The best campsites in Australia for a night under the stars, according to new study
As longer, darker nights and crisp conditions settle in, a night under the stars seems the ideal way to spend a weekend.
Now a new study has looked into the camping spots around the country that offer the best stargazing opportunities in autumn.
The research by Becextech, a tech and camera retailer, analysed HipCamp sites under $125, and scored each destination on light pollution, cloud cover, and Milky Way visibility.
READ MORE: 'Why you don't have to drive far to have a refreshing road trip'
Autumn is a great time of year for camping and stargazing. Getty
NSW has come out on top as the best state in the country for stargazing thanks to its eastern location, which is ideal for Milky Way viewing.
The combination of dark rural skies, vast open eastern horizons, and a diversity of landscapes has seen the state claim nine of the top 10 spots.
READ MORE: 'A whirlwind visit to Hobart has left me longing to return'
Oakey Farm is number one, earning Australia's highest autumnal stargazing glamping score of 75.1 out of 100.
Set in the quiet agricultural country of Piallamore, near Tamworth, it combines a near-perfect light and cloud score of 90.3 and a Milky Way altitude of 36.6 degrees.
If you're wondering what "Milky Way altitude" means, it refers to the angular elevation of the Milky Way galaxy's core (or arch) above the horizon.
READ MORE: 10 Airbnbs in Australia perfect for a night under the stars
Oakley Farm near Tamworth is a perfect budget campsite for stargazing. Hipcamp
In Oakley Farm, the galactic core rises clearly to the east, and with minimal artificial light for kilometres, the night sky here is the best the country has to offer.
First Falls, in Mylneford, NSW, ranks in close second with a score of 75 out of 100. Nudging ahead of Oakey Farm on Milky Way altitude at 37.7 degrees, meaning the galactic core sits that little bit higher above the horizon in this spot.
Its slightly lower cloud score reflects the region's moister coastal climate, but on a clear autumn evening, the skies here are dark and dramatic for capturing the stars.
JALUM Undulating Farmland is a campsite in Mooball, in the Tweed Shire of NSW, and places third with a score of 74.6 out of 100.
It records one of the highest Milky Way altitude angles in the study's top rankings at 37.9 degrees, giving stargazers one of the most elevated and expansive views of the galactic sight.
JALUM Undulating Farmland in Mooball has the highest Milky Way altitude. Hipcamp
The only state to break through NSW's dominance is Queensland, with NRMA Turtle Sands in Mon Repos earning a place in the top 10.
Set on the foreshore, a stretch of coastline famous for its nesting sea turtles, this campsite earns its spot through a standout light and cloud score of 89.4 and a strong view of the Milky Way rising over towards the east.
"Autumn is one of the best-kept secrets for stargazing in the Southern Hemisphere," Santo Ludy, Becextech Managing Director, said.
"With temperatures comfortable enough to spend hours outdoors admiring the night sky, increased chances of spotting the Milky Way at night, and fewer tourist crowds, it offers a truly magical experience."
Top 10 campsites for stargazing:
- Oakey Farm , Piallamore, NSW
- First Falls , Mylneford, NSW
- JALUM Undulating Farmland , Mooball, NSW
- Clearfield Estate , Clearfield, NSW
- NRMA Murramarang Beachfront Holiday Resort , South Durras, NSW
- Eastgrove Organic Farm Stay , Couradda, NSW
- Scrub n Bush , Bohena Creek, NSW
- Sky Camp , Atholwood, NSW
- NRMA Turtle Sands , Mon Repos, QLD
- Yarralen Retreat , Yarrahapinni, NSW
