The Best Places To Watch The Sunrise In Sydney

There is no greater way to start the day than by watching the sunrise in Sydney. The day feels longer, you feel fresher, and hey, your energy levels could go a few miles too. As the East Coast city that it is, Sydney/Eora is filled with top spots to take in the glow.

From sandy shorelines to rugged lookouts, these are Urban List's top picks for the best places to watch the sunrise in Sydney.

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• Central Sydney Sunrise Spots
• Inner West Sunrise Spots
• Eastern Suburbs Sunrise Spots
• North Sydney Sunrise Spots
• Western Sydney Sunrise Spots
• South Sydney Sunrise Spots

Central Sydney Sunrise Spots
 

Observatory Hill

The Rocks
 

Get yourself to the top of Observatory Hill Park and prepare for a solid wow moment. You’ll see some little residential pockets, the Harbour Bridge and Luna Park all lit up from here. Despite being the highest point in The Rocks area, it’s a super easy walk from Circular Quay—better yet, there’s a plethora of cafes trailing into the city for a post-sunrise coffee.

Insider Intel:

• The surrounding park is perfect for an early morning picnic, so we recommend ordering your brekkie to-go.

Inner West Sunrise Spots

Birchgrove Oval

Birchgrove

This lovely little slice of paradise in Birchgrove offers a panoramic waterfront view of Sydney's skyline (hello, moored yachts and Harbour Bridge) for sunrise, so it guarantees a magical start to your day. Take a stroll along the Hermitage Foreshore Walk to keep the views rolling, and get your steps in before lunch.

Insider Intel:

• You can hop on a ferry from Birchgrove to Barangaroo to get a better squiz at the iconic Sydney Harbour. 

Glebe Foreshore Walk

Glebe
 

You don’t have to be an avid walker of these parts to know the Glebe Foreshore Walk offers up one of the most stunning takes of a Sydney sunrise. Set yourself upright in front of the Anzac Bridge, and we guarantee Sydney will put on a show.

Insider Intel:

• Head up to Glebe Point Road, and you'll come across some of our picks for the best spots to eat, drink and shop in Glebe.

Eastern Suburbs Sunrise Spots
 

Bronte Beach

Bronte

Image credit: Destination NSW | Supplied

We’re all guilty of a cheeky Bronte Beach snap during the early hours of the morning—a little Eastern suburbs fitspo for the feed. Whether you’ve stuck to the south end and watched the sun light up the rockpool, or hopped over to the north to watch Bronte and the tips of Tama glow, there is no doubt you’ll score a wicked morning outlook from here.

Insider Intel:

• The ocean-fed lap pool is the perfect post-walk cool-down—going early in the summer means you'll beat the tourist crowds. 

Hornby Lighthouse

Sydney Harbour National Park

When the sunrise hits the old-school Hornby Lighthouse, you'll be reminded of just why Sydney is so special. Uninterrupted views of the North Head and the harbour will have you cancelling that mid-year trip to spend more time at home—it's just that good.

Insider Intel:

• In the winter months, the lighthouse is a great place for whale-watching.

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Coogee Beach

Coogee
 

Coogee Beach offers up some serious "sky porn" on the regular. If you head towards the Surf Life Saving Club, on the south end, you’ll see what we mean—and your Insta story is begging for it. Sit back and watch the Ross Jones Memorial pool light up with the colours of the sky, or take a dip and watch the water shift around you.

Insider Intel:

• Head to the iconic Coogee Bay Hotel post-sunrise for a quick bite, or stick around for a long lunch with mates.

Little Bay Beach

Little Bay

If Heaven did have a place on earth, it would be called Little Bay Beach, more specifically, before 7 am. This shallow cove is surrounded, end to end, by The Coast Golf and Recreation Club, so you’ll be able to lap up the sunrise at a myriad of vantage points. Opt for the north side of the course to catch the morning rays, or set up shop in front of The Coast Chapel.

Insider Intel:

• This one is a bit more secluded, so you'll mostly be surrounded by locals rather than tourist throngs. 

North Sydney Sunrise Spots

Wendy Whiteley's Secret Garden 

Lavender Bay

Image credit: Destination NSW | Supplied

Wendy Whiteley's Secret Garden is tucked into Lavender Bay, offering up less of a vista than most but perfect for catching the first little rays of the day. It’s pretty much a human-sized fairy garden—an oasis developed by artist Wendy Whiteley, speckled with massive ferns, figs, lilies, and glimpses of Sydney Harbour.

Insider Intel:

• The garden is within walking distance from both Milsons Point station and the ferry wharf, so leave the car at home and head off to explore the city. 

Turimetta Beach

Narrabeen

Get yourself to the southern end of Turrimetta Beach for sunrise, and trust us, you’ll be in for a real treat. The rock shelves are covered almost entirely in a sheet of moss, so you can imagine just how stunning the outlook is here, just as the sun starts peeking through.

Insider Intel:

• The surrounding area is fairly isolated; however, the view makes it well worth it. Head to nearby Warriewood for all your breakfast and coffee needs. 

Narrabeen Tidal Pool

Narrabeen

Image credit: Destination NSW | Supplied

This iconic rock pool is an epic photo opp just as the sun rises over Sydney, located at the entrance to Narrabeen Lagoon. You can expect an early morning show worth pulling out the camera for—cue morning vapour and a wooden wharf that wraps around the tidal pool. 

Insider Intel:

• Next to the pool are several naturally formed rock pools, and the kids will love spotting sea creatures once the sun has risen.

Western Sydney Sunrise Spots

Homebush Bay

Homebush
 

This glorious part of Sydney was a shipwreck yard in the '60s, and now it’s one of the most picturesque spots to watch the sunrise over four wreck sites (all accessible via Bicentennial Park or Bennelong Parkway at Wentworth Point). We suggest setting up in front of SS Ayrfield, which always looks stunning at sunrise because it’s lying east.

Insider Intel:

• Homebush Bay and Bicentennial Park have great cycling paths throughout, so why not bring the bike and watch the sunrise on wheels?

Moonrise Lookout

Horseley Park

Moonrise Lookout has one of the most expansive views of Western Sydney, with views stretching to the city. This sunrise spot captures absolutely everything: scenes of the inner city skyline, a bit of a hike, and eventually the glowing haze of the morning (which is worth working up a sweat for). Moonrise Loop is a Grade 3, 6.2km track, so make sure you’ve got your sneakers handy.

Insider Intel:

• Nearby Sugarloaf Ridge is a great picnic spot, perfect for resting and refuelling after your hike. 

South Sydney Sunrise Spots

Wanda Beach 

Cronulla

Image credit: Destination NSW | Supplied

The lifeguard hut on this epic stretch of sand glows on a clear morning as the sun rises. This spot is all rolling dunes and multi-coloured sky, with a little bit of headland to break up that photo composition. 

Insider Intel:

• Above the beach is Don Lucas Reserve, a grassed recreational area with picnic facilities and even a basketball court.

Wattamolla

Sutherland Shire
 

Just south of Bundeena, Wattamolla is the sunrise haven offering up ocean landscapes, lagoons and small waterfalls in the perfect drop zone of the sunrise. Trust us, you won’t regret the ‘rise and grind’ for this one.

Insider Intel:

• The calm waters of the lagoon have great snorkelling and swimming conditions, so bring the kids and pack the gear for an early morning dip.

Main image credit: Destination NSW

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