Depending on the time of year, if you look up at the night sky in Australia you might spy Jupiter, Mars, Saturn or Venus. Maybe you'll see the Southern Cross and a smattering of other not-too-distant or extra-bright stars like Alpha Centauri, Antares or Sirius.
Australia is rich with dark places where you can be truly starstruck by the plethora of twinkling balls of gas in the sky (let’s be real that’s what they are). From the real splendour of the Milky Way, interstellar clouds, colourful star clusters and our neighbouring galaxies.
Here are the best places to go stargazing in Australia.
The Best Stargazing In New South Wales
Milroy Observatory
Bugaldie
Tucked away in one of Australia’s clearest dark sky zones Milroy Observatory is where the night sky shows off in high definition. With Donna the astronomer at the helm, you’ll be guided through nebulae, distant galaxies, glowing clusters and even the odd planet making an appearance, depending on the season.
You can also tailor the evening to complement a birthday, anniversary or any other special occasion. Here’s the part where I admit I’ve never thrown a star party, but the idea of gathering under the cosmos with friends, snacks and telescopes has shot straight to the top of my to-do list. A little bit of science lesson and a bit of celestial theatre, you'll leave pointing out Orion’s Belt at every BBQ afterwards.
Warrumbungle National Park
Coonabarabran
Six hours from Sydney might sound like a trek, but when the prize is camping beneath the starriest skies in the country, I promise that the drive feels more like a pilgrimage. Warrumbungle National Park holds the title of Australia’s first (and only) Dark Sky Park, which means minimum light pollution, maximum Milky Way. Think dramatic volcanic landscapes by day and a universe of twinkling constellations by night.
INSIDER INTEL
- There are plenty of walking tracks throughout the national park to get your steps up before settling in for a night of stargazing
- Those epic, jagged volcanic mountains make for a seriously cinematic backdrop when the stars switch on
Mudgee Observatory
Mudgee
Astronomers are a passionate bunch, and John Vetter, the founder of Mudgee Observatory, is no exception to the rule. About 15 minutes drive out of Mudgee, the observatory is essentially a private observatory Vetter built himself on his own property (including a towering fence of trees that shield the site from the lights of town).
His telescopes are used by researchers from the University of NSW, the staff of Sydney Observatory and members of the Sutherland Astronomical Society, and when we visited, Vetter showed us the Jewel Box Cluster, the Orion Nebular and the Omega Centauri globular cluster (a collection of about a million stars that looks like a firework). If you're after a personalised, educational experience, I highly recommend booking a tour here.
The Best Stargazing In Western Australia
Wula Gura Nyinda Cultural Tous
Shark Bay
If you thought stargazing was just about pointing a telescope skywards, Wula Gura Nyinda proves it can be so much more. The Didgeridoo Dreaming Tour in Monkey Mia blends ancient storytelling, cultural knowledge and the hum of the didgeridoo under the stars.
You’ll learn about the Gutharraguda—the original name for Shark Bay, meaning 'two waters'—and there's a good chance you'll see kangaroos, echidnas and other native animals getting up to their after-dark antics. I don't need to tell you that this experience will give you a perspective on the land and sky that no guidebook could ever give you.
INSIDER INTEL
- BYO campchair or picnic blanket
Sand Dunes
Lancelin
I love this postcard-perfect little pocket of the west. By day, Lancelin’s dunes are basically a giant adult playground—endless white peaks made for sandboarding and quad bike adventures. But once the sun drops, that same landscape turns into one of the clearest, darkest stargazing stages within easy reach of Perth (we’re talking just 90 minutes from the city).
I’m calling it: there are few things better than capping off a day of dune-hopping with a blanket, a thermos and more stars overhead than you can hope to name
Wave Rock
Hyden
Wave Rock is Insta-famous for that giant granite swell frozen mid-curl, but hang around after the day-trippers clear out and you’ll see why stargazers are just as smitten. Four hours from Perth and with nothing but flat horizons stretching in every direction, this natural amphitheatre puts on a nightly show that’s galaxies beyond your average backyard sky.
I've only done it once, but lying back against a 2.7-billion-year-old rock and watching the Milky Way blaze overhead is a core memory I'll have forever.
The Best Stargazing Victoria
Lake Tyrell
Sea Lake
Lake Tyrrell might be Victoria’s worst-kept secret, but don’t let the Instagram hype fool you: this 120,000-year-old salt lake is genuinely one of the dreamiest stargazing spots in the country. The cracked white basin is hugely impressive when the sun is up, and it's only elevated after dark.
