Rick Petrie has just reported in on a potentially great new Dark Sky Site in the New England Region of NSW.
The Glen Riddle (Free) Camping reserve.
It is situated about an hours drive north of Tamworth.
Between Manilla and Barraba.
Probably about a 5 hour drive.
According to Rick:
The area is large Flat and green,
Low Horizons
Few trees
"modern" drop toilets, (compared to some places)
Sorry NO Showers are provided but
water is available (not for drinking (unless boiled) but good for camping showers etc),
no cow pats in sight (but cattle may be grazed there apparently)
very few other campers at the moment (in school holidays!!!),
It is on the west of the ranges, (so they have not been effected by the recent coastal rain),
Dark Skies - no big towns (closest small town is Barraba: pop 1150; is 15k away)
Supplies available from Barraba shops - only 15k away,
YES phone reception,
NO fixed lights,
dog friendly.
Suitable for camping or caravans etc.
Fireplaces, picnic tables.
It sounds too good to be true.
I am putting out for Expressions of Interest for the October new moon.
Lets go and put it to the test.
New Moon is Tuesday 13 October.
I am proposing to go Monday 12 October {probably for 5 days, more or less}
(Any later than October and it may be getting a bit hot for camping by then )
This would (for me at least) be instead of Bretti.
Glend has already expressed his interest in Glen Riddle also, subject to the response.
Iceman has said there are no further IISAC trips planned, so this may be a good substitute. But it is totally INFORMAL and Free.
Pencil me in as a maybe, if not this time around hopefully some time in the future.
That's not a bad idea Dunk.
It could be a meeting spot for people from Qld as well as NSW.
I'll definitely be going occasionally as my son lives in Manilla just down the road.
i'm going through a "doctor appointment phase" at the moment as well
my fridge has broken down on the freezer side
i have the van pulled apart inside for a renovation - money is tight because of the doctor thing
as always i Want to go (anywhere) for a new moon camping event
would be nice to try out the new site - the 5 hour drive may be compensated by the option to fish during the day - but 5 hours away is pushing the envelope
if you never ever go - you never ever know
having apparently not many trees, it may be more of an autumn or winter site than a summer option (or fishing season)
may be an opportunity to meet more IIS'ers from further afield
pet friendly
same facilities as Bretti
has phone reception and i guess internet
having more options as to where to go monthly must be a plus (including coolah)
surely as a group we can work out a calender of events (perhaps including a pony club event)
I'm in Port Pirie at the moment and will not be home til 26th Oct. This site looks interesting but I will probably not get up there before Xmas.
I have had some fabulous dark sky sites on my trip. Every time I set the scope up an instant que formed with Saturn being the favourite and Omega Centauri a close second. I have totally missed Winter. Four months of almost cloudless skys and warm weather.
Too busy at the moment to go any further afield than the back yard (and maybe the PC if they haven't changed the lock!).
I'm with @Uwahl, in that things don't look especially hopeful for a trip before Christmas for me.
If I get a spare couple of days (nights), then I may make a solo run to see for myself.
For those playing Pin the Tail on the Campsite, the coordinates are 30:27:0.8 S, 150:41:34.0 E (according to WikiCamps), which puts it just east of the river crossing bridge on Pera-Linton Road.
Given I'd be looking to head out in the next couple of days, the weather is looking too iffy to head south this time around it's looking better going north
As I said to you Allan, I will have to give this one a miss.
Too many trips up there is biting off a bit more than can chew at the moment.
Will definitely look forward to getting there though soon. I am sure the spot will show great promise. Catch everyone soon and safe tripping.
Nearly packed.
I expect to be on my way by 10 this morning.
Probably arrive campsite around 4 (allowing for breaks).
I may be tempted to stay the weekend if anyone is thinking that timeframe.
Hopefully there is internet reception at the site so updates may be possible.
it's looking better going north 
