The Best Stargazing Spots in Australia for a Magical Night

While the city has its charms, there’s something truly enchanting about escaping to regional landscapes for a night beneath the stars. Camping, booking a cosy Airbnb, or taking a spontaneous late-night drive — each state offers stunning spots perfect for stargazing.

Planning a low-budget date night, a road trip, or simply seeking a moment of quiet reflection under the cosmos? We’ve curated Australia’s top stargazing destinations so you can experience the night sky in all its breathtaking splendour.

Upcoming Celestial Events

Catch the Sky’s Most Dazzling Light Show — If You’re Lucky

Consider this your cosmic calendar reminder: the Perseids meteor shower, often heralded as the most brilliant of the year, is set to dazzle from 17th July to 23rd August, peaking around 12th to 13th August. With up to 100 meteors an hour — fireballs and all — it’s a celestial spectacle worth the pre-dawn wake-up call.

But there’s a catch: Australia’s view is far from equal. Only those in the country’s northern reaches — think Darwin, Cairns, Townsville, Broome and beyond — will have a chance to glimpse the action, and even then, a luminous full moon may dim the display. Still, for the stargazers with patience (and a thermos), it’s a breathtaking rarity worth chasing. And for those down south? Consider this your sign to book that tropical escape. Stat.

Sitchu Tip: EarthSky’s experts say there’s no need to lock onto one part of the sky — meteors will blaze unpredictably across every corner. Using binoculars or a telescope? Not ideal. To catch the full show, lie back and take in the entire celestial canvas. For optimal viewing, escape the glow of urban lights and allow your eyes around 30 to 45 minutes to acclimate to the dark. Only then will the night reveal its dazzling, fleeting fireworks in their full, breathtaking sweep.

Best Stargazing Spots in Australia: New South Wales

Bathurst Observatory

Far from the urban spill of city lights, Bathurst Observatory provides a quieter, more contemplative gaze into the galaxy. This storied outpost of astronomy blends old-world charm with cosmic curiosity — all domed ceiling, polished telescopes, and the hush before Saturn’s rings come into focus. Guided tours and intimate planetarium sessions illuminate the night with both science and poetry, making the stars feel closer, the silence deeper, and the universe somehow more personal. A stellar escape in every sense.

6 Priors Lane, Billywillinga

Warrumbungle National Park

For an unforgettable stargazing experience, Warrumbungle National Park delivers in every way. Australia’s first Dark Sky Park, this majestic NSW landscape offers some of the clearest, most uninterrupted night skies in the country. No city lights, no distractions — just you, the cosmos, and the kind of starry canopy that feels infinite. With its high altitude, minimal light pollution, and the nearby Siding Spring Observatory, this is where astronomy and awe collide. Absolutely worth the pilgrimage.

Belougerie Flats Trail, Warrumbungle

Blue Mountains

Less than an hour from Sydney, the Blue Mountains cast off the city’s glow and unveil a sky brimming with stars. Here, the air sharpens, silhouettes soften, and constellations burn bright across a velvety expanse. From Wentworth Falls to the clifftop lookouts above, it’s an invitation to slow down and look up. Go solo and savour the silence, or join a Blue Mountain Stargazing tour where expert guides bring the night sky to life with telescopes, mythology, and science.

Broken Hill

Broken Hill, famed as the rugged backdrop of Mad Max, holds another kind of magic after dusk. Beneath its vast outback skies, where light pollution fades into legend, the Milky Way stretches like a shimmering river across endless horizons. The dry, crystalline air sharpens every star, turning the night into a quiet cathedral of light and space. Here, where the landscape breathes wide and wild, stargazing becomes a moment of profound stillness — a celestial invitation to lose yourself in the universe’s oldest stories.

Coonabarabran

Coonabarabran is home to Australia’s first ‘Dark Sky Park,’ making it one of New South Wales’s best spots for stargazing. If you open Google Maps and take one look at the hefty drive, you may be put off, but trust us when we say it’s worth every minute of the road trip. The lack of light pollution means the stars and galaxies are on full display, even to the naked eye. Make a weekend out of it and go camping or find some cosy nearby accommodation to take in the Milky Way and appreciate it in all its glory.

