The most beautiful places to watch the sunrise in Australia

Where: Blue Mountains, NSW

How far? 1.5-hour drive from Sydney

If you’re partial to a lovely lookout, Echo Point isn’t just the MVP of the Blue Mountains – it was crowned one of Australia’s best lookout spots for uninterrupted gazing in 2024. At dawn, you can watch the sky swirl in all shades of yellow, orange and fairy floss pink as the sun rises from behind the legendary Three Sisters. These sandstone peaks formed thousands of years ago by erosion, and once it’s bright enough, you’ll enjoy jaw-dropping views of Mount Solitary, the Ruined Castle and the Jamison Valley. 

Where: Mount Lofty, Adelaide, SA

How far? 20-minute drive from Adelaide CBD

Ask any Adelaide dweller, Mount Lofty is one of South Australia’s crowning glories. Located in the Adelaide Hills just 17 kilometres from the city centre, it’s an idyllic high ground steeped with hiking trails and flora-infused picnic spots that are scattered with native fauna and excellent photography points. Complete with a café and an overshadowing lighthouse at 710 metres above sea level, Mount Lofty Summit makes for a picturesque place to soak up the new day’s rays cast over central Adelaide from the east. 

Where: Grampians National Park, VIC

How far? 3.5-hour drive from Melbourne CBD

If you love a good sunrise but also love a good sleep-in, Boroka Lookout is the first light location for you. It’s the most accessible vantage point in the Grampians National Park, boasting breathtaking 360-degree vistas over Halls Gap, Lake Bellfield, and the Wonderland and Mount William mountain ranges. Boroka is a popular perch, so you’ll want to rock up early to snag a prime spot. Or, if you’re up for a bit more of a mission, head to Chatauqua Peak or Pinnacle Lookout for equally epic, less-crowded views.

Where: Brisbane, QLD

How far? 15-minute drive from Brisbane CBD

Welcome the new day by marinating in the Sun’s glorious beams atop Mount Coot-tha in suburban Brisbane. Positioned just seven kilometres to the west of the city centre, Mount Coot-tha well and truly rises to the occasion at 226 metres above sea level, taking claim to Brisbane’s highest point. Here, all-encompassing views of the big smoke and Moreton Bay are a spectacle to behold as the sun rises behind the vast sprawl and directly into your eyeballs. 

Where: Hobart, TAS

How far? 30-minute drive from Hobart CBD

Ascend to new heights at kunanyi/Mount Wellington. Looming over Tasmania’s capital, Hobart, the 1,271-metre peak is a smorgasbord for wildlife and diverse botany, including forest, woodlands and alpine environments – not to mention an astonishing locale for panoramic sunrises. Reflections from the River Derwent illuminate the foot of the mountain, while Hobart’s neighbouring hilly terrain creates silhouettes as the sun streaks the sky. It’s not uncommon to encounter snow on top of the enormous urban mound in the height of winter – so pack your wellies and rug up for an unforgettable Tasmanian sunrise.

Where: Uluru, NT

How far? 5.5-hour drive from Alice Springs

When it comes to once-in-a-lifetime experiences, it’s hard to beat those on offer in Australia’s Red Centre. Now, the siren’s call of the great red north has become even louder, because an all-new, immersive Indigenous art experience has just been unveiled. Sunrise Journeys illuminates the talents of three Anangu artists who have collaborated on a bespoke dot painting that shares the story of their deep connection to culture and Country. The vast desert landscape of Uluru and Kata Tjuta is a natural canvas for their artwork, which is recreated on the dusty red sands before sunrise using cutting-edge laser and light projection. Other more casual sunrise spots include Talinguṟu Nyakunytjaku and the Kata Tjuṯa dune viewing area.

Where: Departs from Lavender Bay boat ramp, Sydney, NSW

How far? Five-minute drive from Sydney CBD

Take in the sweeping views of Sydney Harbour, including the Harbour Bridge and Opera House, as the sun rises from the water on a kayaking tour. The hardest part of the adventure is getting up before 5am – but rising early gives you glassy waters and glorious photo opportunities that’ll make your hungover friends incredibly jealous on a Sunday morning.

Where: Stirling Range National Park, WA

How far? 4.5-hour drive from Perth

‘The early bird catches the worm,’ so they say. But we’re yet to hear anyone say ‘the early bird gazes upon one of the best sunrises in Western Australia at Bluff Knoll’ – weird. Located 407 kilometres south-east of Perth, the Knoll looms as the Stirling Ranges’ highest peak at a whopping 1099 metres in elevation, and is blanketed by eucalypt woodlands, banksia, grass trees and rocks coming out of the wazoo. The break of day sees the heavens saturate everything in its path with the golden glow of the sun, and it’s a surefire one to contemplate. 

