Looking for Advice on Nearby Observing/Holiday Destinations

[Tannehill]

I’m relatively new to Victoria and Melbourne, and am looking for some advice. My observing opportunities - with family and work – are limited. (Aren’t they always, in comparison to one’s imagined ideal?) I’d like to try a weekend get-away somewhere within 2-3 hours drive of Melbourne with my family. All of us would appreciate a nice hotel or resort-style accommodation close to interesting sites (high country hikes, near the ocean, near a nature refuge, etc). I, specifically, would like a nearby site amenable to later-evening observing if weather permits. I did take a quick look at the Kyneton area…there is a bush resort up there, so that’s one option. My ideal is a fairly dark site so that I can walk or drive very quickly for some star time away from bright carpark lights, etc.

Any specific locations come to mind? Anything out along the GOR?

Thank you in advance.

Scott

[Tamtarn]

Hi Scott

We spent a week at Blue Johanna Cottages and had a fantastic time.
The accommodation was great and the owners of the cottages made our stay super
Skies were dark and there were plenty of places to visit, including the Great Ocean Road.

You could observe from the property without having to travel further.

Web Site for the cottages is - www.johannabeach.com

There are several pics of GOR on our Web Page

David

[KG8]

I don't know much about the place myself mate, but some riders I know do a yearly pilgrimage to Halls Gap up in the Grampians region and rave about it. It's approximately three hours from Melbourne, a little mountain range that has a Host of national park stuff, accommodation and no doubt good astro sites. Suss it out.
http://images.google.com.au/images?h...=1&sa=N&tab=wi

Here is bit about light extintion and observing sites in VIC.

how much extinction:

• the best possible sky transparency is where aerosols are neglible in which case the baseline values for extinction are:
  • At sea level, the value is around 0.25 mag. per airmass; for 2000m it's around 0.11 or 0.12, for Mauna Kea it's 0.09.

thus, in Victoria:

• one would be advised to view from as far inland as possible, preferably north of the Dividing Ranges and away from light pollution, although there is the problem of dust storms and bush fires causing impaired transparency particularly in late summer/early autumn.
• To go to altitudes > 1500m you will be confined to the alpine region in north-eastern Victoria such as Lake Mountain (1433m), Mt Buller (1804m), Mt Buffalo (1723m), Mt Baw Baw (1563m) and the others in the Alpine National Park whereas in western & central Victoria the only three options > 900m are Mt Macedon (1011m but perhaps too close to Melbourne), Mt William (1167m) in the Grampians and Mt Lhangi Gheran near Ararat.

http://www.ayton.id.au/gary/Science/...st_viewing.htm

Frank.

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

Scott,

There is also a Farm here in Snake Valley that is a registerd 'Farmstay'. It is a sheep station that has accommodation and it's very very very dark!!!

Working Sheep property, 5000 sheep,
Self Contained three bedroom cottage, farm activities,
milking cow, chickens, pony rides, fishing,
swimming, bike rides, motor bikes, go cart,
tennis, table tennis, kite flying, campfire,
barbecue, B & B available, Linen provided

Bit pricey, but you might enjoy it.

See here: http://www.getoutoftown.com/?m=prope...index&prId=259

[Tannehill]

Thanks for the tips. Ken, my wife grew up on a 500 count sheep farm in Wisconsin, and she has little love lost for the creatures. But, it sounds like it'd be fun if one could beg OFF doing any real work....thanks.

scott

[Tannehill]

Ken, this looks kinda fun. Anyone stayed there to vouch for the quality of accomodations? Is it close to the town oval observing field?

Scott

Originally Posted by ballaratdragons

Scott,

There is also a Farm here in Snake Valley that is a registerd 'Farmstay'. It is a sheep station that has accommodation and it's very very very dark!!!

Working Sheep property, 5000 sheep,
Self Contained three bedroom cottage, farm activities,
milking cow, chickens, pony rides, fishing,
swimming, bike rides, motor bikes, go cart,
tennis, table tennis, kite flying, campfire,
barbecue, B & B available, Linen provided

Bit pricey, but you might enjoy it.

See here: http://www.getoutoftown.com/?m=prope...index&prId=259

[dwyman]

We have sheep in Wisconsin? Must be hiding behind the cows.