River Murray International Dark Sky Reserve

River Murray International Dark Sky Reserve Official: River Murray International Dark Sky Reserve. Managed by MMLSA. Preserving pristine skies & unique nature for & . Lofty Ranges.

The River Murray International Dark Sky Reserve is an initiative of Mid Murray Landcare SA and is Australia's first Dark Sky Reserve. It covers more than 3,200 square kilometres from Bow Hill on the River Murray in the south, to Blanchetown in the north and west to the foothills of the Mt. The region is exceptionally dark, and readings above 21.9 are common. The area is known for its dry climate a

nd cloudless skies. Mid Murray Landcare SA worked closely with the Mid-Murray Council to establish the River Murray International Dark Sky Reserve, which received accreditation from the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) in November 2019.

🖤 THE ULTIMATE DARK SKY SHOWDOWN! 🖤Buckle up, stargazers, because we are right on the doorstep of the official Winter So...
18/06/2026

🖤 THE ULTIMATE DARK SKY SHOWDOWN! 🖤

Buckle up, stargazers, because we are right on the doorstep of the official Winter Solstice! While the exact longest night happens this Sunday, we are kicking off the celebrations a night early on the ground. Join us this Saturday for GROUND TO THE STARS: A Winter Solstice Celebration of Skycare & Landcare. True conservation starts right under our boots, linking sustainable land management directly with the preservation of our epic 3,200 square kilometre Gold-Tier canopy!

SWAN REACH | Saturday, 20 June 2026
Sunrise: 07:16 | Sunset: 17:07
Moonrise: 11:19 | Moonset: 22:58
Astronomical Twilight Ends: 18:37
Moon Phase: Waxing Crescent 🌘 (~33.5%)
Swan Reach, SA | 34.56° S, 139.60° E

[THE SOLSTICE JACKPOT]
This weekend is giving us the absolute jackpot for dark skies. Because the solstice peaks on Sunday, Saturday night acts as the perfect 'Solstice Eve' warmup! We are getting a massive 11 hours and 10 minutes of pure, pitch-black darkness. Compare that to our tiny 6-hour window in summer, and you will see why we are absolutely buzzing for this.

🖤

🖤 ANNOUNCING OUR FLASH GIVEAWAY WINNERS! 🖤We were absolutely blown away by the beautiful, inspiring entries for our "Peo...
18/06/2026

🖤 ANNOUNCING OUR FLASH GIVEAWAY WINNERS! 🖤

We were absolutely blown away by the beautiful, inspiring entries for our "People's Choice" Flash Giveaway over the last 48 hours. Reading through your profound connections to our nightscapes reminds us exactly why we protect the River Murray International Dark Sky Reserve.

A massive congratulations to our two incredible community winners, who have each just scored 10 BONUS ENTRIES into our Giant Skycare Raffle!

🖤 Celeste Jules
🖤 Jo-Anne Schmid

Check out the post to read their beautiful words! We will be in touch with you directly to credit your bonus entries. Thank you for your incredible support of our Dark Skies!

📸 ATTN TICKETHOLDERS: Lock in your Solstice DSLR Field Clinic!Hey Dark Sky family!Want to capture the magic of our prist...
16/06/2026

📸 ATTN TICKETHOLDERS: Lock in your Solstice DSLR Field Clinic!

Hey Dark Sky family!

Want to capture the magic of our pristine Gold-Tier night sky? Renowned landscape and astrophotographer Matt Clarke of Nightscape Odyssey is hosting exclusive, FREE field photography clinics out on the oval starting from 6:30 PM!

To keep these deeply interactive, spots are strictly capped at 10 people per session to ensure quality time.

👇 HOW TO SECURE YOUR SPOT:
We are choosing our workshop groups directly from the comments below! To apply, reply with:

1️⃣ YOUR GEAR: Confirm you are bringing a DSLR/Mirrorless camera with full Manual (M) Mode, a wide-angle lens with f4 or lower (the lower the f-number the better), and a sturdy tripod.
2️⃣ THE SKIES: Finish this sentence – "I want to photograph the Dark Sky because..."

✨ FUTURE WORKSHOPS TEASER:
Demand for Matt's clinics is incredibly high and spaces are tightly limited to just 20 photographers total for the night! If you miss out on a spot this time, don't worry. We are using these comments to gauge interest for standalone, deep-dive photography workshops later this year. Drop your comment below to get on the priority list for future dates!

The Timeline:
We will announce the selected photographers and time slots right here on Thursday 18th June at 10:00 AM.

⚠️ Note: Selected photographers must check in at our Gym Registration Desk between 4:30 PM and 6:00 PM on Saturday to swap their confirmation for a physical token. Unclaimed spots roll over to standby guests at 6:00 PM sharp!