Where: Byron Bay, NSW

How far? Ten-minute drive from Byron Bay

Trust us: there’s more to the hippie beach town of Byron Bay than what you saw on Byron Baes. Wake up with the sun and walk along the headland to the old-fashioned Cape Byron Lighthouse (which happens to be Australia’s most easterly point). Keep your eyes out for wallabies, dolphins and even whales, and pack your swimmers for a post-climb dip in the sparkling blue shores at Wategos Beach.

Where: Kangaroo Island, SA

How far? Two-hour drive from Penneshaw ferry terminal

Aptly named, Remarkable Rocks at the tip of Flinders Chase National Park is a Kangaroo Island wonder. The commanding maze of granite boulders has formed across the past 500 million years and is peppered with golden-orange lichen that complements gleams of morning sunlight – what a time to be alive. The precarious stones cast dramatic shadows as dawn turns to day across the abstruse Southern Ocean – a remarkable sight, one may say. As with anything, keep your wits about you – smooth surfaces and unpredictable waters can be hazardous at the best of times.

Where: Townsville, QLD

How far? Ten-minute drive from Townsville City

Standing proudly in the heart of Townsville is Castle Hill, a pink granite monolith that rises to a height of 286 metres and reigns over the semi-rural, Northern Queensland town. The heritage-listed Hill boasts 360-degree views from its summit and reels in the first light over the beautiful, briny Coral Sea and fringing Great Barrier Reef. With the sun inevitably rising in the east, you may just be one of the first in Australia to lay your eyes on the big ball of fire in the sky.

Where: Canberra, ACT

How far? Five-minute drive from Canberra CBD

If you’re partial to a 360-degree lookout, this short and steep trail connecting up Mount Ainslie is a must. You’ll want to time your summit with sunrise to beat the heat and enjoy the best views overlooking the Australian War Memorial, Parliament House, the mountains of Namadgi National Park and beyond. If you’ve already hit your step count for the day, then you can also drive to the top of the summit with breakfast in tow. 

Where: Rottnest Island, WA

How far? 1.5-hour ferry ride from Perth

Situated just 21 kilometres off Perth’s coastline, Rottnest is Western Australia’s isle jewel  – and not just for the drop-dead-cute marsupial quokkas. What the island lacks in square kilometres, it makes up for in marine sanctuaries, paradisal beaches and top-tier coves for witnessing divine dawns. Rainbow-like gradients grace the horizon with Bathurst Lighthouse as a backdrop for the creeping sun. It’s a sight for sore eyes, to say the least.

Where: Cape Hillsborough, Mackay, QLD

How far? 1.5-hour drive from Brisbane

Casuarina Beach in Cape Hillsborough National Park is renowned for its sunrises, and for good reason. The secluded Far North Queensland utopia is located 52 kilometres north of Mackay and sees congregations of eastern grey kangaroos and wallabies grazing the shoreline for seaweed and mangrove seed pods each morning – now that’s a breakfast with a view. As the day breaks over the Coral Sea’s horizon, the turquoise waters and pale sands contrast the resident fauna like some kind of enchanting mirage. Casuarina Beach’s first light makes for a rare instance where the sun’s flare isn’t the main event – hop to it.

Where: Kings Park State War Memorial and Mends Street Jetty, Perth, WA

How far? Five-minute drive from Perth CBD

Coming in hot with a two-for-one deal, it’s Kings Park State War Memorial and Mends Street Jetty out in the west. Proximity-wise, the pair are situated just an eight-minute drive apart, and both offer an incoming sunrise at the base of Perth City’s skyline with tranquil Swan River views alike. Here’s the difference – Kings Park State War Memorial is perched 50-odd metres above sea level, while Mends Street Jetty is smack-bang on the water. Different locations, similar perspectives – aquatic and metropolitan vistas at inner-city convenience with licks of multicoloured hues painting the sky.

Where: Darwin, NT

How far? Five-minute drive from Darwin CBD

Find an inner-city slice of peace at Darwin’s Stokes Hill Wharf. Located 1.5 kilometres from the Northern Territory capital, the wharf is popular with early risers and last-minute risers alike. Funnily enough, no hills are involved, so you can roll out of bed and onto the wharf for a majestic sunrise over the shimmering seas. Stokes Hill Wharf has got the lot, with alfresco eateries specialising in local seafood, museums and live music, on occasion. As for the sunrise, roost up facing eastward and peer across the Timor Sea inlet with Charles Darwin National Park and the likes over the pastel, morning waters.