Every time I fly home to Sydney, I’m reminded how much of a stunner it is. From the plane window, you get a postcard view of glossy skyscrapers and heritage architecture poking high into the sky, framed by the sparkling blue harbour. But while Sydney’s skyline might be the most famous worldwide – courtesy of those two iconic landmarks – an underrated Aussie town has just been named home to the country’s most viral skyline.
From coastlines to cityscapes, a new study by Frameshop combined Google search data, Instagram hashtags and a weighted popularity index to uncover Australia’s most snapped and searched skylines. They looked at the 20 most populous cities across the country – so it’s a pretty big deal that Port Douglas stole the spotlight as the most viral skyline in Australia.
Sandwiched between two World Heritage wonders – the Daintree Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef – this tropical town in Far North Queensland is an absolute stunner. It topped the charts with more than half a million Instagram posts and hundreds of monthly Google searches, cementing its status as Australia’s most sought-after skyline.
If you’re looking for a postcard-worthy sunrise snap in Port Douglas, look no further than Flagstaff Hill. It’s an easy 1.5-kilometre walk to Trinity Bay Lookout, where you’ll take in stunning views of Four Mile Beach, the Daintree Rainforest and the Coral Sea. The trail winds back through bushland to the coconut-fringed shores of Rex Smeal Park – one of the best sunset spots in town (if you like to sleep in).
Queensland dominates the list of Australia’s most sought-after skylines, claiming an impressive seven out of the top ten positions. One of our favourite spots in Brisbane, Kangaroo Point, ranks second, claiming the highest number of Google searches for sunset viewing. With its blend of riverside charm and sweeping views of the city skyline, it offers a striking contrast to other popular Queensland backdrops like the Glass House Mountains, Tamborine Mountain and Snapper Rocks.
Looking across Australia’s other capital cities, other popular skylines include Lake Burley Griffin in Canberra, Cottesloe Beach in Perth, Mindil Beach in Darwin, Milson’s Point in Sydney, St Kilda Pier in Melbourne and Kingston Beach in Hobart. You can find your closest viral skyline with our summary of the rankings below.
Here are the 10 most popular skylines in Australia
- Port Douglas, QLD
- Kangaroo Point, QLD
- Glass House Mountains, QLD
- Tamborine Mountain, QLD
- Snapper Rocks, QLD
- Cottesloe Beach, WA
- Warners Bay, NSW
- Lake Burley Griffin, ACT
- Fitzroy Island, QLD
- Wellington Point, QLD
Here are the most popular skylines in Australia’s biggest cities
- Kangaroo Island, Adelaide
- Lake Wendouree, Ballarat
- Kangaroo Point, Brisbane
- Port Douglas, Cairns
- Lake Burley Griffin, Canberra
- Mindil Beach, Darwin
- Kingston Beach, Hobart
- Cradle Mountain, Launceston
- St Kilda Pier, Melbourne
- Warners Bay, Newcastle
- Milsons Point, Sydney