Worimi National Park

Worimi National Park may be better known for its soaring dunes and sweeping ocean views, but after dark, it’s a celestial sanctuary waiting to be discovered. Away from the glare of nearby towns, the night sky stretches endlessly above ancient sand and sea. Lay back among the shifting dunes, warm drink in hand, and let the stars unfurl in silence. No crowds, no noise — just you, the sea breeze, and a glittering universe overhead. A quiet kind of magic.

Best Stargazing Spots in Australia: Victoria

Murray Sunset National Park

For stargazers seeking skies as enchanting as the Milky Way itself, Murray-Sunset National Park is pure magic. Located in Victoria’s northwest, this remote sanctuary is home to the surreal Pink Lakes — like Lake Crosbie and Lake Hardy — which shimmer by day and mirror the stars by night. With zero light pollution and uninterrupted 360° views, it’s nature’s very own planetarium. Pack a blanket, bring your telescope (or simply your gaze), and prepare to lose yourself beneath one of Australia’s most underrated celestial shows.

Sleep Under the Stars in Style at Bubble Retreats

Perched high above the coast near Wilsons Prom, Bubble Retreats is a next-level stay made for hopeless romantics and stargazers alike. Winner of Airbnb’s Global ‘OMG!’ Category, this transparent bubble lets you fall asleep under a million stars in a luxe four-poster bed. It’s adults-only, pet-free, and seriously unforgettable. With ocean views, mountain air, and celestial ceilings—this is glamping, reimagined. Bonus: pillow spray and Bluetooth speakers for max relaxation vibes.

Agnes, Victoria

Howqua Hill

Just an hour from Mansfield, Howqua Hill is a hidden gem for stargazing in Victoria. Rich with history, the river here once teemed with gold miners during the gold rush days. While there’s no actual gold now, it’s a treasure trove for star lovers. We recommend camping at Sheepyard Flat, where plenty of clearings make gazing into the night sky effortless.

Grampians National Park

What better place to go stargazing than one of Victoria’s most popular — and expansive — national parks? Grampians National Park offers multiple prime spots for starry nights, including Cato Lake Park, Mount Arapiles, Reed Lookout, and Boroka Lookout. With minimal light pollution, your view of the stars remains uninterrupted. Just be sure to rug up — the temperature drops sharply as soon as the sun sets.

Phillip Island

Bundle up in layers before heading to Phillip Island’s beach with a hot chocolate in hand, ready to watch stars ignite the night sky. This quiet island town reveals its celestial side once you leave the streetlights behind and settle onto the sandy shores. Bring a towel to sit on and a blanket to wrap around you and your loved one, then prepare for deep, meaningful conversations beneath the vast, shimmering heavens.

Best Stargazing Spots in Australia: Queensland

Kingaroy Observatory

In Queensland’s South Burnett, Kingaroy Observatory isn’t just stargazing — it’s an astronomical flirtation with the cosmos. Led by resident sky-whisperer James, you’ll peer through high-powered telescopes at nebulae, galaxies, and stars that haven’t blinked in a billion years. The skies here are scandalously clear, the light pollution practically non-existent, and the commentary refreshingly down-to-earth. It’s where science meets wonder with a wink, and the universe feels less like a mystery and more like your new favourite dinner guest.

Geoff Raph Drive, Kingaroy

The Granite Belt

The Granite Belt, located in the Great Dividing Range in the Darling Downs region of Queensland and the New England region of New South Wales, is a great spot for stargazing in Australia due to its high elevation, clear skies, and minimal light pollution. Unobstructed by urban lights, you have clear view of the celestial bodies above. Whether you have a telescope, binoculars or are just viewing it with the naked eye, the views from this spot are something to behold.

Winton Dark Sky Sanctuary

Winton’s Dark Sky Sanctuary is one of the world’s rarest celestial privileges — a stargazing mecca officially recognised for its pitch-black skies and uninterrupted views of the cosmos. A 15-hour drive from Brisbane, yes, but consider it a pilgrimage: by day, you’re in dinosaur country; by night, the Milky Way spills across the sky in spectacular fashion. With next-to-no light pollution, it’s a dream for astronomers and romantics alike — a true outback observatory, no telescope required.

