What is the best location around Sydney to view the night sky?

[Dariusz]

Dear fellow members,

I have a question which I hope you can assist me with.

I like to find the best location(s) to view the night summer/winter sky in NSW. I wish to find the clearest and most spectacular viewing of the night sky under camping conditions without the use of a telescope etc.

The reason for the above, is that I wish to take my son (age 4) camping, over Christmas holidays so that he can see the beauty of the sky when view at night (see the full bloom of the milky way, and magnetic clouds, see shooting stars regular, and satellites movement in the sky.

I hope that fellow forum users, can provide locations, camp sites locations etc around the 2-4 hour drive out from Sydney.

Would some ware in the blue mountains, or just pass the mountains, would there be any location there some on can recommend?

Also, when would you expect the best viewing to occur (ie. Cloudless night, in the middle of the night, on a new moon?)

I look forward to any responses, and I thank you in advance.

Kind Regards,

Dariusz