An impending total solar eclipse is passing directly over Sydney. It’ll be the last one for 800 years.
There’s something in the cosmos. Australia is in the midst of a rare streak of solar eclipse activity, with five total eclipses sweeping the country between 2023 and 2038.
For context, only 15 total solar eclipses have touched Australia in the past 200 years, making this a truly extraordinary flurry of activity. And the next one? It’s shaping up to be spectacular, cutting across the belly of the continent and ending with a dramatic finale right over Sydney.
So, Sydneysiders especially, mark your calendars: this will be the last total solar eclipse over the city for another 800 years. No pressure.
When is the solar eclipse?
The next total solar eclipse to pass Sydney is slated for 22 July 2028…the last one for 800 years. (Image: Getty/Joshua Kazemi)
The next total solar eclipse visible from Australia is slated for 22 July 2028. The path of totality will begin in the Kimberley region of WA, sweep across the Northern Territory, outback Queensland, and regional NSW, before passing above Sydney and Wollongong. The last time a total solar eclipse was visible above Sydney? It was 1857 and Australia was in the midst of the Gold Rush. The next time after the upcoming total eclipse? Not until June 3, 2858, more than 800 years!
Where can you see it?
Past eclipses in Australia sometimes barely touch the country. But this upcoming eclipse will dramatically cut across the diagonal of the mainland, offering views of this celestial event to millions.
The path of the total eclipse will start its journey near Kununurra in WA, continue past Tennant Creek and Birdsville, and then pass over Dubbo and Orange before its grand finale above Sydney. Here are the cities where it will be visible:
West Island, Cocos Islands
Flying Fish Cove, Christmas Island
Wyndham, WA
Kununurra, WA
Tennant Creek, NT
Bedourie, Qld
Bourke, NSW
Nyngan, NSW
Dubbo, NSW
Orange, NSW
Wollongong, NSW
Sydney, NSW
Central Coast, NSW
What about Uluṟu?
With little to no light pollution, Uluṟu is an incredible place to see the stars in full force. (Image: ourism NT/New Asia Pacific Travel)
If you’ve been dreaming of a trip to Australia’s spiritual heart, this could be one of the most magical times to make it happen. While Uluṟu isn’t directly under the path of totality, it will still see an estimated 88 per cent totality. And the spectacle against the backdrop of the Red Centre will be unforgettable.
Even outside of eclipse season, Uluṟu is one of the country’s best stargazing destinations. You can learn about Indigenous astronomy during star talks, tours, and even dune-top dinners under the Milky Way.
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Elizabeth Whitehead is a writer obsessed with all things culture; doesn't matter if it's pop culture or cultures of the world. She graduated with a degree in History from the University of Sydney (after dropping out from Maths). Her bylines span AFAR, Lonely Planet, ELLE, Harper's BAZAAR and Refinery 29. Her work for Australian Traveller was shortlisted for single article of the year at the Mumbrella Publishing Awards 2024. She is very lucky in thrifting, very unlucky in UNO.
Bate Bay’s sweep of beaches has been crowned Australia’s best for 2026, placing Sutherland Shire in the spotlight as a top coastal destination just south of Sydney’s CBD.
The beaches fringing Bate Bay – Cronulla, North Cronulla, Wanda, Elouera and Greenhills – have topped Tourism Australia’s 2026 list of best Australian beaches (as curated by Beach Ambassador Brad Farmer). For locals, it’s less revelation, more recognition.
The mood shifts from the moment you step off the T4 train service from Central to Cronulla and catch a glimpse of the ocean. At dawn, the Esplanade is already buzzing with regulars, and by mid-morning, parents have staked out a toasty spot on Cronulla Beach where excited toddlers clamber over rocks, and the Jellybean swim squad at Oak Park have donned their bright pink caps while singing Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’.
By the afternoon, towels are being collected from across the sand as visitors wander back to Cronulla in loose formation.
Dive into the world’s best beaches.
