The 2028 Total Solar Eclipse in Australia & Sydney: The Complete Guide
By Abdul DremaliPublished October 23, 20268 min read
On Saturday, July 22, 2028, a total solar eclipse crosses Australia from the remote Kimberley outback to Sydney Harbour, delivering up to 5 minutes and 10 seconds of totality. While Sydney offers an iconic urban view for nearly 3 minutes and 48 seconds, satellite climatology reveals a stark meteorological tradeoff: the dry Outback boasts over 90% clear-sky odds, compared to a 40% to 50% cloud risk along the Pacific coast.
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Key facts
- Date
- Saturday, July 22, 2028
- Maximum totality
- 5 min 10 s (East Kimberley, Western Australia)
- Sydney Harbour totality
- 3 min 45 s to 3 min 48 s (around 2:00 PM AEST)
- Path width
- Up to 230 km (143 miles) across the continent
- Outback clear-sky odds
- Over 90% historical sunshine frequency (Eclipsophile)
- Sydney clear-sky odds
- 35% to 50% average July daytime cloud cover
- Key transit regions
- Kimberley (WA), Northern Territory, Outback NSW, Sydney, NZ
On Saturday, July 22, 2028, the Moon's umbral shadow will carve a 230-kilometer-wide corridor directly across the Australian continent.
It is one of the most remarkable eclipse tracks of our lifetime. The path touches down on the rugged red sandstone of the Kimberley in Western Australia, sweeps across the vast red-dirt expanses of the Northern Territory, cuts through outback New South Wales, and plunges more than five million people in metropolitan Sydney into midday darkness before crossing the Tasman Sea to New Zealand.
If you are an eclipse chaser, landscape photographer, or traveler planning your international calendar, 2028 presents a fascinating strategic dilemma: do you watch totality over Sydney Harbour, or do you head deep into the arid Australian Outback?
Below is the definitive meteorological and logistical planning guide: exact path times, climatological cloud analysis, site comparisons, and eye safety advice.
The trans-continental path: where the shadow falls
The Moon's shadow makes landfall along the wild Indian Ocean coastline of Western Australia's Kimberley region. It reaches its point of greatest eclipse (5 minutes and 10 seconds of totality) over the rugged savannah southwest of Wyndham, then races southeastward at more than 2,000 kilometers per hour.
- Western Australia & The Kimberley: The track crosses the legendary Gibb River Road and Purnululu National Park (the Bungle Bungle Range). Totality here exceeds five minutes under high, brilliant winter sun.
- The Northern Territory & Red Centre: Crossing the Stuart Highway at Karlu Karlu (Devils Marbles) south of Tennant Creek, the shadow delivers over four minutes of totality over ancient granite boulders and flat red earth.
- Outback Queensland & New South Wales: The path bisects remote outback stations through Bourke, Cobar, and Dubbo before climbing the western slopes of the Great Dividing Range.
- Metropolitan Sydney: In a rare celestial alignment, the shadow covers the entire Sydney basin, from the Blue Mountains across the Harbour Bridge and Opera House out to Bondi Beach, providing nearly 3 minutes and 48 seconds of totality.
- New Zealand (South Island): The shadow crosses the Southern Alps in late afternoon, treating Queenstown and Dunedin to roughly three minutes of totality with the Sun low over snow-capped peaks.
2028 eclipse timeline and circumstances
All times below reflect local 24-hour clock time for each observing region:
| Location | Local Time Zone | Partial Begins (C1) | Totality Begins (C2) | Totality Duration | Sun Altitude |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mitchell Plateau (Kimberley, WA) | AWST (UTC+8) | 09:58 AM | 11:13 AM | 5 min 04 s | 56° |
| Purnululu / Bungle Bungles (WA) | AWST (UTC+8) | 10:05 AM | 11:21 AM | 3 min 14 s | 54° |
| Karlu Karlu / Devils Marbles (NT) | ACST (UTC+9.5) | 11:25 AM | 12:47 PM | 4 min 12 s | 46° |
| Bourke (Outback NSW) | AEST (UTC+10) | 12:35 PM | 1:53 PM | 4 min 20 s | 33° |
| Dubbo (Central NSW) | AEST (UTC+10) | 12:39 PM | 1:58 PM | 3 min 38 s | 30° |
| Sydney Harbour / Opera House (NSW) | AEST (UTC+10) | 12:41 PM | 1:59 PM | 3 min 46 s | 29° |
| Queenstown (South Island, NZ) | NZST (UTC+12) | 3:09 PM | 4:14 PM | 2 min 54 s | 11° |
| Dunedin (South Island, NZ) | NZST (UTC+12) | 3:12 PM | 4:16 PM | 2 min 51 s | 8° |
Data calculated from NASA GSFC ephemerides and Astronomical Association of Queensland (AAQ) data tables.
Outback vs. Sydney: the climatology tradeoff
When choosing an observing site, eclipse chasers must weigh dramatic foregrounds against meteorological risk.
Climatologist Jay Anderson, the global authority on eclipse meteorology at Eclipsophile, has published extensive satellite and ground-based weather analyses for July 22 along the Australian track. His findings reveal a sharp division between the interior and the coast.
