The 21 Best Places For Stargazing In Australia

Our most stellar natural lightshows are utterly enchanting – once you know where to find them.

We’re a sun-loving nation, home to some of the world’s most extraordinary daylight attractions. But our starry nights are seriously underrated. Dotted with state-of-the-art observatories, dark sky parks that limit light pollution and spectacular scenic vantage points, Australia is a stargazer’s wonderland. Allow us to shine a light…

1. Uluru, NT

For a deeply spiritual experience, it’s hard to beat peering up above Uluṟu-Kata Tjuta National Park towards an infinite blanket of twinkling lights. Free of artificial luminosity and big-city pollution, the sacred land offers magnificent views of the Milky Way, Southern Cross, Magellanic Could galaxies and other constellations.

a sky full of stars in Uluru — Book a stargazing trip with Uluru Astro Tours. (Image: Tourism NT/Tourism Australia)

Ayers Rock Resort runs Astro Tours that explore the evolution of our universe using telescopes so it’s a great pick if you’d like some guidance.

Astro Tour Uluru — Join Astro Tours to explore the evolution of our universe using telescopes. (Image: Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia)

2. Kunanyi/Mount Wellington, Tas

It’s no secret Tassie is the best place to view the southern hemisphere’s fantastical Aurora Australis, also known as the Southern Lights, but did you know Hobart’s Mount Wellington is an ideal viewing spot?

Wait for a dark, clear night, and climb hard because the higher you get, the more likely you’ll spot the elusive lightshow. For your best bet, bring a camera – a slow shutter will capture it easier than your peepers.

Aurora Australis, South Coast Track — Witness the spectacular Aurora Australis in Tasmania. (Image: Matty Eaton)

3. Sydney Observatory, NSW

Explore the night sky from the depths of one of Sydney’s most colourful corners at the Sydney Observatory in Millers Point. The heritage-listed building, striking in its old sandstone glory, provides a sweeping vantage point plus plenty of fascinating relics to stickybeak in its museum as your astrological enlightenment lingers into the evening. Nightly tours run from Wednesday to Saturday.

night sky with twinkling stars at the Sydney Observatory in Millers Point — Admire the shimmering night sky. (Image: Courtesy of Powerhouse. Credit: Geoff Wyatt)

4. Mudgee Observatory, NSW

Once you’ve ticked off the very best Mudgee wine tours and experiences, head to the west of the region to experience the Mudgee Observatory . Telescopes and binoculars are on hand to sharpen your vision and there’s also a planetarium and theatre that screens educational films. Tours are also scheduled regularly so check the website for up-to-date session times.

Couple enjoying the firepit while stargazing from the DulliTent at Sierra Escape, Piambong. — Admire the night sky in Mudgee. (Image: Guy Williment)

5. Grampians National Park, Vic

After a day spent wandering through walking trails, waterfalls and sensational bushland, make tracks to Reed Lookout in Victoria’s Grampians National Park for a magical light show. The sky gets extremely dark out there, and there’s nothing but clear yonder to stare into, so the popular lookout spot will throw up sensational stargazing conditions all year round. The Hollow Mountain Lookout provides another amazing vantage point.

the Hollow Mountain Lookout at Grampians National Park, Vic — Hollow Mountain is great for fantastic star views. (Image: Visit Victoria)

6. Leon Mow Dark Sky Site, Vic

If you’re an avid stargazer, you’ll be all over dark sky parks and just how magnificent they are. The wide-open spaces offer killer clear skies due to the limitation of street lights, lights turning off at a certain hour each night and the removal of upward-facing lights.

Leon Mow Dark Sky Site is a great example, located near Heathcote in Victoria. You’ve got to become a member of the Astronomical Society of Victoria to access it but once you do, you’ll be spoilt with telescopes, amenities including a kitchen, showers and toilets, and invitations to members’ parties that celebrate the wonders high above.

7. Springbrook Research Observatory, Qld

Fancy spending your Friday or Saturday night under a blanket of stars? The Springbrook Research Observatory on the Gold Coast opens its doors to the public twice a week and loves turning visitors into avid stargazers. The hinterland hotspot consists of a primary dome with a viewing rooftop, as well as loads of telescopes to help you zoom in on all the magic.

8. Yagurli Tours, Burketown, Qld

Learn more about the night sky and the Indigenous land it looms over with Yagurli Tours in Queensland’s Burketown. Local guides are on hand to share Dreamtime stories and tales from Australia’s largest salt pans, located right on site. Telescopes come with every tour as do light snacks and mozzie spray.

