According to Google Maps the Pony club has significantly more light pollution - even the Katoomba Airstrip is better.
Hat-Hill Rd is problematic. The best spot is on the roadside - I tried it once and while possible its not enjoyable. Driving all the way to Anvil Rock isn't recommended as the road is badly corrugated dirt.
Yes I hear what you say about the light from Lithgow - it concerned me too - however you will be surprised by how dark the sky is at this location. Hassan's Walls lookout is also pretty darn good, but also popular with the local teens at night.
If you want another awesome site there is a huge open clearing in the forest on the road to Jenolan Caves. It's high on the ridge about 8 km before the caves, where the Jenolan Caves Cottages are located, however this one is for a 2-3 night stay with the family. Could be a nice thought for an astrocamp in style.
Yeah I thought about that old air strip.....its only a couple of km's further than the old coal mine, and it easy access.
Also across the road is that old military ruins where they used to release the balloon suspended cables is also open and drive straight in.....if you go up the back of the site the tree's aren't to bad either....... and the headlights of oncoming cars are directed more away as well.
Browntown Oval between Mt Victoria and Blackheath. What do you think? If we park in the north east corner the trees and shrubs should block out the any car lights from the highway. I'll check it out tomorrow.
Browntown oval is no good - totally exposed to the highway. I thought of it too, but you can see the whole oval even while rocketing past it at 80km/h.
Wouldn't it be just a shame if someone with a pair of bolt cutters would just open the old Quarry aye?
Did you read the CCTV warning on the sign? Anyone had dealing with Crown Lands about getting access through locked gates?
The light pollution overlay shows the airstrip as "green". However the southern end is about 10m higher than the road, so eastbound headlights 850m away on the curve might be a pain.
Did you read the CCTV warning on the sign? Anyone had dealing with Crown Lands about getting access through locked gates?
Actually, I was looking at the old quarry north west of Mt Victoria. The one located on Mt York Road. Not the old coal mine. 2 different places. Of course I saw the CCTV warning signs.
Anyway...
We could quite literally, park our cars out the front and carry our equipment over the 2 foot tall mound and setup.
Actually, I was looking at the old quarry north west of Mt Victoria. The one located on Mt York Road. Not the old coal mine. 2 different places. Of course I saw the CCTV warning signs.
Anyway...
We could quite literally, park our cars out the front and carry our equipment over the 2 foot tall mound and setup.
-33.615598,150.310376
Was there yesterday.......trees are pretty high, there is a big power transmission line on the eastern side, and the road is pretty busy with all the housing and camp grounds up the end of the road......
Pretty sure a phone call would get a key to the old coal mine if it was the best spot....
Well. There is still this place -33.615593,150.310381. According to those maps the LP wouldn't be any worst than the Airfield. its actually called the Blackheath Old Aerodrome. Its a rather big open area. No signage about it being inaccessible to the public?
I've observed from the disused airstrip 3, maybe 4 times. It's good and no issues with lights from passing cars. Unfortunately it s just not a very attractive place and there's some junk trashed off the south end.
I scoured Mt Wilson too but I didn't find any really promising sites.
As for -33.615593,150.310381 ... I've been there. Many years ago it was accessible but a few years ago it was fenced off. Worth a visit to see if that's the case though.
The next stop is Hassan's Walls but that's getting a bit far to drive home safely.
Beyond that.. Rydal Showground - superb, or the paddock in the forest on the road to Jenolan caves, where the cottages are.
IMHO it's either Hargraves, or the airstrip on Bells line of rd.
There is on area I haven't tried. Opposite Zigzag there is Clarence and on the south side some dirt roads run into the National park, near the tunnel. There are some open spots visible on google earth.
it's only the lights off to the east that spoil the darkness.
