Stephen, Any of the freeware planetarium programs will show you where these objects are by doing a FIND in them. I'd suggest Stellarium or Cartes Du Ceil
Off the top of my head I can't answer on objects in the southern hemisphere as I've never been there yet but looking forward to our emigration to Oz next year
I'd agree that an 8" dob is a wonderful starter scope. Not much need to upgrade there if you're only doing visual stargazing as I do. (at least not until you get infected with the aperture bug lol)
All the best from cloudy Scotland!
Paul