The car park next door to the Lake Grace Cemetery is only 3kms west of the town and is a great place for casual observers with telescopes. The wide car park is gravel. There are some beautiful tall trees dotted through the area but it’s easy to set up telescopes to get a clear view of the night sky.
There are toilet facilities which make it convenient to stay for several hours. A bonus is that the car park is alongside the lake which provides a great landscape if you happen to have your camera with you for astrophotography. This view looks south east so it’s perfect for photographing the Milky Way above the lake.
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Facilities: Toilets.
Mobile coverage (Telstra): Good.
Sky Quality Meter Reading: No reading has been made at this location yet. What is a Sky Quality Meter Reading?
There are also some terrific observing sites we’ve selected other townsites in the Shire of Lake Grace.
Newdegate Recreation Centre
Only 1.5kms out of Newdegate is the town’s Recreation Centre and Machinery Field Days site. Both are large open areas for observers with telescopes. The car park at the Recreation Centre is sealed which makes it a dust-free area for telescope use. Oval lights may be on for local sport but these are usually turned off in the early evening.
Alongside the Recreation Centre is the big field where the well known Newdegate Machinery Field Days are held every year on the first Wednesday and Thursday of September. It’s a great event to attend! When the big field isn’t in use for the event, you’re welcome with your telescopes. Various sheds provide convenient shelter and there are toilet facilities.
Lake King Sports Ground
Further east along the Newdegate-Ravensthorpe Road is the town of Lake King. You’re welcome to stargaze at the Lake King Sports Ground which is approximately one kilometre from the centre of town. Turn right as you approach the buildings and you’ll find an open car park where you can set up telescopes. It’s dust free and public toilets are conveniently located approximately 300m from the Sports Ground, opposite the Lake King Roadhouse.
Varley Sports Oval
If you continue north of Lake King to Varley, you may set up telescopes of the night sky at the local Sports Oval. It’s approximately three kilometres out of town and great for seeing the dark night sky. Public conveniences can be found in Varley at the “Chicken Ranch” camping facility.
Stargazing & Tourism Information
Astrophotography Hot Spot
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Astrotourism Town
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