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Tonight’s supermoon is just the beginning of an epic celestial line-up

Taylah Darnell Taylah Darnell
Australia is in for an astronomical end to the year.

Get ready Australia, the first supermoon of 2025 is lighting up our skies tonight. Known as the harvest moon, it’s also the beginning of a months-long lunar spectacle, with several more celestial events on the near-horizon.

What is a harvest moon?

Supermoon/Harvest Moon Australia
The harvest moon gets its name from the northern hemisphere’s autumnal equinox. (Image: Dave Xu/Unsplash)

The harvest moon gets its name from the northern hemisphere, representing the closest full moon to the autumnal equinox. Its bright light once helped farmers work late into the night, gathering their crops in time for a new season.

Characterised by its fully formed face and luminous orange glow, the harvest moon is also classified as a supermoon. And yes, this is different from a regular full moon. Just like Earth orbits the sun once a year, the moon orbits Earth roughly once a month. During this 27-day journey, sunlight hits different parts of the moon as it moves, taking it from a thin crescent to a perfect sphere or a full moon.

A supermoon only happens when that monthly full moon is also at its perigee – the point in its orbit closest to Earth. Sounds a bit complicated, right? In simple terms, a full moon is when the moon appears fully lit, but a supermoon is when it’s fully lit and at its closest point to Earth making it look bigger and brighter – like tonight!

How to see it

Supermoon/Harvest Moon Australia
The moon appears at its largest near the horizon. (Image: Film Plus Digital/Unsplash)

When it comes to most astronomical events, the southern hemisphere (and Australia in particular) doesn’t have too much luck. But tonight, the scales are firmly tipped in our favour. The harvest moon will be very easy for us to see – as long as it’s not overcast. It will rise around sunset in the eastern sky and will be visible all night before setting in the west come sunrise.

While the moon will technically reach peak fullness around 3:45am on Wednesday, it will appear at its largest during dusk on Tuesday due to a phenomenon called ‘moon illusion’. This trick of the eye makes the moon appear bigger when it is low on the horizon compared to when it is high in the sky, a visual effect photographers should take full advantage of.

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Other upcoming celestial events

Supermoon/Harvest Moon Australia
Australia is in for a months-long lunar spectacle. (Image: Ganapathy Kumar/Unsplash)

Our night sky has truly taken centre stage this year, from meteor showers like Eta Aquariids and the Perseids to a breathtaking strawberry moon in June and our first blood moon since 2022. And while the harvest moon might be stealing the spotlight tonight, it’s just the beginning of an epic celestial line-up.

Over the next three months, multiple astronomical events will light up our skies. After tonight’s harvest moon, there will be not one, but two more supermoons this year – both named after seasonal events in the northern hemisphere.

On 5 November, we’ll be treated to the Beaver Moon. Its name is drawn from Native American folklore, a symbol of the busy beavers readying their homes for winter’s arrival. Come 4 December, the third and final supermoon of 2025 will rise. Known as the Cold Moon, it marks the arrival of the north’s coldest and darkest months. For us, it’s more of a farewell!

Comet C/2025 R2 (SWAN)
C/2025 R2 (SWAN) was only discovered a few weeks ago. (Image: Adam Block)

But that’s not all. A recently discovered comet known as C/2025 R2 (SWAN) will be passing Earth this October. While you’ll need binoculars to catch a glimpse of its bright green glow and exceptionally long tail, it’ll definitely be worth it, as SWAN won’t be back for another 600 years.

The excitement continues into 2026, with another supermoon scheduled for January and a total lunar eclipse in March. Best of all, you should be able to catch every single one from your balcony or backyard. It truly is a great time to be an Aussie astronomy lover.

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Taylah Darnell
Taylah Darnell is Australian Traveller's Writer & Producer. She has been passionate about writing since she learnt to read, spending many hours either lost in the pages of books or attempting to write her own. This life-long love of words inspired her to study a Bachelor of Communication majoring in Creative Writing at the University of Technology Sydney, where she completed two editorial internships. She began her full-time career in publishing at Ocean Media before scoring her dream job with Australian Traveller. Now as Writer & Producer, Taylah passionately works across both digital platforms and print titles. When she's not wielding a red pen over magazine proofs, you can find Taylah among the aisles of a second-hand bookshop, following a good nature trail or cheering on her EPL team at 3am. While she's keen to check out places like Scotland and North America, her favourite place to explore will always be her homeland.
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This surprising regional town is making its mark on the culinary world

(Image: Visit Griffith)

    Carla Grossetti Carla Grossetti
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    With more than 60 nationalities calling it home and a century of Italian influence shaping its paddocks and plates, Griffith is a regional Australian town with serious culinary cred.

    It might feel surprising to learn that Griffith is one of Australia’s leading food destinations. In-the-know Italians have understood this for generations, drawn to the Riverina region’s fertile soils that reminded them of the terrain they’d left behind more than a century ago. These days, Griffith supplies much of the nation’s pantry: 95 per cent of Australia’s prunes come from the region, it’s the country’s largest citrus-growing area, and it’s a leading producer of almonds and walnuts. Even the pickles in every McDonald’s burger nationwide are produced in Griffith. This is not just a farming town; the Griffith food scene is leading the way.

