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What is important to me....
Clear weather
We all know that clear, sunny weather is the number one friend of astronomers. I want minimal cold front's and rain, with maximum high pressure directing winds from the inland. Unfortunately, the words "Melbourne" and "cold front" go hand in hand like thunder and lightning. The only places in Australia with worse climates are: SW Victoria, most of Tasmania and the humid, damp wetseasons of Far North Qld and the Top End.
Light Pollution
A 4.5" under dark skies will kick the butt of an 8" under light polluted skies. I know that, because once I hired an 8" Starfinder Dob and observed the Flame Nebula from my backyard - barely anything visible; later had use of my 4.5" under pristine skies and aimed it at the Flame nebula and guess what.....there was the fur-tree shape, dark lanes and all. Touring the LMC with my 10" under Mallee skies would be a dream.
Low Humidity/dew
With my 4.5" newtonian, dew was annoying. But, my 10" came with a dewshield and used it for 2 hours in the usual Melbourne winter dew, to the point where beads of water were running down the tube....but the mirrors were still left pristine. But low humidity means better transparency as aerosals arn't trapped in the atmosphere, scattering and reflecting light. Low humidity is almost a must for optimum DSO observation.
No large obstacles blocking the view
My days of observing Jupiter are over........because the roof of my house impedes the whole western sky up to 40º above the horizon. Large obstacles, especially houses, will create poor seeing as they are sources of heat stored during the day.
Road Access
My observing site shall be isolated but have a decent paved road nearby, just for the sake of collimation.
So my preferred observing site will have.....Clear weather, no light pollution, no obstacles and easy access. The closest place to me which fits these criteria is the Victorian Mallee, only a leisurely 500km drive away. D'oh!
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