[Wavytone]

The darkest locations I've tried observing...

1. Long ago, out into the Nullarbor to see Halleys Comet one very nice clear, calm night. No lights but I didn't feel it was as dark as...

2. On top of Mt Kaputar... Altitude helps, you do get a darker sky for sure. Though that's a very long drive.

3. Have also tried observing more recently near Ebor, north of Armidale at about 1300m altitude. The photos I took of the night sky showed it was excellent - much darker than my regular haunts closer to Sydney.

4. In the Ovens valley near Harriettville (NE Victoria) and at Lake Catani on top of Mt Buffalo ... Also pretty good sites.

5. The one that stands out for me was observing on the Mt Cook airstrip (New Zealand South Island) where the photos from my camera captured the gegenschein. This was the only time I managed to photograph it.

6. Also visited Shangri-La (southwest China) where it is also pretty dark and high(3000 metres at the hotel). The night sky was good, but as the camera showed, not as good as 4 or 5 above.

SW Tasmania out of Queenstown... Been there 3 times... Not as dark as 4 or 5. Not sure why but the night sky certainly isn't outstanding down there. Not nearly as good as mt cook in NZ.