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. And Sydney, being the East Coast city that it is, is filled with top spots to take in the glow from sandy shorelines to rugged lookouts.
These are the best places to watch the sunrise in Sydney.
Central Sydney Sunrise Spots
Observatory Hill
The Rocks
Get yourself to the top of Lower Fort Street 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. It’s a super easy walk from Circular Quay and there’s a plethora of cafes trailing into the city for a post-sunrise coffee.
Inner West Sydney Sunrise Spots
Birchgrove Oval
Birchgrove
This lovely little slice of paradise gives you a waterfront outlook (hello moored yachts and Harbour Bridge) for sunrise, so it guarantees a magical start to your day.
Glebe Foreshore Walk
Glebe
You don’t have to be an avid walker of these parts to know this route offers up one of the most stunning takes of a Sydney sunrise. Set yourself upright in front of the Anzac Bridge and, we kid you not, the sky just magically looks amazing every morning.
Sydney Eastern Suburbs Sunrise Spots
Bronte Beach
Bronte
We’re all guilty of snapping from various vantage points of Bronte Beach during the early hours of the morning, especially at sunrise. 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 light up, there is no doubt you’ll score a wicked morning show from here.
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. You’ll catch an uninterrupted view of the North Head and other parts of the city, so pretty sure that’s your one-way ticket to actual happiness.
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. Sit back and watch the Ross Jones Memorial pool go from a dark blue into an opal gem.
Little Bay Beach
Little Bay
Heaven does actually have a place on earth and it’s called Little Bay Beach. 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.
North Sydney Sunrise Spots
Wendy’s Secret Garden
Lavender Bay
This picture-perfect nook tucked into Lavender Bay offers up less of a vista than most but it’s an absolute gem of a spot to catch the first little rays of the day. It’s pretty much a human-sized fairy garden speckled with massive ferns, figs, lilies and glimpses of Sydney Harbour.
Turimetta Beach
Narrabeen
Get yourself to the southern end of this sunrise mecca and trust us, you’ll be in for a real treat. The rock shelves here are covered almost entirely in a sheet of moss so you can imagine just as the sun starts peeking, how bloody beaut this place looks.
Narrabeen Tidal Pool
Narrabeen
This iconic rockpool is an epic photo opp just as the sun rises over Sydney. Cue morning vapour and a wooden wharf that wraps around the tidal pool.
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.
Moonrise Lookout
Horseley Park
Moonrise Lookout keeps one of the most expansive views of Western Sydney with views stretching all the way to the city. This sunrise spot captures absolutely everything, scenes of the inner city skyline, a glowing haze and a bit of a hike (which ends up being very worth it). Moonrise Loop is 6.2km so make sure you’ve got sneakers handy and a water bottle.
South Sydney Sunrise Spots
Wanda Beach
Cronulla
The lifeguard hut on this epic stretch of sand literally glows on a clear morning as the sun rises. You’ll basically have all the sky to watch and a little bit of headland to make the view even better.
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.
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Image credit: Destination NSW