Now is the best time to catch a sunrise

Australia is currently in a prime sunrise-watching position – here’s why (and where to catch it before it’s too late).

Everyone loves a good sunrise – especially us Aussies. We’d be foolish not to, considering our island home is one of the best places in the world to witness a swirling, pastel-painted sky.

While some of us are practically pros at getting up before dawn, others can find it difficult to leave the comforts of home to see the sun come up. But if there is one time of year worthy of dragging yourself out of bed, it’s the next two weeks.

Why are the next two weeks the best time to see a sunrise?

Autumn ushers in a time for simple pleasures – big fluffy blankets, mugs of hot chocolate and cosy autumnal festivals. But it also signals the end of daylight savings, meaning the days get shorter and darkness falls earlier. As sun-obsessed Australians, we’re practically preconditioned to let out a heaving sigh. But what if I told you it’s actually one of the most beautiful times of the year for our golden giant?

Sunrise on the Gold Coast, Qld — Cold fronts mean cloud cover reflects the sun’s light. (Image: Mister Delirious/Getty Images)

Introducing the March Equinox: when the Earth tilts on its axis and crosses the celestial equator. The solar event occurred on 20 March this year, causing a northward shift of the sun’s path across the sky. As a result, cold fronts are sweeping across our continent and bringing mid to high cloud cover that reflects light in all directions.

“Due to the tilt of the Earth, the sun comes up at a greater angle in autumn compared to summer," says Jonathan How, senior meteorologist at Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology . “This means longer duration sunrises and more opportunity for light to scatter in the atmosphere."

“The air is drier, which means good visibility, and there’s less chance of low cloud and fog, which can prevent a good sunrise. States with daylight savings also allow a later sunrise, so more people are up and able to observe the sunrise when conditions are most ideal," How adds.

People watching the sun come up from a lookout — Waking up early has never looked so good. (Image: Josh Calabrese/Unsplash)

At the start of autumn, when these cold fronts arrive, the sun is still rising around 7am, a small but auspicious window is opened in which everything perfectly aligns. While this window only lasts for around two weeks between March and April, it creates an unforgettable sunrise, incomparable to any other time of year.

Where should I head to catch a spectacular sunrise?

Luckily for you, Australia is blessed with plenty of places to catch this natural phenomenon. In fact, we’ve got a whole roster of experiences dedicated to seeing the sun come up, from yoga on the beach in SA to Tassie’s iconic nude solstice swim during Dark Mofo . But if you’d rather just soak in the beauty of a magical morning, here’s where you should head.

1. Uluru, NT

Sunrise at Uluru, NT — Witness Uluru change colour during sunrise. (Image: Simon Bradfield/Getty Images)

Timelessly beautiful, this 550-million-year-old monolith in Australia’s beating heart is, hands down, one of the best places to witness a sunrise. Uluru’s unique mineral composition, particularly its high levels of iron oxide, refracts the sun’s light as it moves across the sky, changing the colours of the rockface as it goes. Voted as the best place in the world for a sunset last year, Uluru would be just as magnificent come morning.

2. Byron Bay, NSW

Sunrise in Byron Bay, NSW — Byron Bay is Australia’s most easterly point. (Image: Ampuero Leonardo/Getty Images)

Yes – Byron’s beautiful beaches, slow lifestyle and plethora of coastal lookouts make it perfect for catching a sunrise. But that’s not the (only) reason you should head here for an unforgettable sunrise. Byron Bay marks the most easterly point of Australia, meaning the sun technically rises here before anywhere else. Take the Walgun Cape Byron walking track and be among the first few to see the sun come up.

3. Cape Hillsborough National Park, Qld

A kangaroo in Cape Hillsborough National Park, Qld — Kangaroos and wallabies gather on the beach as the sun comes up. (Image: Toni Aules/Getty Images)

Head to Queensland’s Cape Hillsborough National Park, and you won’t be the only one up early. This rugged natural landscape is home to large groups of kangaroos and wallabies that head down to the beach each morning. Gathering on the sand to feed and mingle, it’s the perfect opportunity to meet these iconic Aussie animals, all backdropped by a magnificent sunrise.

Other amazing sunrise spots around Australia include Canberra’s Lake Burley Griffin, Kunanyi/Mt. Wellington in Tasmania, the Remarkable Rocks on SA’s Kangaroo Island, Roebuck Bay in WA and The Grampians of Victoria.

Time your visit to Margaret River just right, and you can spend the ultimate weekend wining, dining and exploring the region with Pair’d Margaret River Region x Range Rover.

Wine, world-class produce, surf, sun and beaches: it’s an alluring combination. And the reason so many pin the Margaret River region high on their travel hit-lists. There’s drawcard after drawcard to the southwestern corner of Western Australia, and the Pair’d Margaret River Region x Range Rover food and wine festival showcases the best of it over the course of one weekend in November. It’s never been easier to sip, see and savour the Margaret River region.

In partnership with Pair’d Margaret River Region, Range Rover invites you on a seven-day itinerary of refined adventure, where luxury and exploration go hand in hand. It’s the perfect WA road trip, and there’s no better way to do it than in a Range Rover.

Day 1

the pool at Pullman Bunker Bay — Check into Pullman Bunker Bay.

