6 Epic Astrophotography Locations Around Australia Worth Losing Sleep Over

Australia is spoilt when it comes to astrophotography, and few people know this better than Sara Aurorae. She’s explored all over the country under darkness, camera in hand, to dig up the best spots to take photos of the night sky. Here are her six favourite spots for epic astrophotography around Australia.

We Are Explorers acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the Countries on which these adventures take place, who have occupied and cared for these lands, waters, and their inhabitants for thousands of years. We pay our respects to them and recognise that sovereignty was never ceded.

Astrophotography in Australia is something special. We have some of the darkest skies on Earth, wide open landscapes, and Milky Way views that still stop me in my tracks, no matter how many times I’ve seen them. From remote deserts to clifftop coastlines, this country rewards anyone willing to stay up late and venture a little outside their comfort zone.

I’ve lost count of the nights spent chasing clear skies. Driving lonely roads, setting up my tripod in places that feel a long way from anywhere, often cold and tired, usually questioning my life choices around 1am. And somehow, every single time, it’s worth it.

The first time I tried astrophotography, I had no real idea what I was doing. My focus was off, my exposures were a mess, and I wasn’t even sure where I should be pointing the camera. Just as I was about to pack it all in, the Milky Way appeared on the back of my screen. That one moment changed everything.

Since then, I’ve spent years chasing dark skies all over Australia, learning what works, what doesn’t, and which places consistently deliver. These are some of my favourite locations, along with the tips I wish I’d known earlier, to help you plan your next late‑night astro adventure.

Read more: How To Become a Stargazing Know-It-All

Aurora Australis in the Otways in Victoria

Best Astrophotography Spots Around Australia

1. Sapphire Coast, NSW

Best for Milky Way rises over the ocean

The Sapphire Coast is one of the most reliable places for astrophotography on Australia’s East Coast. It’s that rare combination of beautiful foregrounds, relatively low light pollution, and surprisingly easy access. Bermagui in particular hits the sweet spot: dark enough to shoot comfortably but not so remote that getting there feels like an expedition.

What I love about this stretch of coast is how much variety there is. From rocky headlands to long beaches and quiet coves, you’re never short on foreground options. Even moving a few minutes away from town lights makes a huge difference here. On a clear night, the Milky Way appears crisp and well‑defined against the dark ocean horizon.

Read more: Staying Safe on Coastal Rock Platforms

Camel Rock at Bermagui on NSW’s Sapphire Coast

Why It Works So Well

Low population density and undeveloped coastline mean cleaner horizons and less glow from nearby towns. That open eastern view is perfect for capturing the Milky Way as it rises over the sea early in the season.

Best Time to Shoot

• February to March: Early morning Milky Way rises (pre‑dawn starts)
• March to April: Later rise times, easier night shoots
• April to May: Prime season, with the Milky Way rising during the evening

2. Gariwerd / Grampians, VIC

Best for elevated views and immersive night shooting

The Grampians is where astrophotography starts to feel earned. Many of the best locations require hiking in with your gear but the reward is sweeping views, darker skies, and a sense of complete immersion that’s hard to beat in Victoria.

Camping at Gar hike‑in campground changed how I approach shooting at night. Being able to photograph straight from camp meant no rushing, no watching the clock, and no long hikes back in the dark. Instead, I could slow down, wait for the sky to shift, and really respond to what was happening overhead.

Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park

Why It’s Worth the Effort

Elevation makes a noticeable difference. You’re above a lot of surrounding light, the air feels cleaner, and the sky seems to stretch endlessly across the frame. Add in rock formations, ridgelines, and native bushland and you’ve got foregrounds that give real depth and scale to your images.

Summer Milky Way Magic

While winter gets all the attention, the Grampians are brilliant for photographing the summer Milky Way arch.

• December to January: Sweeping arcs after sunset, with Orion dominating the sky
• April to August: Peak season for the galactic core

From higher viewpoints, you can capture the Milky Way stretching from horizon to horizon, something flatter landscapes rarely allow.

3. Kununurra, WA

Best for remote Outback darkness

Kununurra is one of the most unforgettable places I’ve ever photographed. Out here, everything feels bigger; the landscapes, the silence, and especially the night sky. Once you leave town, the darkness is deep and uninterrupted and the Milky Way dominates.

Photographing boab trees beneath dense star fields was a defining experience for me. There’s a stillness in the Kimberley that’s hard to describe, where isolation becomes part of the creative process and the sky feels completely untouched.

