Chris, you can also go into the Bintel telescope shop in Melbourne to see some different types of scopes and talk to the guys there. It's a reputable shop though you might be best to leave the credit card at home to avoid an impulsive decision - those shiny Meades and Celestrons have a habit of separating people from their money
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I'd highly recommend buying local (unless there is a large price difference) since you can drive back to the shop for help if there are any problems.