Swipe through to see some of Matt's jaw-dropping captures from the , drop your gear specs below, and let's capture the cosmos! 🌟

🖤 There is something so incredibly special about the landscape and feel of the Mallee after this welcome rain. 🖤Just loo...
16/06/2026

🖤 There is something so incredibly special about the landscape and feel of the Mallee after this welcome rain. 🖤

Just look at the way the bark glows green! From the fresh pops of new growth to the life springing up everywhere you look, the Mid Murray is absolutely drinking it in. These photos were taken deep within the reserve this morning and we just had to share a little sample with you all.

True conservation is about caring for our entire environment from the ground to the stars. This beautiful rain is nourishing the very ecosystem that keeps our Gold-Tier Dark Sky Reserve thriving! 🖤

No matter where you are tuning in from today, what are you enjoying most about this recent rain?

Drop your thoughts (or your own rain photos) in the comments below!

💥 BLOWN AWAY! 💥 Our 80 tickets for our Winter Solstice Celebration sold out in under 48 hours!We now have a massive, gro...
15/06/2026

💥 BLOWN AWAY! 💥 Our 80 tickets for our Winter Solstice Celebration sold out in under 48 hours!

We now have a massive, growing waitlist of 90+ people hoping to get a spot!

What have we learned? We have to go bigger!

As a purely volunteer-run organisation, our vision is to keep these major family events 100% FREE. But to make them free, we still have real costs—we have to pay our guest scientific experts, invest in specialised equipment, and cover event logistics.

Right now, our Giant Skycare Raffle has raised $900. Our goal is $3,000 to completely fund our next BIGGER event.

WE NEED OUR WAITLIST (AND STARS LOVERS) TO RALLY!

If you missed out on a ticket this time, or if you simply believe in protecting our Gold-Tier reserve, purchasing a raffle ticket is how you ensure our next event is bigger, better, and open to everyone. Help us make sure nobody gets left on a waitlist next time!

🔥 WHAT YOU CAN WIN (Total Value $1,935):

Major Prize: A DWARFLAB Dwarf Mini Smart Telescope Kit (Valued at $895)
Plus 5 more incredible prizes featuring local River Murray tourism, accommodation, and dining experiences!

Grab your tickets right now—open nationwide:
🌑 1 Ticket: $3
🌑 4 Tickets: $10
🌑 10 Tickets: $20 (Best Value!)

👉 BUY RAFFLE TICKETS HERE: Secure Your Raffle Tickets here
https://events.humanitix.com/ground-to-the-stars-a-winter-solstice-celebration/tickets

Major raffle drawn live at Swan Reach this Saturday, 20th June! Thank you for helping us look after our land, river, and stars.

🖤 FLASH GIVEAWAY: WIN 10 BONUS ENTRIES INTO OUR GIANT WINTER RAFFLE! 🖤You do NOT need an event ticket to enter the raffl...
15/06/2026

🖤 FLASH GIVEAWAY: WIN 10 BONUS ENTRIES INTO OUR GIANT WINTER RAFFLE! 🖤

You do NOT need an event ticket to enter the raffle or this flash giveaway! We are giving away two prize packs of 10 Bonus Entries into our major draw for a state-of-the-art DWARFLAB Smart Telescope Kit (+ 5 other astro gear & local prizes worth $1,935!).

As passionate volunteers, our dream is simple: "We want the River Murray International Dark Sky Reserve to be known as the place where the community looks after the land, the river, and the stars with equal passion."

To celebrate that passion, we want to hear from YOU!

👇 HOW TO ENTER FOR FREE: 👇

🖤 Finish this sentence in the comments: "I want to protect our dark skies because..."
🖤 Tag the stargazing buddy you want to bring to our next Dark Sky event!

🏆 HOW TO WIN:
The TWO comments with the most 'Likes' by midnight this Wednesday (June 17th) win the 10 bonus entries! Go check out previous entries on our page for ultimate inspiration, get creative, and get your friends voting!
(Want to buy tickets directly right now? Head to the link in our bio!)



https://events.humanitix.com/ground-to-the-stars-a-winter-solstice-celebration/tickets

Your weekend Astronomical Outlook for the River Murray International Dark Sky Reserve (RMIDSR).Throughout the Reserve an...
12/06/2026

Your weekend Astronomical Outlook for the River Murray International Dark Sky Reserve (RMIDSR).

Throughout the Reserve and our surrounding districts, every township plays a vital role in preserving our pristine night skies. This week, we feature Younghusband, recognising the collective commitment to Skycare that protects our natural nighttime heritage from the towering river cliffs to the stars.

YOUNGHUSBAND | Saturday, 13 June 2026
Sunrise: 07:16 | Sunset: 17:08
Moonrise: 05:42 | Moonset: 16:11
Astronomical Twilight Ends: 18:37
Moon Phase: New Moon 🌑 (~3%)
Younghusband, SA | 34.86° S, 139.69° E

[WEEKEND VISUAL SNAPSHOT]

• [Lunar Impact]: Zero. The ultra-thin 3% crescent sets late in the afternoon before twilight even begins, ensuring a completely dark sky all night.