1. The Outback: world-class clear-sky certainty
July is the heart of the dry winter season in northern and central Australia. A persistent subtropical high-pressure ridge dominates the continent, steering moist Pacific and Southern Ocean weather systems far to the south.
- The Kimberley and Northern Territory: Satellite records show average daytime cloud cover along the centerline from the Western Australian coast to the Stuart Highway remains consistently below 10%.
- Sunshine Hours: Weather stations at Halls Creek and Tennant Creek record over 90% to 93% of possible daytime sunshine hours in July.
- The Verdict: If your primary objective is guaranteed clear skies without cloud anxiety, the Australian interior is one of the most reliable eclipse locations on the planet.
2. Sydney: high drama, high weather roulette
Sydney is undeniably tempting. Watching the solar corona flare over the sails of the Sydney Opera House and the steel arch of the Harbour Bridge would produce one of the greatest cityscape photographs in history.
However, the meteorological reality is far more precarious:
- Marine Inversion & Mountain Waves: Sydney sits on a narrow coastal plain bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the east and the Blue Mountains to the west. Winter westerly winds descending the mountains generate mid-level wave clouds, while moist marine air frequently triggers afternoon cumulus build-ups.
- Satellite Historical Analysis: In his examination of July 22 satellite imagery over central Sydney between 2000 and 2025, Jay Anderson noted that only 9 out of 25 years were genuinely clear. Five were overcast, and twelve experienced broken, shifting cloud cover between Botany Bay and the Harbour.
- Microclimate Roulette: Sydney's weather during a winter afternoon resembles Cairns during the 2012 eclipse: viewers standing on one headland enjoyed a pristine view, while travelers only two kilometers away were clouded out by a single drifting cumulus formation.
| Region | Climatological Cloud Cover | Historical Sunshine Probability | Logistical Complexity | Primary Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Kimberley (WA) | Less than 10% | 90% to 94% | Very High (4WD, remote camping) | Extreme remoteness, dirt road washouts |
| Stuart Highway / Karlu Karlu (NT) | 8% to 12% | 88% to 92% | Moderate (Sealed highway, limited rooms) | Heavy roadside camper traffic |
| Outback NSW (Bourke, Cobar) | 20% to 28% | 75% to 80% | Low-Moderate (Sealed roads, regional motels) | Passing cold front cloud bands |
| Sydney Metropolitan Basin | 35% to 50% | 55% to 65% | Low (Urban transit, massive hotel capacity) | Coastal marine cloud, severe ferry/road gridlock |
Is 2028 too far away? Chase 2027 in Egypt
Before Australia 2028, experience the longest totality of our lifetime on August 2, 2027: up to 6 minutes and 22 seconds over Egypt's Western Desert with zero cloud risk and secured lodging.
Read the 2027 Egypt Eclipse GuideUrban logistics: the Sydney bottle-neck reality
For travelers considering the urban experience in Sydney, logistics require careful early planning.
Greater Sydney is home to more than 5.3 million residents, and July 22, 2028 falls on a Saturday afternoon. When you combine local residents heading to waterfront parks with an estimated 200,000 to 400,000 domestic and international eclipse visitors, the city's transport infrastructure will face extreme pressure.
Key operational realities for Sydney:
- Harbourside Gridlock: Public viewing vantage points around the Royal Botanic Garden, Mrs Macquarie's Chair, Circular Quay, and Bradfield Park under the bridge will reach maximum capacity hours before partial phase begins.
- Ferry Restrictions: Maritime authorities frequently place passenger caps and harbor traffic exclusion zones during major celestial and public events.
- Hotel Inflation: While Sydney possesses far more hotel beds than regional towns, harbour-view rooms for July 2028 will trade at massive premiums and sell out years in advance.
The adventure route: the Kimberley and Bungle Bungles
For travelers who prefer wilderness over crowds, Western Australia's East Kimberley offers an incomparable adventure.
Purnululu National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, protects the Bungle Bungle Range, a vast maze of beehive-shaped sandstone towers striped in alternating bands of orange silica and dark grey lichen.
- The Experience: While Purnululu sits slightly south of the centerline (shortening totality from 5 minutes down to 3 minutes and 14 seconds), the setting is visually unmatched. Watching the sky darken over striped prehistoric domes in complete outback stillness is a sacred experience.
- Travel Logistics: Reaching the Kimberley requires flying into Broome, Darwin, or Kununurra, chartering high-clearance 4WD vehicles equipped for corrugated dirt roads, and booking national park wilderness permits well ahead of time.
Eye safety and camera preparations
Viewing a solar eclipse demands strict adherence to optical safety standards:
- Partial Phases Require Certified Filters: Looking directly at a partially eclipsed Sun through bare eyes, sunglasses, or neutral density camera filters causes permanent retinal damage. Use only eclipse glasses certified to the international standard ISO 12312-2.
