Stargazing
Australia's Coral Coast offers incredible stargazing opportunities, as the Milky Way shines bright above ancient otherworldly landscapes.
Astrotourism Towns, which are committed to protecting dark skies, offer dedicated observing sites and astrophotography hotspots for all to enjoy, while the lack of light pollution throughout the region creates an abundance of unofficial stargazing destinations. Whether you're an avid stargazer, astro-photographer or simply love watching the night sky light up with the galaxy, there's no shortage of mesmerising stargazing in the region. Some of our favourite unofficial stargazing destinations include the Cervantes Sand Dunes, Sandy Cape (Jurien Bay), Kalbarri Skywalk and Kalbarri Coastal Cliffs, Red Bluff at Monkey Mia, Wooramel River Retreat, the OTC Dish at Carnarvon's Space & Technology Museum, Quobba Station and Bullara Station, and Exmouth's Vlamingh Head Lighthouse. If you're looking for a dedicated Astrotourism site, we've got quite a few of those too!
Gazing the Gascoyne also provides an abundance of stargazing opportunities, stretching from the ancient ranges of the Upper Gascoyne to the pristine shoes of Shark Bay, Carnarvon and Ningaloo. Discover a range of stargazing tours and self drive itineraries and be awed by the beauty of the night skies.
Dedicated Astrotourism sites (from south to north):
Cervantes
Observing site: Lake Thetis
Astrophotography hotspot: The Pinnacles of Nambung National Park
Carnamah
Observing site: MacPherson Homestead
Astrophotography hotspot: Yarra Yarra Lakes Lookout
Three Springs
Observing site: Three Springs Golf Club
Astrophotography hotspot: Talc Mine Lookout
Mingenew
Observing site: Yandanooka Hall
Astrophotography hotspot: Mingenew WA Space Centre
Shark Bay
Observing site: Little Lagoon
Astrophotography hotspot: Eagle Bluff
Carnarvon
Observing site: Bibbawarra Bore
Astrophotography hotspot: Quobba Lighthouse
WHEN TO VISIT in 2027
January to March
It’s Summer Milky Way time for Australia’s Coral Coast! Spectacular stargazing nights feature Orion, Taurus and Pleiades, also known as the Seven Sisters. Watch a Supermoon rise on 22nd January and a stunning early evening view of the Moon, Mars and Jupiter on 19th March.
April to August
The Winter Milky Way season begins, and it's best seen from Southern Hemisphere locations. This is the best time to find the Aboriginal constellation "Emu in the Sky", formed by the dark spaces between the stars rather than the stars themselves. The emu stretches across the Milky way, with its head near the Southern Cross.
September to October
Look for bright Venus, Mars and Mercury in the western sky after sunset on the Coral Coast. In dark sky locations, try to find the Small Magellanic Cloud in the southern sky. Looking like a small faint and fuzzy cloud, it’s a galactic neighbour of our home galaxy, the Milky Way.
November to December
It’s time for Saturn rising on the eastern horizon. If you have a telescope, take a closer look at the incredible rings. On a Coral Coast moonless night, another galactic neighbour is rising on the south eastern horizon. The Large Magellanic Cloud appears higher above the south eastern horizon.
Discover more of what's up to see in the night sky at www.astrotourismwa.com.au.
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