Yagurli Tours in Burketown, Qld — Drive to Queensland’s Burketown for the magical Yagurli Tours. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

9. Arkaroola Dark Sky Sanctuary, SA

One of the country’s most famous dark sky parks, Arkaroola Dark Sky Sanctuary in South Australia is a remote gem providing a choose-your-own-adventure stargazing journey.

a night sky filled with stars at Arkaroola Astronomical Observatory — Arkaroola Astronomical Observatory turns into an otherworldly backdrop at night. (Image: Tourism Australia/South Australian Tourism Commission)

Pick from three Astronomy Experiences spanning telescope use or simply sitting in a camping chair and looking up, as well as the Ridgetop Sleepout, an overnight stay that takes in some of the grounds’ best vantage points.

stargazing at Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary, Flinders Ranges, South Australia — Go stargazing in the remote and rugged Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary. (Image: Tourism Australia/South Australian Tourism Commission)

10. Wilpena Pound, SA

A spectacular amphitheatre of mountains located 429 kilometres from Adelaide, Wilpena Pound is a natural wonder, and its majesty should be seen to be fully comprehended.

a night sky filled with stars at Wilpena Pound — The Milky Way envelops the rugged landscape of Wilpena Pound. (Image: Mathew Storer)

While you’re at it, just look up for crystal clear stargazing. Mountain ranges and gorges on ground level, a moving light show up above, the scene is staggeringly beautiful and deeply enriching.

a vibrant night sky at Wilpena Pound — Wilpena Pound is blessed with spectacularly clear skies. (Image: Michael Waterhouse Photography)

11. Lake Ballard, WA

Located in Menzies, Lake Ballard and its 51 steel sculptures produce the most surreal stargazing experience in Western Australia.

All speckled and electric up high as a rugged land dotted with otherworldly artwork mystifies down low, Lake Ballard’s sculpture masterpiece is the result of British artist Sir Antony Gormley getting 51 locals to strip naked and pose for digital scans which were cast into moulds. Weird, wonderful stuff.

Antony Gormley Sculptures at Lake Ballard — Stare in awe at Antony Gormley’s sculptures at Lake Ballard. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

12. Lucky Bay, Esperance, WA

Another spot for anybody chasing the Aurora Australis, plus those keen to see kangaroos on a beach, is Lucky Bay in Esperance. The postcard-perfect swimming spot with clear night skies and no light pollution delights star seekers while the Southern Ocean glistens below to create a marvellous medley of pure magic.

Aurora Australis in Lucky Bay, Esperance WA — Chasing the Aurora Australis in Lucky Bay. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

13. Earth Sanctuary, NT

A smorgasbord of astrology tours is on offer from Earth Sanctuary in the Northern Territory, where remote nothingness and little artificial light create stellar conditions for nightly gazing.

Choose to go on a one-and-a-half-hour big group tour or keep things cosy by spending the night with a small group outdoors and keeping watch up from sunset to sunrise.

stargazing at Earth Sanctuary, NT — Get the best view of the Milky Way at Earth Sanctuary, NT. (Image: Tourism NT/Plenty of Dust)

14. Franklin, Tas

If you’ve already ticked off Kunanyi/Mount Wellington in Tassie, try the little town of Franklin next. The Aurora Australis flutters its stuff over this way on occasion and if you don’t catch it, you’re almost guaranteed a glimpse of the Milky Way all year round.

Aurora Australis in The Tyndall Range, commonly called The Tyndalls, is a mountain range that is part of the West Coast Range located in the Western region of Tasmania. — The Aurora Australis flutters its stuff over Franklin on occasion. (Image: allaboutadventure)

15. Warrumbungle National Park, NSW

Another brilliant dark sky park that bans light pollution, Warrumbungle National Park is a two-hour drive from Dubbo. No artificial light means the Milky Way can radiate down uninterrupted, making for sensational scenes if you’re camping in the park’s rich bushland.

the night sky filled with bright stars over the dark sky parkin the Warrumbungles — Set up your tent at the dark sky park. (Image: Destination NSW)

Walking tracks will keep your days busy but it’s the spectacular volcanic mountain vistas that decorate all the starry goodness at night that really put this place on the map.

bright stars over the dark sky parkin the Warrumbungles — Admire the exceptionally star-studded skies at Warrumbungle National Park’s dark sky park. (Image: Destination NSW)

16. Broken Hill, NSW

The country’s oldest mining town is isolated from other towns and city lights, helping it produce magnificent conditions for stargazing. Broken Hill is also home to Outback Astronomy , a company that specialises in stargazing and runs its own guided Sky Shows.

a couple stargazing at Outback Astronomy, Broken Hill, NSW — Cuddle up under the starry sky at Broken Hill. (Image: Destination NSW)

Passionate astrology experts walk you through everything that’s going on up above and show you how to look out for the constellations yourself once you’re back home.

