visiting there, also it didn't cost me an arm and a leg. Really had only to supply food and clothing.
At wattle flat you do need to negotiate a dirt road but it would be less than 5 minutes from the main sealed road that runs between Bathurst and Sofala and the homestead.
I would love to visit there again in the near future and would totally recommend this venue to visit.
Arthur Alchin
We arrived mid morning at wattle flat after travelling via the blue mountains and bathurst. What a beautiful location. We stayed in the larger self contained cottage, a bit rustic but extremely comfortable with spa bath, log fire and all the bedlinen and cooking utensils etc supplied. Cabin could easily sleep 6 very enthusiastic Amateur astronomers.
There is a fair bit of bush around the cottage but closer to the main house (about 200mts or closer) there is a large magic clearing where Rodney (the owner) has a ? celestron schmidt casellgain permanently set up in an enclosed observatory . I didn't get the opportunity to meet him as he was in sydney but what he has there is great.
The sky is brilliantly dark and I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity of visiting there, also it didn't cost me an arm and a leg. Really had only to supply food and clothing.
At wattle flat you do need to negotiate a dirt road but it would be less than 5 minutes from the main sealed road that runs between Bathurst and Sofala and the homestead.
I would love to visit there again in the near future and would totally recommend this venue to visit.
Arthur Alchin