Stargazing is something that is inherant in the makeup of the human race.
For thousands of years our ancestors had a clear view of the night’s sky, without any light pollution.
Staring at the Milky Way and all of the surrounding wonders of the night’s sky gave them a perspective of their places in the Universe.
Staring at the night’s sky in perfect clarity gives a sense of awe and wonder that manages to give our deflate our egos and humble us as to our place in the scheme of things.
If you look up at the night sky in Australia at the right time of year, you might see Jupiter, Mars, Saturn, or Venus. The Southern Cross and a few other nearby or very bright stars, such as Alpha Centauri, Antares, or Sirius, may also be visible.
Australia is filled with dark areas where you can experience true awe at the abundance of twinkling gas balls in the sky (because, let’s face it, that’s what they are). from the genuine beauty of the Milky Way, planetary clouds, vibrant star groupings, and our nearby galaxies.
Check out our best places to stars in New South Wales!
The Best Stargazing Places In New South Wales
Below we’ve listed our 3 best places to look at the stars in NSW.
Warrumbungle National Park – Coonabarabran
You should pack your camping supplies for this one. Despite being a six-hour trip from Sydney and a definite walk, Warrumbungle National Park tops the list for a very significant reason. It is the best location for stargazing, amateur astronomy, and camping under the starriest of skies because it is Australia’s first (and only) Dark Sky Park.
Milroy Observatory – Bugaldie
The Milroy Observatory is situated in one of Australia’s brightest dark sky regions. Depending on the time of year, you can see visible planets, globular and open clusters, nebulae, star-forming areas, distant galaxies, and Donna, the legend. You can also tailor your night to fit a birthday, anniversary, or any other special occasion. If you want to impress others, star parties are a very real possibility here.
Mudgee Observatory – Mudgee
John Vetter, the creator of Mudgee Observatory, is no exception to the fact that astronomers are a devoted group. The observatory is actually a private observatory that Vetter constructed on his own land about 15 minutes’ drive outside of Mudgee (complete with a tall tree fence to conceal the sight from city lights).
Vetter showed us the Omega Centauri globular cluster, which is made up of about a million stars and resembles a fireworks display, when we visited. His telescopes are used by researchers from the University of NSW, the staff of Sydney Observatory, and members of the Sutherland Astronomical Society. We strongly advise scheduling a trip here if you’re looking for a customized, educational experience.
If you have a deep desire to stare at some stars, but are unable to get to one of our best places to stargaze in NSW listed above, the next best thing is a Galaxy Projector for your home. Not quite the same thing, but they certainly do let you relax in a fantastic environment full of stars.
