[Allan_L (Allan)]

Rick Petrie has just reported in on a potentially great new Dark Sky Site in the New England Region of NSW.
The Glen Riddle (Free) Camping reserve.
It is situated about an hours drive north of Tamworth.
Between Manilla and Barraba.
Probably about a 5 hour drive.

According to Rick:
The area is large Flat and green,
Low Horizons
Few trees
"modern" drop toilets, (compared to some places)
Sorry NO Showers are provided but
water is available (not for drinking (unless boiled) but good for camping showers etc),
no cow pats in sight (but cattle may be grazed there apparently)
very few other campers at the moment (in school holidays!!!),
It is on the west of the ranges, (so they have not been effected by the recent coastal rain),
Dark Skies - no big towns (closest small town is Barraba: pop 1150; is 15k away)
Supplies available from Barraba shops - only 15k away,
YES phone reception,
NO fixed lights,
dog friendly.
Suitable for camping or caravans etc.
Fireplaces, picnic tables.
It sounds too good to be true.

I am putting out for Expressions of Interest for the October new moon.
Lets go and put it to the test.
New Moon is Tuesday 13 October.
I am proposing to go Monday 12 October {probably for 5 days, more or less}
(Any later than October and it may be getting a bit hot for camping by then )
This would (for me at least) be instead of Bretti.
Glend has already expressed his interest in Glen Riddle also, subject to the response.

Iceman has said there are no further IISAC trips planned, so this may be a good substitute. But it is totally INFORMAL and Free.