VicSouth Desert Spring Star Party 2011

If you've never been to a VicSouth before....:

• A Google Maps satellite image of the Little Desert Nature Lodge.
• Google Earth mosaic satellite images of the Lodge, identifying its accommodation, parking & observing areas (717kB jpg) and showing some of the nearby walking trails (432kB jpg).

• Leon Geljon's video slideshow of VicSouth 2006 (70MB wmv).
• Leon Geljon's video slideshow of his VicSouth 2007 trip (79MB wmv).
• Leon Geljon's video slideshow of his VicSouth 2008 trip (105MB wmv).
• Phil Hart's time-lapse video of Saturday night at VicSouth 2008 (169MB avi).

When is it?

VicSouth 2011 happens from Friday afternoon October 28 to Monday morning October 31,
and will proceed regardless of weather.

Programme of events

(under construction)

FRIDAY
3pm onwards -- registration
6pm -- dinner
8pm to 10:30pm -- Public astronomy session on the main lawn, weather permitting.

SATURDAY
6pm -- dinner

SUNDAY
6pm -- dinner

MONDAY
checkout before noon, and we'll see you next October for VicSouth 2012

Registration Fee

Everyone attending VicSouth 2011 will need to pay a Registration Fee when they arrive -- $10 per person for ASSA and ASV members (and their families), $15 per person for anyone else. No credit cards accepted for the Registration Fee, sorry.
The registration fee is in addition to any accommodation and meal package you may have paid to the Lodge (see below for details)

Accommodation at the Lodge

Each accommodation and meal package includes 2 nights accommodation, 2 two course evening meals, 2 sandwich lunches (rolls/wraps with choice of 2 meats, salad & fresh fruit); and Continuous tea, coffee or Milo in the dining room. A third night can be added to the package for additional cost.
Please advise any special dietary needs when booking.
There is no organised breakfast on any day because many of you will probably still be asleep...

Onsite accommodation includes:

• Motel rooms with ensuite bathroom, small fridge and reverse cycle airconditioning.
       Single Package (room + meals): $231 per person ($115.50 per person per night).
       Double or Twin Package 2 people per room (room + meals): $181 per person ($90.50 per person per night)
  24 motel rooms, mostly twin share. Includes 2 rooms for disabled.
• Bunk rooms (minimum 2 people per room, up to 4 people per room).
       Package (room + meals): $119 per person ($59.50 per person per night)
  Power outlet in all 16 bunk rooms. BYO bed linen or sleeping bags. The bunk rooms have a toilet/shower/laundry block shared with the campground.
• A large campground for tents and caravans.
       Package (site + meals): $110 per person ($55 per person per night)
       Self Catering Package (no meals, but includes your site and the Continuous tea & coffee): $34 per person ($17 per person per night)
  There are a few powered sites, first come first served....

Yes you can book a three night Fri+Sat+Sun package. Just add the appropriate extra day's payment to the two night Package.
Accommodation extensions are subject to availability. Also note that the Lodge will be operating its usual (bright) night time lighting before & after VicSouth weekend.

Contact the Lodge directly to book your onsite accommodation and meal package.
Phone (03) 5391 5232
write PO Box 202 NHILL Vic 3400
email info /a^t littledesertlodge d0t com d0t au     (deliberately mangled to thwart spam harvesters; replace /a^t with @ and d0t/ with . )

Onsite accommodation is optional. You can stay in Nhill if you prefer. See the tourism links on the main page for contact details of local hotels, motels and caravan parks. You will still need to pay the Registration Fee.

Also see the VicSouth 2004 report, which includes a lot of photos of the accommodation.

Meals and drinks at the Lodge

Coffee, tea & Milo from the dining room are included in your accommodation package. But any drinks from the Lodge's bar are to be paid for by you at time of purchase. No BYO in dining room during meal times.

Cooking in rooms is prohibited and cooking outdoors must comply with National Park fire regulations. In practical terms this means no campfires so you will need to use a gas cooker or gas BBQ, or the coin operated electric BBQ on site. There is a limited amount of communal fridge space available, and each of the motel rooms also has a small fridge.

There is a 7-day supermarket and a 24 hour petrol station on Nhill's main street. There are also takeaways and pub counter meals available there.

Bookings

Download the VicSouth 2011 booking form.
Note that the booking form refers to "Friday 28 Oct to Sunday 30 Oct" as the dates. From the Lodge's point of view this is correct because it refers to your nights of accommodation. If you actually book all three of those nights you will be arriving on Friday and departing on Monday morning. If you book only two nights you will be staying for either Friday+Saturday (departing Sunday) or Saturday+Sunday (departing Monday).

Yes you can book a three night Fri+Sat+Sun package. Just add the appropriate extra day's payment to the two night Package.

Contact

VicSouth home page : www.vicsouth.info