The best stargazing in Australia
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Time Out
7 days ago
- Time Out
The best stargazing in Australia
lives, has been officially recognised as Australia's – and the whole Southern Hemisphere's – first 'Urban Night Sky Place' (UNSP). The 62-hectare designated area is at the northern end of Palm Beach, incorporating Barrenjoey Headland, which is part of the Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park – as well as Governor Phillip Park (which, hot tip, is probably a safer place to be after dark than the headland and its rocky walking tracks). Be careful where you step, or keep an eye out for guided tours with the National Parks and Wildlife Services (NPWS).
Time Out
20-05-2025
- Time Out
NSW national park camping prices are set to increase to deal with "ghost campers"
There's nothing quite like going hiking by day and sitting around a crackling fire by night – getting off grid and connecting with nature. For many Australians, camping is one of the last affordable ways to get away. But it's about to become less affordable, as the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) has proposed an overhaul of its pricing system across 365 campgrounds, the first significant change to its fee system since 2017. Why? To simplify bookings, standardise fees across all sites, and tackle big issues like 'ghost camping' (that's when people book sites but don't show up, which makes booking to camp difficult). The new tiered-pricing system would be based on facilities at any particular campsite. A basic bush clearing site in a national park would be free, while the next tier with pit toilets may cost $13 per night during low season and $22 during high season. Still not bad! That said, top-tier sites with showers, flushing toilets and barbecue facilities could jump to $89 per night during peak season (i.e. during school holidays). The issue of ghost camping is a big one – the low (or zero) cost of camping currently means that people book out a whole lot of spots, a long way in advance, that they may not even intend to necessarily show up for. And the NPWS says the change will bring fairness and transparency to a system where prices currently vary wildly. That said, of course there are critics of the new system – some arguing it risks locking out families and solo travellers who rely on camping as a budget-friendly break. Under the new fee system, solo campers would need to pay the same as a group of six, which could end up locking out a lot of camping enthusiasts from national parks. Take Cattai Campground in the Hawkesbury: right now, it's $36.90 for a family of four. Under the new structure, it jumps to $89 in high season and $54 in low. Some fear that linking price to facilities alone misses the point of camping – that not every site is the same. Others say pre-authorised credit card holds could solve 'ghost bookings' without raising prices. While the proposal includes more generous refunds (up to 80 per cent if cancelled three days ahead), many feel camping in national parks should remain accessible for all – especially at a time when cozzie livs is hitting hard.
BBC News
15-10-2024
- BBC News
Donegal: Rare white-tailed eagles sighting thrills nature lovers
A rare sighting of two of the largest birds of prey in the UK and Ireland near the Londonderry-Donegal border is delighting local nature white-tailed eagles arrived at the Inch Levels Wildfowl Reserve in Burt, County Donegal, around six weeks older of the raptors, marked N, is one of a number that were reintroduced to Ireland by the Golden Eagle Trust (GET) and National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) more than 10 years younger eagle, tagged as 47, is from a cohort of birds brought to Ireland this year, NPWS confirmed. Photographer Conor Corbett, from County Antrim, is among those who have made their way to the Donegal nature reserve to catch a told BBC News NI he had seen the older bird at Inch before, around three years ago.'It's been coming back every winter so I knew it was going to be there,' he the right shot, he added, is 'just a matter of checking the area and tree lines'.'I had spotted N and there perched on the trees was 47. Seeing one is great but two was even better,' he said. Conor added: 'Both birds came in pretty close and put on a great display. It's great to get some shots for reference like the ID tags and colours. You can see by the tail colour that one is a sub adult and the other is a juvenile.'The white-tailed eagle, or 'sea eagle', stands at almost 1m tall, with a huge wingspan of up to 2.4m and a distinctive white can live to over 20 years of age and usually begin breeding at five years old. Boyd Bryce lives on Inch told BBC Radio Foyle's North West Today programme the birds have been generating great interest since they were seen for the first time this year around six weeks said people were delighted they had made their way 'up to Donegal'.'On Sunday past two residents got some great footage and there's lovely photographs on social media," he said."There is one of the individual sitting right on top of Inch castle. It's a spectacular photograph." In a statement, NPWS said a number of white-tailed eagles from its reintroduction programme had visited County Donegal over the last number of months. From 2007 to 2011, 100 eagle chicks were brought from Norway and released in Killarney National Park, County conservation effort was to secure a viable population following extinction from Ireland in the late 19th two of the programme continued in 2020 with more young birds released at a number of sites across was wing-tagged, with colours relating to their year of birth and many were fitted with satellite tags to track their locations.