Read more: How to Use a PLB

Boab tree in Kununurra

Why It’s Exceptional

Light pollution is almost non‑existent outside town, which means faint detail, strong contrast, and genuinely jaw‑dropping skies. On clear nights, the Milky Way looks layered and three‑dimensional in a way that’s hard to replicate closer to populated areas.

Read more: How to Stay Safe in Croc Country

Best Time to Visit

• April to May: Earlier Milky Way rises
• June to August: Peak visibility in the evening
• Dry season (May to September): Clear skies, low humidity, minimal cloud

4. Great Ocean Road, VIC

Best for dramatic coastal Milky Way shots (and Aurora Australis)

Few places offer such dramatic results for such little effort. Along the Great Ocean Road, you can park the car, walk a short distance, and suddenly find yourself framing the Milky Way above limestone stacks and open ocean.

Even after multiple trips, it never really loses its magic. Watching the galactic core sink toward the horizon over the sea still feels surreal every time.

Read more: How to Stay Safe at the Beach

Tom and Eva Lookout on the Great Ocean Road

Why It Works

Long, south‑facing coastlines make this ideal for Milky Way core sets and aurora activity. The openness of the sky combined with iconic foregrounds makes wide‑angle astrophotography especially rewarding here.

Read more: The Aurora Australis is Lighting Up the Sky

Best Shooting Locations

• 12 Apostles – Iconic, powerful foregrounds
• Loch Ard Gorge and Port Campbell – More sheltered and compositional variety
• Great Otways – Darker inland pockets with a completely different feel

5. Mt Kosciuszko, NSW

Best for alpine and high‑altitude astrophotography

At over 2,000 metres above sea level, astrophotography in the Snowy Mountains feels intense in the best way. The air is clearer, the landscapes are open, and the stars feel closer than anywhere else I’ve photographed.

Camping and shooting here is physically demanding, with cold nights, long hikes, and unpredictable conditions but it’s incredibly rewarding. Standing in complete alpine stillness beneath a sky packed with stars is something that stays with you.

Read more: What to Pack in Your Hiking First Aid Kit

Seamans Hut on Mt Kosciuszko

Why Altitude Matters

Less atmosphere means less haze and sharper star fields. Add open alpine plains, snow gums, and ridgelines and even simple compositions feel expansive and powerful.

Read more: Need to Know Before You Go Backcountry Camping

Best Season

December to February: Perfect for capturing the summer Milky Way arch, which can stretch almost horizon to horizon here on clear, moonless nights.

6. Sea Lake / Lake Tyrrell, VIC

Best for reflections and otherworldly symmetry

Lake Tyrrell feels like stepping onto another planet. Flat, endless, and quiet, it’s one of the most surreal places to photograph the night sky in Australia.

Shooting here completely changed how I think about composition. With no trees, no elevation, and no clutter, everything comes down to light, reflection, and balance. When conditions line up and the lake reflects the Milky Way, it’s nothing short of magic.

The salt lake of Lake Tyrrell

Why It’s Special

After rain or with the right surface conditions, the lake turns into a mirror, doubling the stars above. And even when dry, the cracked salt patterns offer incredible foreground texture. Add fairly dark skies for such an accessible location and it’s easy to see why this place is so popular.

Best Time to Visit

January to April: Lake Tyrrell isn’t just about timing the stars but timing the lake as well. In the early months of the year, the water evaporates and varying shades of pink are exposed because of the high concentration of salt. The water is also tidal, so less water makes the area easier to access. The Milky Way is also rising at this time.

Some Things Are Worth Losing Sleep Over

Astrophotography is one of the few outdoor pursuits where discomfort is often part of the reward. Late nights, cold temperatures, long drives, and tired mornings all fade the moment the Milky Way appears overhead.

From coastal cliffs to alpine ridgelines and remote deserts, every location in this guide offers a completely different experience of the night sky. The best one isn’t necessarily the darkest or most dramatic, it’s the one that suits how you like to travel, shoot, and explore.

Read more: Remember to Leave No Trace

And if this guide helps you plan your next night under the stars, share it with the friend you’d happily stand beside at 2am, waiting for the Milky Way to rise.

Keep Looking to the Stars

• I Stargazed With an Astronomer (Fireside with an Organic Tea) and Now I Can’t Go Back
• Hike, Camp, and Stargaze at Warrumbungle National Park, Australia’s Only Dark Sky Park NSW
• Unleash Your Inner Stargazer With This Astrophotography Gear