I'm at the same stage, except that I already went into a swamp dungeon and got iron. It also had one of those stones in it that tell you where the boss of a certain biome is. Now that I know where Bonemass is, I went there with my ship and found a black forest close to it.

That's where I'm building my base right now.

I have a main base in the meadows and several satellite bases in each biome.
In my last run, I was lucky : My Meadows base was very near a Dark forest and a swamp land. So I had everything near me to get to the iron age.

It's really up to you actually. If you are in the wrong place you will soon notice it. :)

Thanks, I've found a big plains biome with what looks like several big stone fingers. There is a huge mountain and a very small swamp nearby. I think i will go close to that place

Your best place are meadows close to BF until you get full silver ( beat the mountain ) , having a good farm too
After that you have to settle in the plains for new resources

Please note that bronze armor probally won't save you from plains mosquitos!