Suggestions appreciated

[keeyc (Kee-Yang Chung)]

Hi everyone!
I'm living in Seoul, Korea and plan to visit Sydney in the first week of November. After the meeting, I'm going to take a week off and do some Southern sky deep sky hunting with my Infinity 8" scope that I'm going to bring along. I plan to rent a car and drive out on Nov. 6 or 7 and spend about a week.
Can you give me suggestions on the best observing sites and places to stay?
I'd certainly appreciate it.

Kee-Yang from Seoul

[ngcles]

Hi Kee-Yang,

Welcome to IIS.

This article from a major australian newspaper might give you a few ideas:

http://www.theage.com.au/travel/road...0311-8upf.html

as a tourist, I'd think about giving Zane Hammond at Magellan Observatory a ring. He has self-contained farm-house accomodation available for rent at reasonable rates, lots of 'scopes and expertise and is only about a 2.5 hr drive south-southwest of Sydney.

Maybe even think about Mudgee Observatory about 4 hrs northwest of Sydney:

http://www.mudgeeobservatory.com.au/index.html

they don't have accomodation for tourists but you can stay in the town of Mudgee 20mins drive away (several motels there) and the facilities on the property are good.

Hope you have a great trip to Australia!

Best,

Les D

[leon]

Mate if you were closer to Melbourne, Snake Valley is the darkest place I have seen for a long time, other than some have suggested.

Leon

[norm]

Hi Kee-Yang,

If its new moon that weekend and your in Sydney some of the folks goto the Pony Club at Mangrove Mountain. Its about 100km north of Sydney and about 1.5hrs drive from the CBD. I usually stay for 3-5hrs depending on the conditions.
Its not the darkest of skies, but its not too bad given its distance from Sydney itself.

I'm happy to give you lift there and back if your staying in Sydney somewhere and if its on that weekend.

Keep an eye on the forum for Pony Club.
Cheers,
Norm

[keeyc (Kee-Yang Chung)]

Thanks for the info, everyone!
I will sleep on your suggestions and decide on one.
And thanks for the ride already, Norm. Mighty kind of you.

Cheers,
Kee-Yang