Need help with Australian constellations

[malaprop2000]

Hope someone here lives in Australia - or New Zealand.

Am writing a fanfic and need to now if there are any particularly 
bright constellations (it's October in Potter time)  that Harry might 
be able to see and remember (it's a dream sequence).

I have a star guide and I really love the idea of Harry seeing the 
Phoenix but I want to make sure that he could see it.  The Southern 
Cross looks like it would be an excellent choice - four bright stars 
in the shape of a cross -  but I don't know if it can actually be seen 
from the Southern Hemisphere.

Our boy is about 100 miles north of Alice Springs.

Yes, I know the likelyhood of an Australian or New Zealander surfing 
the net and finding this fic is nil but I'd like to get it right if 
possible.

You can e-mail me off list at malaprop2000 at yahoo.com.  Or just post 
here.  Thanks for any help you can give me.