17. Perth Observatory, WA

Just 25 kilometres east of Perth lies the Perth Observatory where a team of astronomy buffs will teach you everything you need to know about constellations and the night sky.

Plus, their extensive collection of telescopes offers front-row seats to the likes of dying stars (yep, they’re a thing), nebulas, star clusters, the moon, our surrounding planets and more. If you’re keen to dive deep into the world of astrology, this place is a must.

stargazing at Perth Observatory — Get front-row seats to the best views of the night sky at Perth Observatory.

18. Great Ocean Road, Vic

There’s jaw-dropping beauty to be found right along the snaking coastal stretch, but the vast skies above the Great Ocean Road equally delight. Look up to spy the Milky Way on a clear night and even Saturn and Jupiter sometimes.

While any location along the stretch will do, catching a light show directly above The Twelve Apostles never fails as a memorable road trip activity.

a lightshow at Twelve Apostles, Gibson Steps Beach — Catch the light show off the shore of Port Campbell National Park. (Image: Visit Victoria)

19. Mangrove Mountain, NSW

Journey inland from the Central Coast to find Mangrove Mountain, right near Peats Ridge, and sensational stargazing conditions. Its elevated ground well and truly eliminates potential light pollution, and you’ll likely spot the Milky Way if it’s clear night.

20. Wave Rock, WA

The remote landmark is better known during the daylight hours for its vividly hued granite cliffs but Wave Rock, in the tiny town of Hyden, is also a spectacular spot at night.

Pollution-free conditions make for an unobstructed sky in which to look for scattered constellations. However, it’s the unique streaks that bounce off the rock itself, created when rainwater hits the surface, that make for incredible photographs.

the Wave Rock in Hyden — The curved granite resembles a wave. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

21. Mount Stromlo Observatory, ACT

Free stargazing nights are regularly staged at Mount Stromlo Observatory , a Canberra hot spot run by the Canberra Astronomical Society. Guests are invited to soak up stargazing tips from its members and marvel at the Observatory’s 188-centimetre dome set amid rich greenery.

the dome at Mount Stromlo Observatory — Marvel under the stars at Mount Stromlo Observatory. (Image: VisitCanberra)

The most severe solar storm of the year is underway.

A powerful solar storm is happening right now, and if you’re in southern Australia, tonight might be your chance to see the colourful display.

According to the Australian Space Weather Forecasting Centre (ASWFC) at the Bureau of Meteorology , a severe geomagnetic storm is underway. They have issued an Aurora Alert, meaning space weather activity is favourable for viewing the spectacle: “Severe geomagnetic storm in progress. Aurora may be observed during local nighttime hours in good observing conditions at regions as far equatorward as middle latitudes.”

According to the ASWFC’s website, Aurora Alerts are issued “when space weather activity favourable for viewing aurora is in progress. When an alert is current, the alert information indicates the latitudinal range in terms of high, middle, low and equatorial regions where aurora may be visible under good observing conditions.”

What is the Aurora Australis?

A man with a head torch looking at the Aurora Australis — Tasmania is the best place in Australia to see the spectacle. (Image: Tourism Tasmania)

The Aurora Australis – also known as the Southern Lights – is one of the most dazzling natural displays visible to the human eye. Put simply, the phenomenon occurs when the sun releases a massive burst of charged particles and magnetic fields into space. These particles are captured and funnelled toward the southern poles by Earth’s magnetic field, colliding with gases in the Earth’s atmosphere. The collisions result in light being emitted and a spectacular natural dancing rainbow ensuing.

The past two years have been particularly good years for viewing the phenomenon.

How to see the Aurora Australis

An Aurora Australis display at night along the coastline — A Southern Lights display can last minutes to hours. (Image: Unsplash/Graham Holtshausen)

Tasmania has historically been the best spot to see the Aurora Australis due to low light pollution and its position closer to the South Pole than mainland Australia. South Arm Peninsula, Bruny Island and Cockle Creek are popular viewing locations on the island.

But the good news is the ASWFC has shared that it’s possible the Aurora Australis could be seen further north, in mid to southern parts of Australia.

In Victoria, Wilsons Promontory National Park, Point Lonsdale and Phillip Island are favourable locations; in New South Wales, Jervis Bay, Kiama or the Blue Mountains might offer you the glowing display; and in South Australia, the Fleurieu Peninsula, Kangaroo Island and Eyre Peninsula offer excellent southern exposure.

A Southern Lights display can last minutes to hours, with the best active window typically being between 10pm and 2am.

You can read more about the natural light display in our Southern Lights guide and stay up to date via the Bureau of Meteorology website

The 21 best places for stargazing in Australia