    Here, culinary confidence is rooted in migration. Italian families began arriving from 1913, with a second wave settling after the Second World War. Today, Griffith has the highest proportion of Italian ancestry of any Local Government Area in Australia. Add to that more than 60 nationalities represented across the community and you have a town where food is driven not by trends, but by tradition. Griffith’s motto, ‘Taste our culture’, isn’t marketing spin; it’s the reality.

    Where the vines tell a story

    A hand pouring wine into a glass, with a table filled with food.
    Uncover the stories behind every glass. (Image: Destination NSW)

    The Riverina has long been dubbed the food bowl of Australia, but it’s also a wine region that remains largely under the radar. What sets Griffith apart is that every one of its wineries is family-owned, many spanning generations.

    Calabria Family Wines is one of the region’s standard-bearers. The Calabria story began in 1945 when Francesco Calabria planted his first vines; today, the family continues to shape the region’s identity while also stewarding the historic McWilliam’s Wines brand. McWilliam’s was the first winery to plant vines in the area, and its barrel-shaped cellar door – complete with a soaring stained-glass window – remains one of the most distinctive in regional NSW.

    Yarran Wines, run by the Brewer family, showcases estate-grown fruit across Mediterranean varietals that thrive in the warm climate. Expect bold reds and textured whites that reflect both heritage and innovation.

    Set inside the old ambulance station, Harvest HQ is owned and operated by the Riverina Winemakers Association and pours a rotating selection of local wines under one roof. It also features spirits from The Aisling Distillery, reinforcing the region’s collaborative approach to craft.

    At the table

    A flat lay of a steak.
    Dine where tradition meets a bold new generation. (Image: Visit Griffith)

    If the vineyards tell one story, the dining rooms tell another. Griffith’s restaurants are where tradition and next-gen confidence meet.

    Zecca Handmade Italian occupies the former Rural Bank building, an imposing Art Deco landmark from the late 1930s. ‘Zecca’ means money print, and the name is a nod to the Zecca di Venezia in Venice. Here, find the Riverina’s only producer of dried artisan pasta and traditional Italian recipes. Importantly, the growers and producers supplying the kitchen are listed on the menu as a transparent expression of the region’s farm-to-table ethos.

    Established in 1977 and still run by the Vico family, La Scala puts authentic Italian cuisine on centre stage. Expect handmade pasta, traditional wood-fired pizzas, slow-cooked sauces and dishes that follow recipes guarded like family heirlooms. For something more contemporary, Bull & Bell in Gem Hotel is a shrine to the Euro-style steakhouse that works closely with local farmers and artisans to showcase Riverina produce.

    And then there are the institutions. Bertoldo’s Pasticceria, now in its third generation, draws locals daily for cannoli, biscotti, crostoli and house-made gelato, alongside classic sausage rolls and potato pies. La Piccola Grosseria feels like stepping into an Italian alimentari, its shelves lined with continental goods that wouldn’t feel out of place in Puglia.

    Meanwhile, Limone celebrates local and seasonal produce across breakfast and lunch menus, enriched by the produce and stories of Piccolo Family Farm. Find pastries and sourdough baked daily, and pop into the onsite retail pantry for products from regional producers – including the Piccolo family’s own wine range, Caro Piccolo.

    From the source

    A plated Aquna Sustainable Murray Cod dish.
    Taste world-renowned Aquna Sustainable Murray Cod, straight from its source. (Image: Visit Griffith)

    Behind every menu is a producer. Aquna Sustainable Murray Cod is perhaps Griffith’s most high-profile export; the brand’s Murray cod and Aquna Gold Murray Cod Caviar have achieved global recognition. In October 2024, Aquna presented its products to King Charles III and Queen Camilla at the NSW Premier’s Community BBQ in Parramatta. Impressed by the producer’s sustainable farming practices, the King requested the cod be sent to Buckingham Palace – not bad for a fish farm in regional NSW.

    Mandolé Orchard champions almonds grown on a family-run farm, transforming them into almond milk and value-added products. At Morella Grove, olives are pressed into premium olive oil and pantry staples that speak to Griffith’s Mediterranean heart. These producers are not peripheral; they are central to the town’s culinary ecosystem. Learn about local sustainable farming practices during a farm tour.

    Mark your calendar

    A woman walking past a food mural, something you can spot during A Taste of Italy Griffith.
    Plan your visit around A Taste of Italy Griffith. (Image: Visit Griffith)

    For a town that helps stock Australia’s supermarkets, Griffith has remained curiously absent from the national dining conversation. That’s beginning to change. If you’ve been searching for a regional food destination with substance, heritage and a clear sense of identity, you’ll find it here in the Riverina, right under your nose.

    Time your visit to the Riverina region to coincide with A Taste of Italy Griffith, held every August. This week-long celebration of Italian heritage and culture offers a wide range of Italian-inspired events and experiences to enjoy. Expect long-table lunches, wine tasting experiences, cooking classes and a Makers in the Piazza market. The headline event is a ticketed long lunch – Festa delle Salsicce (Salami Festival) – where winners of the best salami are announced.

    Start planning your foodie getaway at visitgriffith.com.au.

    Tonight's supermoon is just the start of an epic celestial line-up - Australian Traveller