Warrumbungle National Park in New South Wales has placed second in a new international ranking of stargazing destinations, behind Pic du Midi in France.
The Clean Sky Index assessed 11 locations using four criteria: light pollution, the frequency of clear nights, accessibility from a major international hub and official Dark Sky certification. Sky quality carried the greatest weighting, followed by clear weather and ease of access.
Warrumbungle ranked ahead of destinations including Grasslands National Park in Canada, Namibia’s NamibRand Nature Reserve, Chile’s Atacama Desert and Mauna Kea in Hawaii. New Zealand’s Aoraki Mackenzie placed eighth.
The result gives Australian travel agents another domestic experience to consider for clients interested in astronomy, nature based travel and regional short breaks. Warrumbungle was also identified as Australia’s first Dark Sky Park.
According to the research, accessibility can be as important as darkness when travellers choose where to view the night sky. Destinations offering strong conditions without lengthy or difficult journeys may appeal to a broader range of visitors.
The remaining top 10 included AlUla in Saudi Arabia, La Palma in Spain and Cherry Springs State Park in the United States. The study limited the number of destinations from any one country to maintain geographical variety.