That’s the thing about Bate Bay beaches. This isn’t a story about a single beach. This long, uninterrupted sweep of sand and sea, where you can walk for kilometres without breaking stride, is not just enjoyed over summer; it’s a year-round destination. Here, Cronulla’s buzz gives way to Wanda’s wild edges, before stretching out to the quieter reaches of Greenhills.
But while Bate Bay’s beaches may have taken top honours in the 2026 Best Australian Beaches list, they’re only part of the drawcard. Sutherland Shire stacks up as a full-spectrum coastal escape, where good food, national park adventures and on-the-water experiences sit within easy reach of the shoreline. Whether you’re planning a long weekend or stretching out a stay, here’s how to make the most of Cronulla beyond the sand, sea and surf.
Beyond the beaches
Dining
Enjoy a sundowner by the sea at Pippis Cronulla.
The Sutherland Shire dining scene delivers from early morning to late at night with a mix of vibrant cafes, bars and pubs. Start your day at Grind Espresso, where the coffee comes strong and fast. From there, drift towards HAM for pastries, best eaten buttery warm.
By midday, locals linger across sun-lit tables. Loaf and Next Door appeal to the surfers who come in for snacks after chasing waves. Blackwood’s Pantry and The Press are also popular for breakfast and lunch, while Pilgrim’s continues to hold a special place in the hearts of vegans.
Newer arrivals signal where Cronulla is heading: Homer Rogue Taverna is being hailed as one of the best restaurants in Cronulla, with the confidence that comes from understanding what locals want. Ask a local to reveal their favourite restaurant for a special occasion, and it’ll likely be Pino’s Vino e Cucina al Mare, Yalla Sawa or Alphabet Street. Summer Salt, Sealevel, Benny’s, Bobbys and Pippis are a few of the best waterfront restaurants in the Shire.
A short ferry ride from Cronulla, Bundeena offers a counterpoint to Cronulla’s mighty surf beaches. If Cronulla is the Shire’s social heart, Bundeena – or Bundenesia, as it’s affectionately known – is the place to go to exhale and unwind.
Hop on the ferry from Cronulla, and within 30 minutes, you’ll be inhaling the eucalyptus-scented air. Check the creative pulse of the local community by timing your visit with the Bundeena Maianbar Art Trail on the first Sunday of every month.
One of the best things to do in Bundeena is paddle into Cabbage Tree Basin with Bundeena Kayaks. Follow the five-kilometre Jibbon Beach Loop Track that leads past quiet coves to ancient Indigenous rock art, or simply find a stretch of pearl-white sand to relax on.
Pristine walking trails
Cool off with a coastal stroll.
Beyond the coastline, Sutherland Shire offers myriad ways to shift gears. Royal National Park – the oldest national park in Australia – sits just minutes from the surf. Clifftop walks trace the edge of the continent, the rugged bushland is threaded with creeks and hidden waterfalls, and a network of tracks rewards those willing to go a little further.
Take the Coast Track, where the land drops cleanly into the ocean over sheer cliffs that have been stacked together like giant Jenga. Or veer inland, where pockets of forest cool the air and filter the light. It’s a reminder of how close nature sits to the bustle of suburbs in the Sutherland Shire.
Enjoy whale watching
Spot whales from May to October. (Credit: The Edit Suite)
Twist your binoculars until the ocean is in focus, stretched like a creased blue sheet all around.Come May, the East Coast becomes the humpback highway. Thousands of whales migrate along this stretch of coastline each year, their movements tracked by keen eyes from vantage points like the Cape Solander platform in Kamay Botany Bay National Park, one of the best places for whale watching in Australia. There’s something quietly thrilling about seeing that first telltale spout or the arc of a breaching body against the vastness of the sea. From June to October, whale-watching cruises depart from Cronulla, offering a closer look at the migration.
Awards come and go. But places like Cronulla endure because they belong as much to the visitors as they do the early-morning swimmers, walkers and surfers.
