[Wavytone]

When I was actively observing, using topographic maps myself and 2 mates had checked out just about every possible dark site from Newcastle to Wollongong and inland to Lithgow. At that time we concluded anywhere in Sydney is a waste of time, and most likely looking spots near the coast turn out to be no good for several reasons.

My preferred site used to be the Mt Banks carpark on the Bells Line of Rd and there were perhaps 5-6 others that made the trek occasionally - however the access road to that site is closed these days. If the Pierces Pass carpark is still open that is also fairly dark - enough to look for galaxies, it's 1h 40m from the CBD.

Also worth trying:
- Hargraves Lookout at the end of Shipley Plateau, just out of Blackheath, very exposed if there is any wind it will freeze your eyeballs in winter and thermals and ski pants are desirable;
- Cathedral of Ferns camping ground at Mt Wilson (large dogs can be a problem);
- the south end of a disused airstrip off Bells Line of Rd before it descends into Lithgow (2h from the CBD) - this site is excellent, little or no dew as its a quartz gravel strip in sandstone country and eerily quiet;
- Hassan's Walls lookout above Lithgow; though the dew there can be impossible if you are using an SCT.

If you can tolerate limited sky, there's a clearing at the south end of Emu Rd, Glenbrook, enough for a quick look. Also the huge camping ground in the National Park off the entrance from Bruce Rd, Glenbrook; though this site is not dark and you may have to pay a small fee to stay overnight.

Further up the Blue Mountains there are:
- several dark spots at the end of side roads off the road down Kings Tableland (before Wentworth Falls);
- a reasonably dark oval at the south end of Leura - this is sheltered from a westerly wind if you want to observe say a lunar eclipse, though the view to the west is very limited by dense high trees. The black soil on the oval means it is dewy, too.
- Medlow Bath airfield.
- Evans lookout, Blackheath (short walk to carry the gear, torch essential). Dangerous in the dark due to cliffs...

Up north there was a useable site in the Watagan mountains though by now I suspect light pollution has degraded it as badly as the ASNSW site at Mt Bowen and the Mangrove Mountain site. Further afield there is a useable area on Mt Gibraltar, above Bowral, if you have some reason to go that far.

These days... I'm confining myself to lunar and planetary from home... deep sky is now a treat when I venture further for a long weekend away with the family.