MarkB
Legend
From Wookiepedia:
"The Episode II DVD-ROM Exclusive Content states that "the cluster known as the Rishi Maze may be the bright object that Luke and Leia stare at at the end of The Empire Strikes Back." However, Leland Chee confirmed on the StarWars.com Message Boards that the object seen in Episode V is the Star Wars galaxy,[3] despite this requiring the Rebel fleet to have traveled a very long distance from the galaxy. However, such a travel is possible according to the Outbound Flight Project led by Jedi Master Jorus C'baoth. The Rebel fleet could also be in the Rishi Maze during this scene, and thus able to view the main galaxy from outside."
The Rishi Maze, formally known as Companion Aurek, was one of the seven satellite dwarf galaxies that orbited the galaxy proper.
A large factor in plotting and flying hyperspace routes in the Star Wars universe is finding safe, fast courses around major gravity wells. So it's entirely possible that once you get out into intergalactic space away from any gravity wells, hyperspatial travel could become significantly faster and easier.