[Outbackmanyep]

Originally Posted by norm

Heading to Walcha for Chrissy to visit the inlaws .

There's an airstrip about 10k's out of town, slightly elevated and and dark as dark can be. Should be a good one.
Towards Walcha Road, Woolbrook it should be darker as well. Also has slightly higher in evalation.

Cheers Norm

Hi Norm,
Look me up when you get here, the airstrip is where i do 95% of my observing from, and it's only 3kms from the western edge of town from where i live near the Lions park, it's 1164m elevation, Woolbrook is lower than Walcha aerodrome and Walcha Road is perhaps slightly higher but theres not much ground there to park a scope except for the rest bay at the top!

The AC-130 herc has been doing manouveres on the airstrip lately, imagine my surprise 2 nights ago when they parked about 50m from my observing spot!

Also, you may want to check out the Lowe Observatory thats just been built at Bendemeer, its not open, i believe theres a 32" scope going in there, the owner lives in Tamworth! Thats all i know!

For Pmrid,
Nowendoc is also a good place if anyone is considering taking advantages of the skies, there are some good flat areas on the Topdale Road near The Flags heading towards Tamworth, mostly private property though.

You also have Woolbrook as well!

Everytime i travel to Sydney i go down the Bucketts Way (Thunderbolts Way from Gloucester heading North) , i got into Penrith in 4.5 hours last weekend!
The Bretti campsite is good but i have never stopped over there as im always going past it!
Just one thing, if travelling at night just watch for Wombats between Giro and The Flags especially around the climb from Nowendoc flats to the Flags.

And yes, you'll need to supply your own power, i cannot guarantee a powered site!

Cheers!