Lord Howe Island, 600km east of Port Macquarie is one of the first places in Australia to see the sunrise every day. The whole island is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site for its natural significance, and about 70 per cent of the island is protected reserve. And it’s uncrowded: only 400 tourists are allowed on the island at any one time. Any of the beaches along the island’s east coast offer stunning views of the sun rising out of the Pacific Ocean, but Ned’s Beach is particularly popular with those who want to stick around for a swim or snorkel once the sun is up.
Sunrise and sunset change the colours of Uluru from an inky purple through to deep red, rusty orange and brown, and then back again. It isn’t just Uluru that changes; a vast expanse of the sandy desert, as well as Kata Tjuta can be seen from a number of viewing platforms around the national park. Some walks access the base of the monolith, but the best views are from a distance. The viewing platforms have tables, shelters and toilets available for visitors, and are close to car parks if you don’t want to stick around after dark. If you come in for sunrise, the viewing platforms are a great base to start your explorations from.
The Three Sisters rock formation is located just outside Katoomba in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney. The three peaks jut out from the bush, towering up to 922m above the valley floor. The sandstone peaks were formed when wind and water eroded the surface and softer layers of rock. Now, the surface is rippled and rough, so the light bounces off in many directions, creating different shades of pink and gold, while casting a long finger-like shadow across the valley floor. There is a lookout at the visitor centre which gives views across the Megalong Valley, or the eager can descend the Golden Staircase and stand beside the Three Sisters themselves.
The Nullarbor covers more than 200,000sq.km, and is 1100km wide, so it is one of few places where visitors have unobstructed views of both sunrise and sunset. Koonalda Homestead on the Nullarbor Plain is an abandoned homestead that travellers can use for accommodation on their drive across. It’s a good place to base yourself if you want to explore the nearby Koonalda caves. There are also a number of free camping areas between the Nullarbor Roadhouse and Border Village if you want to feel like you’re the only person in the world.
Wineglass Bay is renowned for its white sands and aquamarine water, but at sunrise the park’s granite cliffs add to the mix with a brilliant pink. Rising straight up out of the sea and sheltering the bay, the granite cliffs act as an aesthetic border to the ocean. There are a number of lookouts on the way to Wineglass Bay where walkers can watch the sunrise, but for a really rewarding experience, climb Mt Amos. The track is steep and rough, but the climb is worth it for the stunning panorama over the Freycinet Peninsula.
Western Australia’s coast is known as the Sunset Coast for good reason. The exceptionally long and easily accessible beaches give unhindered views of the sun sinking into the Indian Ocean nearly every night. The 22km stretch of white sand known as Cable Beach is the perfect spot to watch from, the sand is transformed by the sunset into an expanse of sparkling gold, and you’ll have the ‘mirror effect’ where you can see a reflection of the sun on the ocean. Cable Beach is easily accessed from Broome by road or on foot, and there are a number of camping spots along the beach.
The views from Australia’s tallest peak – Mt Kosciuszko, stretch across the alpine beauty of the Snowy Mountains to the horizon. The snow and mountains reflect the golden hues and reds of the sunset so you feel as though you are standing in a painting. There are a number of walks to reach the summit, either from Charlotte Pass or Thredbo. The shortest route involves taking the chairlift from Thredbo, and then about a 45 minute round trip to the summit. If you want to watch the sunset, and don’t fancy walking back in the dark, camping is allowed virtually anywhere in the national park.
You can climb the harbour bridge as part of an organised tour, ascend the 200 steps to the information centre housed in one of the pylons, or as a pedestrian you can walk the whole way across free of charge. From here you’ll be able to look out across the iconic harbour to the Opera House, Circular Quay, Fort Dennison and across the city. The glass of the skyscrapers reflects the colours of the sun and sky, and you’ll be able to stay well after dark with full visibility as the city lights flicker on.
The rock outcrops around Ubirr used to be home to mobs of Aboriginal people who have adorned the walls with paintings of people and of food. There are three main rock painting sites, and during the dry season the walls provide a brilliant backdrop to sunsets and sunrises over Kakadu. However, the access road is low-lying and isn’t suitable in the Wet, so instead head to the Nourlangie area, and Gunwarddehwardde lookout, where there is more rock art, as well as impressive views over Kakadu’s escarpment and Nourlangie Rock.
The Busselton Wharf is the longest wooden structure in the southern hemisphere and extends nearly 2km out from the shore. It hasn’t been in use commercially since 1971, but visitors can walk to the end or catch the Jetty Train, where there are unobstructed views of the sun setting into the Indian Ocean. If you arrive a little early you can visit the Interpretive Centre for a history of the jetty, or the Underwater Observatory, just 40m from the end.
Home Travel Destinations Gallery: The Best Sunrise And Sunset Spots
Exploring the Kimberley by land delivers a more immersive and cultural experience, and you don’t have to rough it, with luxurious lodges to stay in.
“One of the things our guests enjoy most about the rockpools is meeting the resident clownfish in water at a depth of only a few inches.”
Join a local and unwrap the many and wondrous gifts of Christmas Island.
Our much loved calendars and diaries are now available for 2024. Adorn your walls with beautiful artworks year round. Order today.
From cuddly companions to realistic native Australian wildlife, the range also includes puppets that move and feel like real animals.