Stargazing in Australia: Where to See the Best Starry Skies

Beyond the glow of its cities, Australia’s deserts, islands, national parks, and regional towns reveal night skies filled with the Milky Way, planets, nebulae, and southern constellations. Some of the country's most memorable stargazing opportunities are found deep in the outback, where vast landscapes and minimal light pollution create ideal conditions for looking skyward.

You don't need to venture far from Australia’s major cities to enjoy the wonders of the night sky. From observatory tours near Perth and Canberra to Southern Lights viewing in Tasmania and designated Dark Sky sites near Sydney, these eight destinations for stargazing in Australia pair remarkable celestial displays with local culture, wildlife, food, and nearby accommodation.

• Northern Territory: Uluṟu
• New South Wales: Palm Beach and the Blue Mountains
• Tasmania: Hobart and kunanyi (Mount Wellington)
• Victoria: Ballarat
• Queensland: Maleny
• South Australia: Kangaroo Island
• Western Australia: Perth Hills
• Australian Capital Territory: Mount Stromlo

Best for: an unforgettable stargazing experience in the outback.

Few Australian landscapes feel as suited to stargazing as Uluru. Once the sun sets over the desert, the night sky reveals stars, planets, constellations, and distant galaxies. The Uluru Astro Tour offers special after-dark access to Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park, where astronomy guides and computerised telescopes help bring the southern sky into focus.

For a family-friendly alternative, Outback Sky Journeys combines telescope viewing with Indigenous stories and astronomy insights. During the day, you can explore Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park, visit the Cultural Centre, or join a guided walk before returning for an evening under some of Australia's darkest skies.

Activities to include:

• Join the Uluṟu Astro Tour inside Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park
• View stars, planets, and deep-sky objects through computerised telescopes
• Learn about the southern night sky from an astronomy guide
• Take part in an Outback Sky Journeys experience
• Visit the Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa Cultural Centre during the day

Continue your Red Centre experience at Emu Walk Apartments, located within Ayers Rock Resort and around 20 minutes’ drive from Uluṟu. The self-contained one- and two-bedroom apartments give you space to settle in between desert walks, cultural activities, and evenings beneath the stars. Resort-wide shuttle services and transfers for the Uluṟu Astro Tour also help connect your stay with the surrounding experiences.

Alternatively, Sails in the Desert - A member of Pullman Hotels offers a full-service stay within Ayers Rock Resort. After exploring Uluṟu or gazing into the southern sky, return for a swim, on-site dining, Indigenous art, or time at Red Ochre Spa.

Best for: an accessible night-sky experience near the city.

You don’t need to cross New South Wales to enjoy stargazing near Sydney. Palm Beach Headland, comprising Governor Phillip Park and Barrenjoey Headland, is Australia's first designated Urban Night Sky Place. Arrive in the afternoon to enjoy Palm Beach, then settle into Governor Phillip Park after sunset for independent night-sky viewing.

Barrenjoey Headland and the lighthouse precinct close from dusk to dawn, with night access only permitted during approved DarkSky events. If you'd prefer a guided experience near Sydney, Blue Mountains Stargazing offers astronomer-led sessions featuring telescope viewing, constellation storytelling, and insights into the southern sky.

Activities to include:

• Watch the night sky from Governor Phillip Park
• Visit Barrenjoey Lighthouse during daylight hours
• Attend an approved DarkSky event
• Spend the afternoon at Palm Beach
• Join an astronomer-led tour in the Blue Mountains
• Pair the evening with dinner on Sydney’s Northern Beaches

Mercure Sydney Manly Warringah, located in Brookvale, places you within reach of the coastline, so you can spend the day exploring the beaches before travelling to Palm Beach Headland for an evening of stargazing. Kitchenettes and on-site parking, subject to availability, add convenience to an after-dark drive.

Best for: southern skies and the Aurora Australis.

Stargazing in Tasmania combines mountain scenery, coastal horizons, and some of Australia's most southerly viewing locations. Tasmania is also known for the Aurora Australis, or Southern Lights, which can produce green, blue, purple, and red displays. While sightings are possible throughout the year, winter generally offers better viewing opportunities away from light pollution.

Near Hobart, kunanyi (Mount Wellington) and Mount Nelson provide elevated viewpoints, while guided experiences such as Starlit Tasmania combine telescope viewing, astronomy storytelling, and night-sky photography. If you're exploring northern Tasmania, Launceston also makes a convenient base for regional food experiences, day trips, and evenings beneath the stars.

You can also continue to Cradle Mountain, where the World Heritage-listed wilderness creates a memorable setting after dark, and explore the telescope stargazing tour at Peppers Cradle Mountain Lodge.

