Once again I'm thinking about going to Australia from the western U.S. I was there about 15 years ago, but did not have astronomy on my mind. I found a very good web site that has lots of info for both amateur and pro activities
<http://www.astronomy.org.au/ngn/engine.php?SID=1000018>. One sky show described there that seems of interest and is remarkably long is the Coonabarabran Festival of the Stars, 3-4 weeks in mid-Oct to mid-Nov. Has anyone been to it and would care to offer general impressions about it, including mix of amateurs vs general public, observing sites, 'density' of observing (every night vs weekends, say), astro talks, housing, transportation, nearby population, and the general 'feel' of the local area?
Does anyone have other ideas about traveling to astro locations without carrying a telescope? Are there educational affairs for amateurs, say, like the one at the U. of Arizona's Astronomy Camp in the U.S? It's about a 7 day paid affair that takes about 20 or so applicants , and more or or less turns them loose on some the observatory equipment of the university equipment often given over to students at the U of A.