There’s no more popular West Australian road trip route than that between Perth and the Margaret River Region. It’s an easily digestible, three-hour drive, with worthy pit stops along the way.

Make the first of them one hour and 15 minutes in, at Lake Clifton. Here, find a 2000-year-old living thrombolite reef. Drive for a further 40 minutes and chance meeting some of Bunbury’s dolphin population at Koombana Bay.

Pullman Bunker Bay is the final stop, just over three hours south of Perth. This beachfront, five-star resort is the ultimate base for exploring the Margaret River Wine region.

Day 2

After a leisurely morning breakfast with an ocean view, start your Range Rover and head towards the Dunsborough town centre. Browsing the decidedly coastal-themed goods of the town’s many independent boutiques is a great way to while away the hours, breaking up the sartorial with an artisan gelato snack stop, or some good old-fashioned Australian bakery fare.

Leave room; you’ll need it for the Good Natured Gathering dinner at Wayfinder. Indulge in a four-course feast by chef Felipe Montiel, which uses produce from the winery’s market garden to enhance a selection of sustainably sourced seafood and meat. But food is just the support act. It’s organic wine that’s the star of the show, generously poured and expertly paired to each dish.

Day 3

Settle in for cabernet at Cape Mentelle Winery.

With a grand total of 20 wines from vintage 2022 to try, it’s a good thing Cape Mentelle’s International Cabernet Tasting kicks off early. Make your way to the estate for a 10:00 AM start, where a global selection of wines will be poured blind, before a long lunch by Tiller Dining is served.

Given that the Margaret River is responsible for more than 20 per cent of Australia’s fine wine production, it’s only right to delve into it while in the area.

Continue exploring the region via taste and terroir aboard Alison Maree, a whale-watching catamaran, as you cruise Geographe Bay . Admire the rolling green hills and crisp white beaches of Quindalup in sunset’s golden light, all the while sipping through the Clairault Streicker catalogue and dining on canapes.

For a more substantial dinner, venture into Busselton for a seven-course British x Australian mash-up , courtesy of Brendan Pratt (Busselton Pavilion) and Oliver Kent (Updown Farmhouse, UK). They’ll be putting their rustic yet refined spin on the likes of local marron, wagyu and abalone – championing the simple beauty of the world-class ingredients.

Day 4

Wrap your fingers around a wine glass and wiggle your toes into the sand at Pair’d Beach Club x Range Rover on Meelup Beach. Sit down to an intimate wine session with sommelier Cyndal Petty – or a four-course feast by Aaron Carr of Yarri – and revel in the open-air beach club, bar and restaurant’s laidback coastal vibe. It’s a whole new way to experience one of the region’s most renowned beaches.

Follow up a day in the sun with a casual Italian party at Mr Barvel Wines . Purchase wines –including the elusive, sold-out Nebbia – by the glass and enjoy canapes with the towering Karri forest as a backdrop.

If you’d prefer to keep it local, head to Skigh Wines for the New Wave Gathering , where the region’s independent wine makers and their boundary-pushing wines will be on show. Street-style eats, a DJ and complimentary wine masterclasses complete the experience.

Day 5

pair'd Grand Tasting — Taste your way through Howard Park Wines. (Image: C J Maddock)

Spend the morning at your leisure, driving the winding roads through the Boranup Karri forest in your Range Rover. Soak in the views at Contos Beach, and call into the small cheese, chocolate and preserve producers along the way.

Make your next stop Howard Park Wines for The Grand Tasting presented by Singapore Airlines . Numerous wine labels will be pouring their catalogues over four hours, accompanied by food from chefs Matt Moran and Silvia Colloca, with live opera providing the soundtrack.

Cap off a big weekend with one last hurrah at Busselton Pavilion. Six ‘local legends’ – chefs Brendan Pratt (Busselton Pavilion), Mal Chow (Chow’s Table), Aaron Carr (Yarri), Ben Jacob (Lagoon Yallingup), Corey Rozario (Dahl Daddies) and Laura Koentjoro (Banksia Tavern) – will be preparing a dish each. Dance the night away as vinyl spins and the sun sets on another day.

Day 6

Ngilgi Cave western australia — Head underground. (Image: Tourism WA)

After a busy few days of wining and dining, it’s wise to observe a rest day. There’s no easier task than unwinding in the Margaret River Region, also famous for its high concentration of world-class beaches.

Relax on the grassy knoll as you watch the region’s most experienced surfers braving the World Surf League break at Surfer’s Point, or don your own wetsuit and try out one of Gracetown’s more beginner-friendly waves. Swimmers will find their Eden at Meelup Beach, Eagle Bay, or Point Piquet, where the sand is brilliantly white and the water as still as a backyard swimming pool.

Not into sun, sand, and surf? Head underground at Mammoth Cave, just one of the region’s many stalactite-filled caves.

Day 7

Burnt Ends event at Pair'd — Farewell the Margaret River.

Pack up your Range Rover with new favourite wines and newfound memories, ready for the three-hour journey back to Perth.

Prebook your discovery journey through the south-west corner of Western Australia with Pair’d Margaret River Region x Range Rover.

Now is the best time to catch a sunrise – but only for 2 weeks