This short and sweet self-catering, self-drive adventure will begin in Gingin and end in Jurien Bay following the newly established “Astrotourism Trail”.
Caravans, camper-trailers, campers and all types of vehicles are welcome & you don’t need a 4WD to participate. Our group will travel in a small convoy led by one of WA’s best tour guides, Jeremy Perks, and his partner Jan Barrie. Accommodation will be in caravan parks each night and the program will include a complimentary ‘Welcome Sky-High Tea’ and a ‘Force-Be-With-You Farewell Dinner’.
Speakers in the fields of astronomy, telescope viewing, astrotourism, astro-photography, Aboriginal astronomy and celestial navigation including self-proclaimed “Astroboy” Riley Johnston & apprentice guide Bryan Mitchell will share their knowledge through private presentations & demonstrations. We will also learn how to use telescopes & visit the Gravity Discovery Centre Observatory in Gingin.
According to the experts, at this time of year there should be good sightings of Jupiter, Saturn & Mars, which will be closer to Earth this year than anytime before 2035 - we might even be able to see some surface features! There will be heaps of other fascinating sparkly stuff to check out as well.
Some telescopes will be available but participants are encouraged to bring their own cameras, tripods, binoculars and telescopes to practice & improve their astro-skills with tips from the pro’s. Dates & venues have been selected to offer maximum nighttime viewing opportunities while daylight hours will be filled with sightseeing & astro-related seminars.
The tour is a joint venture with the Stargazers Club of WA. Club Founder Carol Redford says, “We are very excited to be working with Global Gypsies once again to introduce their clients to our State’s magnificent night sky. We encourage anyone wanting a star-studded experience to participate in this unique hands-on adventure.”
The tour costs $940 per person including caravan/camping sites, activities, entry fees, guest speakers, a Pre-Departure Kit & complimentary welcome & farewell functions. Numbers are strictly limited.
Download the tour flyer