• [Target Window]: An exceptional, continuous 11-hour "Pristine Dark" window opens from twilight's end at 18:37 until tomorrow morning.

• [Southern Hemisphere View]: The new moon phase completely resets our visual baseline, leaving our high-altitude winter core beautifully unhindered.

• [Sky-Health Index]: Baseline Regional Sky Quality monitoring at a world-class 21.95 mag/arcsec².

🖤

GREAT NEWS! Protect our night skies without lifting a finger!The River Murray International Dark Sky Reserve is official...
12/06/2026

GREAT NEWS! Protect our night skies without lifting a finger!

The River Murray International Dark Sky Reserve is officially launching Project Night Watch—our brand-new, large-scale sky quality monitoring network—and we want YOU to join our team!

Supported by , we are deploying automated, solar-powered 4G Night Sky Monitoring stations straight into local paddocks to build a scientific shield for our region.

🛑 Public tickets to our Winter Solstice event are completely SOLD OUT—but we have saved a handful of exclusive, hidden spaces specifically for regional landholders who want to apply to become a host!

Your Exclusive Landholder Pass Includes:
✨ Entry to the Solstice Event on Saturday, 20 June!
✨ Meet the team and see the cool automated "Night Watch" gear live!
✨ Grab a hot fundraising dinner with the Swan Reach CFS crew!

👇 RMIDSR Landholders: Tap the link below to grab your entry pass before they are gone!

🎟️ https://events.humanitix.com/ground-to-the-stars-a-winter-solstice-celebration?accesscode=PROJECT%20NIGHT%20WATCH

🔄 SHARE THIS WITH SOMEONE who owns land in the Reserve and loves our dark skies! Let’s protect our world-class stars together! 👇

(👇 See the first comment below for the quick property checklist!)

Dark Sky Partner Shout-Out: River Murray Dark Sky Tours by House Experiences!Want to experience the magic of the cosmos...
10/06/2026

Dark Sky Partner Shout-Out: River Murray Dark Sky Tours by House Experiences!

Want to experience the magic of the cosmos under the absolute gold-standard of luxury tour hosting? Look no further than our incredible 4th Prize Sponsor: the team at Juggle House Experiences!

🚐 The Experience: As master regional travel jugglers, they operate the award-winning River Murray Dark Sky Tours. They transport you in absolute style in their custom Mercedes 'Entertainer' coach right out into exclusive, pitch-black private properties inside the pristine core of our Reserve.

🔭 The Science: Led by professional guides, you’ll receive an expert-guided tour of ancient star systems, nebulas, and constellations using high-powered green lasers and heavy-duty tracking telescopes—completely free from city light pollution.

✨ Happening THIS WEEKEND (12–13 June): Ancient Skies Tour Feature! ✨
Ever wondered how Aboriginal Australians read the same night skies watched by the Ancient Egyptians? Space is limited for this weekend's exclusive tour featuring world-renowned cultural astronomy specialist Paul 'Starman' Curnow (celebrating 33 years at the Adelaide Planetarium)!

👉 Book This Weekend's Tour Directly Here: https://www.rivermurraydarkskytours.com.au/book-now/

🖤 The Raffle Prize: We are so incredibly grateful to Kelly and the Juggle House team for donating a River Murray Dark Sky Tours Double Pass (valued at $260) to aid our volunteer conservation goals!

👉 Put the balls down, relax, and support our Citizen Science mission by securing your raffle entries today! You don't need to attend the Solstice event to win:

🎟️ Enter the Raffle Here: https://events.humanitix.com/ground-to-the-stars-a-winter-solstice-celebration/tickets

08/06/2026

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT: The Tiny Telescope Revolutionising Skycare

Ever wanted to capture a distant galaxy but felt completely overwhelmed by complicated astrophotography gear? Say hello to our incredible Sponsor: DWARF LAB

The Science: Traditional deep-sky imaging requires heavy motorized tracking mounts, special polar alignment scopes, and complex DSLR adapters. The DWARF mini Smart Telescope changes everything. Weighing only 840g, it connects directly to your smartphone or tablet.

Why it’s pure Skycare magic: Using advanced star tracking and an internal Sony Starvis sensor, you simply tap an object like the Orion Nebula or Saturn on your screen. The tiny telescope automatically moves, tracks, and stacks multiple exposures right before your eyes to reveal vibrant celestial colours. It makes universe exploration completely accessible to curious beginners and local landholders alike.

🖤 A massive thank you to the team at DWARFLAB for donating the ultimate mini Smart Telescope Kit (valued at $895) for our Winter Solstice Raffle.

👉 Grab your individual raffle tickets online right here to support our Skycare monitoring networks: https://events.humanitix.com/ground-to-the-stars-a-winter-solstice-celebration/tickets

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106 Bundilla Road
Cambrai, SA
5353

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