I've been told you can even see the dark nebulae—those dense interstellar clouds that are impossible to spot anywhere near the city. For those who like a touch of luxury with their cosmos, the newly installed sky lounge has 13 reclining seats along the boardwalk, angled perfectly so you can soak in the glittering heavens without craning your neck.
ASV Leon Mow Dark Sky Site
Ladys pass
In the middle of absolutely nowhere, the ASV (Astronomical Society of Victoria), is not the easiest place to reach, you can believe me when I say it’s worth every twist and turn. Home to Victoria’s two largest telescopes, the skies here are brighter and more detailed than nearly anywhere else in the country. Plan ahead though: access is limited to twice a year, in March and December, making it a bucket-list kind of stargazing mission
If you’re serious about stargazing, I’d carve out a few nights at the on-site accommodation. You’ll need to be a member to make it happen, but you'll be able to stare at the sky all night long.
The Best Stargazing Queensland
Yaagurli Tours
Burketown
Yaliya means “sky” in the local Gangalidda language and this tour focuses on Indigenous storytelling under the stars (plus stargazing with exclusive access to Australia’s largest salt pans). You’ll get to uncover the sheer beauty of the night sky through state-of-the-art telescopes your local Gangalidda guide will share Dreamtime stories and their cultural interpretation of the universe in accordance with the phases of the moon.
Double Island Point
Sunshine Coast
Double Island Point is particularly special for stargazing at night thanks to its remote beach location just three hours north of Brisbane. You’ll fall asleep to the sound of the ocean and wake up to a pretty special view.
Moreton Island
Moreton Bay
Moreton Island is famous for its pitch-black skies at night and we all know what that means — epic conditions for stargazing. Light pollution is not a thing here which is what makes it super special if ever you camp out this way or do a spot of after-dark trekking (bring your binoculars).
The Best Stargazing In South Australia
River Murray International Dark Sky Reserve
River Murray
For Australia’s best skyscape, the River Murray International Dark Sky Reserve holds one of the clearest of them all. Tucked just 90 minutes’ drive from Adelaide on the banks of the Murray River, starry solitude awaits stargazers with low rainfall, clear skies and virtually no light pollution creating the perfect conditions to explore the cosmos. It’s also one of only official Dark Sky Reserve in Australia.
Innes National Park
Yorke Peninsula
You can quite literally explore the universe from one of South Australia’s most popular coastal destinations — the Yorke Peninsula. Hit up Innes National Park — a secluded sanctuary for stargazers. Far from the city lights, the park’s remote location has resulted in some of the darkest skies in the state and is one of the best spots in South Australia to see the Milky Way. Set up camp at one of eight campgrounds dotted throughout the national park and spend the weekend soaking in the stars, sun and surf at this seaside paradise.
The Best Stargazing In Tasmania
Cradle Mountain
Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park
It should come as no surprise that one of the absolute best places to treat your soul with a bit of stargazing is Tasmania’s crisp and clear Cradle Mountain. With some of the cleanest air in the world, this beautiful spot has little artificial light and is an epic region to hit when you want to gaze up at the Southern Cross constellation or want to try your luck at spotting the Southern Lights (Aurora Australis) which illuminates the sky with flickering shades of blue, green, purple and pink.
The Best Stargazing In The Northern Territory
Uluru
Red Centre
Stargazing at Uluru is a bucket list travel experience. The sky above Uluru (Ayers Rock) is one of the most impressive skies in the world to stargaze because in the outback, there is literally no artificial light that could interfere with the dark night sky. You’ll also be front row across Australia to take in the Magellanic clouds and the famous Southern Cross constellation.
The Best Stargazing In Canberra
Mulligans Flat Woodlands
Forde
Canberra’s clear night skies provide a stunning backdrop to some of the brightest stars in the Southern Hemisphere. At the Mulligans Flat Woodland Sanctuary, you can book a Twilight Tour to see animals in the wild – many of them endangered – and feel the nocturnal magic around you. On a clear night, look for constellations and planets, or simply gaze at the moon.
The Best Stargazing On Norfolk Island
Gold Level Dark Sky Town
Norfolk Island
For a stargazing saga like no other, Norfolk Island is a no-brainer. Void of light pollution, the star-splashed skies here are so clear that they’ve been dubbed ‘gold level’ status. Anywhere on the island will give you a great vantage point, whether you’re perched on top of Anson Bay Cliffs or sprawled out on Emily Bay’s iconic pontoon.
Plus, here are the best places to go camping in Australia (for free!).
Image credit: Destination NSW, Clarisse Meyers, Heiko Otto, Mahkeo Jacob Dyer, Daniel Weiss, Jairph, Evan Brocket, Eugenie Lai