Yes Fred, as Peter Ward found out recently (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...ad.php?t=84651) only the through road is open in the Royal after dark. I imagine it is for the same reason they closed Budderoo Plateau - day and night - a few years ago. In that case they put up a sign apologising to all the people who used the area for recreation. However the incidences of vandalism, arson, dumping of rubbish, dumping and burning of cars etc meant that the council could not afford the cleanup costs nor could it take the risk that a fire started in the area may kill someone. So, as is generally the case, decent people are disadvantaged by the actions of relatively few dropkicks.
I would have suggested to Peter that he might like to photograph the comet from the car park at the start of the Forest Walk (directly above Scarborough pub). My wife and I have often done the Forest Walk and then had a bit of a picnic while enjoying the views of the coast. It's been closed due to rubbish dumping and cars going over the cliff. So people have knocked down the fence and driven in over the heath! I have a 4WD and could easily do likewise, but I won't.
As far as getting permission to be behind locked gates, I hope I'm wrong but I imagine that trying to go through official channels will be a dead end. A few years ago at a grazing occultation someone had a run-in with the bloke who opens the gates in the morning (the position of a scope meant he had to walk an extra 10 foot to get to the gate) and I would suggest that appealing for understanding from that quarter would be less than fruitful. Going higher up the food chain would probably just result in a time lapse of paper shuffling. As my grandmother used to say 'What's the world coming to?'.
I'm planning some allnighter time lapses in nationAl parks. I'm willing to take the risk of ending up in jail, but really, what's the chance of being nabbed?.
Anyone with experience on this illegal activity? I'd be sure to stay low profile and not light fires
Actually, one spot I had in mind is in the royal. One entrance is just off a residential back st in Bundeena. It's unmanned and blocked to traffic, but a short walk to spectacular cliffs. I've seen ppl hike out from a camp site somewhere in the park, so I suspect hiking is ok anytime thru that entrance. I'm not going to ask for permission, but I may ring and see if ITs ok anyway. I saw a map board at the entrance , but no mention of time restricted access.
I'm after very specific sites I've seen, not just a poke at a place that's convenient or accessible anytime. One must sometimes suffer for art, compromise is not an option :-).
Anyway, thanks for all the feedback guys. It seems access varies widely depending on the type of park, and whether yr on foot or not.
I'm after very specific sites I've seen, not just a poke at a place that's convenient or accessible anytime. One must sometimes suffer for art, compromise is not an option :-).
Anyway, thanks for all the feedback guys. It seems access varies widely depending on the type of park, and whether yr on foot or not.
It might help if you specify then Fred You haven't. Is the park you're interested in, as a whole, listed above in these lists?
Maybe this is already available... One would hope you could approach Parks & Wildlife for a padlock key, provide identification & bona fide's, make a booking & pay a suitable deposit then use gated parts of the park(s) after hours....
Are any ISS members also Parks & Widlife employees? If so is the above an established procedure? If not, why not?
P.S.
Vandalism, arson, dumping of rubbish, dumping & burning of cars etc. is much easier in daylight....you can easily see Mr Plod about to spoil your day.
P.P.S
Our New Zealand brethren had significant power outages... many moons ago... due a lack of Hydro-power.
Crime on those nights was at an *all-time low* during the blackouts...seems the the crims were not happy carrying a torch and flagging their presence.
It might help if you specify then Fred You haven't. Is the park you're interested in, as a whole, listed above in these lists?
I have, the royal national park, it's mentioned twice in your list as a "long walk" to camp sites, which makes me think it's accessible after dark. I remember tho that camping had to be booked and only at the camp sites. It's getting complicated, I'll do some homework. I don't know if not camping and just "stopping over" somewhere for a long time is acceptable even if access is 24-7.
+1 to what Peter says... seems the kind of question that would have an easy answer, if asked over a beer or two at the pub, rather than by filling out forms in triplicate etc, etc
Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter Ward
Maybe this is already available... One would hope you could approach Parks & Wildlife for a padlock key, provide identification & bona fide's, make a booking & pay a suitable deposit then use gated parts of the park(s) after hours....
Are any ISS members also Parks & Widlife employees? If so is the above an established procedure? If not, why not?
P.S.
Vandalism, arson, dumping of rubbish, dumping & burning of cars etc. is much easier in daylight....you can easily see Mr Plod about to spoil your day.
P.P.S
Our New Zealand brethren had significant power outages... many moons ago... due a lack of Hydro-power.
Crime on those nights was at an *all-time low* during the blackouts...seems the the crims were not happy carrying a torch and flagging their presence.
IME your only hope of getting official access to the park is if the individual gatekeeper is partial to your interests. Avoid bureaucracy like the plague.
I imagine if you were caught in a NP without permission they'd simply throw you out, especially if you weren't causing any damage.
IME your only hope of getting official access to the park is if the individual gatekeeper is partial to your interests. Avoid bureaucracy like the plague.
I imagine if you were caught in a NP without permission they'd simply throw you out, especially if you weren't causing any damage.
I don't see a problem here. Access to *our* parks should be universal.
Closing off vehicle access may have been a response due to past vandalism...but it may have been simply a "nanny state" management decision based on the possbile rather than probable.
I'd be in favour of such decisions being able to be made by local park management based on the nature of individual requests (rather than some blanket policy ban/lockout)
The reason I mention paper work is simple: they give you a key.
You might loose it....solved by simply replacing the padlock... the cost of which could reasonably be expected to be met by you, and then some.
You might abuse it... e.g. leave the gate open, invite all your Druid mates...who knows??
Which comes back to establishing your Bona Fides with the park management.
I don't see a problem here. Access to *our* parks should be universal.
Closing off vehicle access may have been a response due to past vandalism...but it may have been simply a "nanny state" management decision based on the possbile rather than probable.
I'd be in favour of such decisions being able to be made by local park management based on the nature of individual requests (rather than some blanket policy ban/lockout)
Which comes back to establishing your Bona Fides with the park management.
Well, I'll ask then. You know, we've mentioned the nanny state thing before, In the end you can't blame them for "no" really, it gets down to liability, if you hurt yourself in the dark or damage something, someones going to sue them for millions for allowing an exception to the rules, it's a sad reflection on society.
You haven't. Is the park you're interested in, as a whole, listed above in these lists?
