[Wavytone]

I've experienced a few class 2 nights at Mt Kaputar during the early 1980's, once in the Nullarbor when observing Halleys Comet in 1986, and on one night earlier this year a site in the hills behind Bright, in the Victorian high country.

On the occasions at Kaputar there were quite a few experienced observers and to the naked eye most were easily seeing mag 7 - 7.5. The Milky Way in these conditions is just gorgeous, like tiny diamonds poured across a velvety deep blue sky. It is even more weird when you're FULLY dark adapted as you can see people and scopes and stuff on the ground - with no moon.

As you can camp on the top IMHO all serious stargrgazers should go to Kaputar at least once, even if only to have the chance to see how good the night sky can be.

I doubt there is anywhere in mainland Oz capable of being darker than Siding Spring mountain and Mt Kaputar. When the AAO site survey was done Kaputar finished second - it was similar for seeing and darkness and the only thing against it was more frequent cloud due to closer proximity to the coast.

PS -re the helicopter area in the forest on top of Kaputar - that area is about 100m along the Barraba fire trail and its the top of a lava field - it wasn't "cleared" - trees can't grow there as its harder than solid concrete !!