Eleven places worth setting an alarm for — where first light does something genuinely special, including a few on our home turf.
The early start is always worth it. Sunrise brings the softest light, the " "quietest crowds and, in the right places, animals on the move and colour you'll never see " "at midday. Australia, with its east-facing coast and big skies, is made for it.
These are our favourite spots to greet the day — beaches, headlands, mountains and one " "place where the kangaroos share the sand with you. A few are on our home turf in " "Queensland.
The most magical sunrise in the country: kangaroos and wallabies foraging on the sand, silhouetted against a sunrise over the sea, north of Mackay.
Arrive before first light; a ranger often helps keep it respectful.
Stand at the most easterly point of the Australian mainland and be among the first in the country to catch the sunrise, with dolphins and whales often offshore.
Walk up to the lighthouse for the full panorama.
Watch the great monolith ignite as the first light hits, the red deepening minute by minute across the desert. A profound, quiet way to start the day.
Dedicated sunrise viewing areas; cooler months are most comfortable.
First light over the swirling white sands and turquoise channels of Hill Inlet, beside Whitehaven Beach, is reef Queensland at its most beautiful.
Best on an early scenic flight or an overnight sailing trip.
From the dune viewing platform, watch both Uluru and the domes of Kata Tjuta catch the dawn across the spinifex — arguably the best sunrise vantage in the red centre.
A short walk from the car park; arrive in the dark.
On our home turf, the Mt Coot-tha lookout delivers the sunrise over Brisbane's skyline and out to Moreton Bay — an easy, accessible city sunrise.
A short drive from the city centre. See our Moreton Bay guide.
Sunrise over the Pacific from Bondi, with swimmers in the Icebergs pool and the coastal walk coming to life, is a classic Sydney morning.
The Bondi to Coogee path is glorious at first light.
Still dawn air can mirror Cradle Mountain perfectly in Dove Lake — a breathtaking, frequently misty start to the day in the Tasmanian highlands.
Weather is everything here; calm, clear mornings are golden.
A favourite Sunshine Coast headland for sunrise over the ocean, with the lighthouse, rock pools and surfers below — laid-back coastal Queensland at its best.
An easy walk out to the point before dawn.
From the summit above Hobart, watch the sun rise over the city, the Derwent and the distant ranges — sometimes above a sea of cloud.
Dress warmly; the summit is cold and exposed even in summer.
An easy climb above Alice Springs gives a sweeping sunrise over the town and the ancient MacDonnell Ranges glowing in the first light.
A gentle, rewarding way to start a Red Centre day.
Cooee Tours can build the best Queensland sunrise moments into a guided itinerary — early starts handled, coffee included.
Plan a Queensland tourCape Hillsborough in Queensland, where kangaroos forage on the beach at first light, is among the most magical. Uluru at dawn and Cape Byron — the first mainland point to catch the sun — are also unforgettable.
Cape Byron near Byron Bay is the most easterly point of the Australian mainland, making it one of the first places on the continent to see the sunrise each day.
Cape Hillsborough near Mackay in Queensland is famous for kangaroos and wallabies foraging on the beach at dawn. Arrive before first light, and keep a respectful distance.
Yes — the Mt Coot-tha lookout offers an easy sunrise over the Brisbane skyline and Moreton Bay, and Point Cartwright on the Sunshine Coast is a lovely coastal option, both on Cooee Tours' home turf.
A torch for the walk in the dark, warm layers (dawn is cold even in summer, especially in the desert and the mountains), water, and a camera. Check the sunrise time and arrive at least 20 minutes early.
A good sunrise takes a little planning: check the exact sunrise time for the date, arrive at least twenty minutes early to settle in while it's still dark, and bring a torch for the walk in. Dawn is cold almost everywhere — even in summer, and especially in the desert and the mountains — so pack a warm layer regardless of the daytime forecast. Calm, clear mornings give the best reflections and colour.
A few of the best sit on our home turf in Queensland, from Cape Hillsborough's kangaroos to the Mt Coot-tha lookout over Brisbane. See our wider things to do guides to build a sunrise into a bigger day.
Cooee Tours acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to Elders past and present, and recognise that the places described here hold deep cultural significance for the First Peoples who have cared for them for tens of thousands of years.