Best Stargazing Spots in Australia: South Australia

Lincoln National Park

Lincoln National Park may be a seven hour drive from Adelaide, but the trek is well worth the views you’ll witness come night time. Nestled on the southern tip of the Eyre Peninsula, this coastal haven offers pristine beaches, rugged cliffs, and expansive starry skies that make it a dream for campers and nature lovers. 

River Murray Dark Sky Reserve

Dark Sky Reserves are the gold standard for stargazing — the clearest, darkest skies on offer, with nothing but the cosmos above. Australia’s first, the River Murray Dark Sky Reserve, is just 90 minutes from Adelaide, making it an easy evening escape with no need to camp (unless you want to). With barely a trace of light pollution, the stars blaze bright and bold — constellations, planets, even the Milky Way — all in dazzling, celestial clarity.

Burra

Framed by the vineyards of Clare Valley and the rust-toned sweep of the outback, Burra is a historic township with soul — all sandstone cottages, heritage trails, and wide skies. Just two hours from Adelaide, it’s an easy day trip that tempts you to linger longer. Book a charming Airbnb, pour a glass of something local, and settle in under a sky ablaze with stars — this is stargazing with a touch of old-world romance.

Best Stargazing Spots in Australia: Western Australia

Exmouth

Discover the celestial magic of Exmouth with Ningaloo Stars — an astro-tourism experience set against the rugged beauty of Cape Range National Park and the World Heritage-listed Ningaloo region. As night falls, the Milky Way, Southern Cross, and distant planets blaze across Exmouth’s crystal-clear skies. Led by passionate local Paul Woods and his expert team, these guided tours are inclusive, sustainable, and quietly spectacular. Seasoned stargazer or curious first-timer, this is WA’s cosmic soul — raw, humbling, and deeply connected to land and sky.

Pinnacles Dessert

Sprawling across 17,000 hectares in Nambung National Park, the Pinnacles Desert is an otherworldly expanse of thousands of ancient limestone pillars rising from golden sands. A four-kilometre trail winds through this surreal landscape, where dawn and dusk deliver a theatrical play of light and shadow—kangaroos, emus, and lizards often making cameos. Stay after sunset and you’ll be rewarded with a star-strewn sky of breathtaking clarity. Entry is $15 per car, with walking paths open for self-guided exploration.

Eighty Mile Beach

It might be in the middle of nowhere — but that’s exactly what makes stargazing at Eighty Mile Beach so mesmerising. Set between Port Hedland and Broome, this remote stretch of WA coastline offers minimal light pollution and uninterrupted skies. It’s an ideal stop on a west coast road trip: just bring a blanket, sink into the sand, and let the stars above do the talking. Out here, the night sky feels infinite — and entirely your own.

Best Stargazing Spots in Australia: Tasmania

Cradle Mountain

Located within St Clair National Park, Cradle Mountain is an ideal destination for stargazing, offering some of the darkest skies in Tasmania. The area’s remote location, combined with its high altitude and clean, unpolluted air, creates ideal conditions for observing the night sky. Far from the light pollution of Launceston (just over a two-hour drive away), stargazers can enjoy breathtaking views of the Milky Way, constellations, and various celestial events.

Cockle Creek

For a chance to witness the elusive Aurora Australis alongside a stunning starry sky, head as far south as you can to Cockle Creek in Tasmania. Just a two-hour drive from Hobart, this remote spot invites you to pitch your tent at the campground and wait for nightfall. As darkness falls, watch for shooting stars, familiar constellations, and the shimmering southern lights dancing across the crisp Tasmanian sky.

Best Stargazing Spots in Australia: Northern Territory

Uluru

Under the velvet hush of the Central Desert, Uluru becomes more than a sacred monolith: it’s a front-row seat to the cosmos. Here, where light pollution is a foreign concept, the Milky Way spills across the sky in crystalline splendour. Roaming star guides unravel ancient Indigenous astronomy beneath constellations that feel almost within reach.

It’s a celestial theatre unlike any other, where time slows, stories shimmer, and the night sky becomes an intimate, living canvas of wonder. Simply put, this might be the actual best stargazing spot in Australia.

Got your explorer hat on and want to discover more scenic and fun things to do around Australia? Check out the best travel sales & deals happening right now, or take a look at the best outdoor bath accommodation in Australia.