To get us starry-eyed about the prospects of space travel, Booking.com reveals six destinations across Australia offering incredible opportunities for stargazing, so you too can feel as though you’re transcending Earth’s orbit.
Whilst space travel might not be a reality for all of us yet, we can still get a taste for space right here on planet earth! Australia has some of the darkest skies compared to the rest of the world, offering unique celestial sights not to be seen anywhere else. Whether it’s a magical light show, Aurora Australis, the best view of the Milky Way or the otherwise invisible galaxies Alpha Centauri and the Magellanic Clouds, our home soil has everything to satisfy your galactic dreams.
Why not time your stay to align with one of the many astrological events happening in our solar system in the coming months, when it is safe to travel. Two exciting meteor showers will light the sky in October, the Draconid meteors between the 8th and 9th, and the Orionids shower to peak around the 21st. There is nothing quite like a lunar eclipse, with a partial eclipse on the 19th of November and a total solar eclipse taking place on the 4th of December. Also, to feed your night sky delights until then, there is a full moon this Saturday, 24th July
1. Flinders Ranges, SA
A 5-hour drive from Adelaide and you will reach the Flinders Ranges national park. With little to no air pollution in the area, the Ranges are covered in a bright blanket of stars all year round.
Where to stay: Wilpena Pound Resort, situated in the serene Flinders Ranges, Wilpena takes glamping to the next level. You will be in the perfect position to explore the National Park and sleep under the bright, starry night sky.
One of the best places to see the Aurora Australis come to life is on Hobarts highest mountain, Mount Wellington.
Where to stay: Pipeline Chalet Mt Wellington, located 8km from Hobart in Ferntree amongst Mount Wellington. The Chalet provides spacious, open plan living accommodation. The outdoor living spaces centers around a beautiful fireplace to keep you warm whilst stargazing under the moonlight.
3. Dampier Peninsula, WA
The beautiful Kimberly region in Western Australia must not be missed for an unforgettable off-the-grid experience.
Where to stay: Kooljaman at Cape Leveque, is a low impact accommodation choice run on solar power and local bore water. With minimal impact on the environment, Kooljaman is the perfect stargazing playground, on the shores of the Dampier Peninsula.
Located just outside of Mudgee is the Mudgee Observatory which boasts dark skies away from the town lights, making this the perfect location to view the starry night sky as it was intended.
Where to stay: Evenslea Luxury Boutique Accomodation, located in Mudgee a short drive from the Mudgee Observatory. Relax in the lush surroundings of Evenslea after an enlightening visit to the Observatory.
5. Charleville, QLD
A 2.5-hour flight west of Brisbane will take you to Charleville in outback Queensland. Charleville is home to the Cosmos Centre, where you will be transported through indigenous astronomy, to discover elements such as a giant emu in the sky!
Where to stay: The Rocks Motel, located 2 km from the Charleville Cosmos Centre. The Rocks Motel has city style with all the country charm and hospitality expected of the largest town in Southwest Queensland.
One of the top recommended destinations for stargazing by Booking.com travelers and Australia’s most famous natural landmark is Uluru. This iconic rock formation not only makes you feel like you are not on earth, but when the night hits, the sky filled with stars is what will take your breath away. Travelers can learn all about the stars and explore the vast night landscape with the use of telescopes and binoculars during one of the offered stargazing tours, and who knows you may even spot the milky way!
Where to stay: Emu Walk Apartments are just a short walk from Uluru Resort centre and offer a perfect accommodation for travelers to enjoy incredible stargazing that will totally make you feel like you are in outer space. The property offers luxury modern, fully serviced apartments with all the practicalities of home. Guests can enjoy comfort and relaxation after a long day exploring the Uluru area.
*Research commissioned by Booking.com and independently conducted among a sample of adults who have taken a trip in the last 12 months/plan to take a trip in the next 12 months. In total 22,000 respondents were polled (including 1,000 each from Australia, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Japan, China, Brazil, India, US, UK, Russia, Indonesia, Colombia and South Korea; and 500 each from New Zealand, Thailand, Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Hong Kong, Croatia, Taiwan, Mexico, Netherlands, Sweden, Singapore and Israel). Respondents completed an online survey between 9th August to 28th August 2019.
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