I drove from Wollongong home to SE Qld overnight and for a change, decided to take the "Buckets Way" road that bypasses Tenterfield. It goes from just north of Raymond Terrace near newcastle and heads into the mountains NNW of there through Stroud, Gloucester and up a seriously steep climb to a jaw-dropping lookout at the top. The car was starting to overheat from the climb so I pulled over and sat in the dark there for an hour and was awed by the uncontaminated dark skies there and, as I drove on, all the way to Walcha near Uralla. 100km or so of elevated and accessible conutry. I wonder if there are any facilities in that area already. Anyone know of any?
Hi Peter,
Buckets way runs up to Gloucester then back to Taree. You must have gone up past Barrington then took the turn off to Nowendoc and on to Walcha. Yeap up there it would be excellent skies for sure! Along the road before you climb up there are lots of camping reserves where you can camp for free like Bowman and Bretti reserves. I have camped at a few over the years I think the Bretti reserve would be a good spot to set up a scope as I remember there was quiet alot of open space and the river is beautiful to cool of in on those hot summer days. I don`t think there is any other spots further up on the plateau?
It was night when I went through there but I did notice a campground down by a river with plenty of open ground - before you start to climb up that range. Might take the bride and camper back there when it's a bit cooler. It did look inviting but it was the skies up top that blew me away.
Peter
Providing theres mains power I might have to go for a drive and have a look Peter!! How much darker are we talking compared to your place/Barambah?
Do you have any idea of the altitude above sea level there?
Well, Walcha is about 1100 metres and Thunderbolts Lookout on the east is about 1450 metres.
Can't say much about mains power - the area is very sparsely populated (good thing too) and there's very little in between the lookout and Walcha. So I'd reckon this would be a place where you brought your own.
The camping areas are at the bottom of the range than runs down and east from the Lookout and I don't recommend doing that climb too often. My little Suzuki Jimny boled over both times I tried it. So it's a good road to do downhill only.
I wouldn't mind a bit of an expedition there one day.
mmmm 1450m ASL! Sounds a goer... That would be a beaut spot....
I don't know how you'd go about powering my setup without mains power though.. I suppose a generator, but then you're introducing exhaust gasses and noise into the area... both of which are not fun...
If we could figure out the power, I'd be in for an astro-expedition..
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.
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!
Thanks Norm. That sounds promising. I wonder if there are other strips out there like Nowendoc. The good thing is there would probably be power and a bog there as well. Those strips are usually under local council control arent they?
Peter
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!
Thanks for that really helpful info. If and when we get any sort of astro expedition down that way I'll send you a PM.
cheers
Peter
How much darker are we talking compared to your place/Barambah? 
