Paul, since I got started in this hobby late last year I've really wanted dark skies. When you share a home with more than 3 million other people who seem to like to have some light at night, there is no choice than to travel distances if you want to see faint fuzzies.
I'm toward one side of Melbourne. I can travel 40 min from my place to an observing spot which is useful, but forget about the Melbourne side - too much glow. So I travel the 1.5 hour plus to dark skies. But, you are right, you need enough observing time to make it worthwhile. I have traveled the distance and spent a few hours looking at cloud-covered skies, before setting off home again. That's part of the game!
Eric