- Totality is 100% Safe: The moment the second diamond ring flashes and the Moon completely covers the Sun's bright disk (C2), you must take off your eclipse glasses. The solar corona shines with the gentle brightness of a full moon. The instant the third contact diamond ring reappears, glasses must go back on immediately.
- Camera Configurations: Telephoto lenses (400mm to 600mm) reveal the delicate magnetic filament lines of the solar corona and bright red hydrogen-alpha prominences along the lunar limb. Wide-angle lenses (14mm to 24mm) capture the dramatic 360-degree sunset glow around the entire horizon.
Planning the long game: 2027 vs. 2028
If you are serious about chasing eclipses, do not wait until 2028.
The total solar eclipse of August 2, 2027 across Egypt and North Africa offers the longest land totality of the century (up to 6 minutes and 22 seconds), with statistical cloud cover approaching absolute zero in Egypt's Western Desert.
Our small-group 2027 Egypt Eclipse Expedition provides guaranteed lodging in the Siwa Oasis, private transport, and local Egyptologist leadership. For a complete breakdown of times, cloud odds, and desert viewing sites, read our 2027 Egypt Total Solar Eclipse Guide.
Experience the 2028 Australian Eclipse with Us
We are designing an extraordinary, small-group Australian expedition built around the July 2028 total solar eclipse. True dark skies by night, curated boutique travel by day, and up to five minutes of midday darkness. We strictly cap this trip at 12 guests. Drop your email below to get the itinerary first when dates and booking open.
We only use your email to share Starlight Voyages news.
For those setting their sights on Australia, [get on the 2028 waitlist](#signup-inl) below to secure priority access. We will handle the remote permits, boutique lodging, and dark-sky scouting to ensure you stand beneath clear skies when the shadow falls. You can also explore our full lineup of small-group expeditions.
Frequently asked questions
When is the total solar eclipse in Australia?
The eclipse occurs on Saturday, July 22, 2028. The Moon's shadow touches the Australian northwest coast in the late morning, sweeps across the central outback during midday, and passes directly over the Sydney metropolitan area at approximately 2:00 PM local Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST).
How long will totality last in Sydney?
In central Sydney, including Sydney Harbour and the Opera House, totality will last roughly 3 minutes and 45 seconds to 3 minutes and 48 seconds. Areas closer to the path centerline near Sydney Airport will experience slightly longer duration.
Where is the best place in Australia to view the 2028 eclipse?
For meteorological certainty, the remote outback west of the Great Dividing Range is significantly superior to Sydney. Climatologist Jay Anderson's satellite analysis shows cloud cover along the track between the Kimberley and the Stuart Highway (such as Karlu Karlu / Devils Marbles) is below 10%, giving observers greater than 90% odds of clear skies compared to high coastal cloud risk in Sydney.
What does 99% totality look like compared to 100% totality?
There is no comparison between 99% and 100%. Even with 99% of the Sun covered, daylight remains up to 10,000 times brighter than totality. You cannot see the solar corona, the sky does not go dark, stars do not appear, and you cannot safely look without eclipse glasses. You must be inside the path of 100% totality to experience the phenomenon.
How far in advance do I need to book accommodation for the 2028 eclipse?
In remote outback corridors like the Kimberley, Katherine, and regional New South Wales, hotel beds and rental 4WD fleets will sell out 18 to 24 months in advance. In Sydney, harbour-view hotel rooms will command severe price premiums and fill rapidly once booking windows open. Planning your lodging and transport by early 2027 is essential.
Can you photograph the 2028 solar eclipse with a smartphone?
You can capture wide-angle photos of the dark sky, horizon colors, and landscape during totality with a smartphone. However, capturing detailed close-ups of the solar corona or red prominences requires a telephoto lens (at least 300mm to 600mm) on a dedicated camera mounted on a steady tripod. Remember to remove solar filters only during the minutes of 100% totality.
Is Sydney or the Outback better for families with kids?
Sydney is far easier logistically for families, offering extensive public transit, pediatric medical care, and standard hotel infrastructure, provided you secure viewing spots early. The remote Outback requires off-road driving, self-sufficient desert camping, and long stretches between fuel and water stops, making it better suited for older teens and experienced outdoor travelers.
Can I look at the 2028 eclipse without glasses?
You may only look at the eclipse without filters during the brief minutes of 100% totality, when the Sun is completely covered by the Moon. During all partial phases before and after totality, you must use ISO 12312-2 certified eclipse glasses, and cameras require dedicated solar filters.
Will New Zealand see the total eclipse in 2028?
Yes. After crossing the Tasman Sea, the Moon's shadow crosses the South Island of New Zealand in late afternoon, passing over Queenstown (2 min 54 s of totality) and Dunedin (2 min 51 s) before leaving the Earth at sunset.
Prefer to travel on your own dates or with your own group?Plan private
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Experience the 2028 Australian Eclipse with Us
We are designing an extraordinary, small-group Australian expedition built around the July 2028 total solar eclipse. True dark skies by night, curated boutique travel by day, and up to five minutes of midday darkness. We strictly cap this trip at 12 guests. Drop your email below to get the itinerary first when dates and booking open.
We only use your email to share Starlight Voyages news.