Activities to include:

• Join a guided stargazing tour near Hobart
• Look for the Aurora Australis when conditions allow
• Visit kunanyi/Mount Wellington during safe access hours
• Practise night-sky photography
• Explore Tasmania’s local food and drink producers

Extend your search for southern skies with a stay at Mercure Launceston. Its location beside City Park gives you a base for discovering Launceston’s dining and attractions before continuing into northern Tasmania for scenic drives and evenings beneath the stars. Complimentary parking and an on-site restaurant are useful additions when your itinerary includes late-night viewing or a longer road trip.

Best for: outdoor stargazing, astronomy history, and a regional weekend away.

There are several ways to experience stargazing near Melbourne, from open-air viewing in the Dandenong Ranges to telescope sessions in Ballarat. At Mount Dandenong, you can look across Melbourne’s city lights while watching the night sky above. Nearby, Mount Burnett Observatory hosts public viewing nights where local astronomy enthusiasts guide visitors through telescope observations. Check the event calendar and access information before travelling.

Continue west to Ballarat, where Ballarat Municipal Observatory and Museum holds night-sky viewing sessions, star parties, lectures, and astronomy programmes. Its first buildings opened in 1886, while the Baker Telescope, identified by the observatory as the first large telescope built in Australia, opened in 1888. Bookings are essential for public events, and viewing depends on weather conditions.

For darker surroundings, check scheduled activities at Snake Valley, an official Australian Dark Sky Site west of Ballarat. Club nights and astronomy classes offer opportunities to observe the Moon, nebulae, star clusters, and galaxies.

Activities to include:

• Attend a public viewing night at Mount Burnett Observatory
• Book a telescope session at Ballarat Municipal Observatory and Museum
• Time your visit with a star party or lecture
• Attend an organised astronomy session at Snake Valley
• Explore Sovereign Hill before an evening viewing session

After an evening spent tracing constellations and viewing distant galaxies, retreat to Mercure Ballarat - Hotel & Convention Centre. Its garden setting and location near some of Ballarat's best-known attractions make it well suited to a slower regional getaway centred around astronomy, history, and heritage.

For travellers arriving from Melbourne, Mercure Melbourne City Centre offers the opportunity to experience two very different nightscapes in one trip: the bright city lights of the CBD and the dark skies of regional Victoria.

Best for: First-time stargazers looking for outdoor viewing and guided telescope experiences.

Stargazing near Brisbane can begin with a community telescope night in the city or beneath the darker skies of the Sunshine Coast Hinterland. Brisbane Astronomical Society hosts public viewing nights in Indooroopilly, where local enthusiasts help visitors observe the Moon, planets, star clusters, and other celestial objects.

For a darker-sky experience, head to Maleny Observatory in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland, where public telescope evenings are held throughout the year. Spend the afternoon exploring the region's cafés and countryside before stargazing, and check the Brisbane Astronomical Society event calendar before travelling, as sessions may be affected by weather conditions.

Stargazing tip: Guided telescope sessions are often the easiest introduction to astronomy because local experts can help identify constellations, planets, and seasonal objects.

Activities to include:

• Attend a public telescope night in Indooroopilly
• Take an evening trip to Maleny Observatory
• Observe the Moon, planets, and star clusters through a telescope
• Look for visible constellations with the naked eye
• Explore Maleny’s cafés and local producers
• Visit Brisbane’s riverfront precincts and galleries during the day

Begin your Queensland stargazing getaway at Mercure Brisbane King George Square, opposite Brisbane City Hall and King George Square. Spend the day exploring Queen Street Mall, South Bank, and the city’s riverfront before joining a community telescope night or travelling towards the darker surroundings of the Sunshine Coast Hinterland.

Best for: Nature lovers interested in coastal skies and wildlife after dark.

Kangaroo Island combines stargazing with opportunities to encounter native wildlife after sunset. Join a nocturnal wildlife walk or guided four-wheel-drive tour for the chance to spot Tammar wallabies, brush-tailed possums, boobook owls, echidnas, and Kangaroo Island kangaroos beneath the stars.

Base yourself around American River and enjoy the night sky from your accommodation or another recommended viewing location. During the day, explore protected landscapes such as Flinders Chase National Park, Cape Willoughby Conservation Park, and Seal Bay, which together showcase the island's remarkable natural diversity.

Activities to include:

• Stargaze near American River
• Join a guided nocturnal wildlife tour
• Watch sunset from a coastal viewpoint
• Look for southern constellations with the naked eye
• Visit Seal Bay during the day
• Explore Flinders Chase National Park

Mercure Kangaroo Island Lodge is located among bushland overlooking American River Bay, making it a convenient base for days spent exploring Kangaroo Island’s protected landscapes and evenings watching for stars and native wildlife. After dark, dine at the on-site restaurant or settle in on the Fireside Bar terrace with a local drink overlooking the bay.

Best for: First-time stargazers who want guided telescope viewing.

You don't need to travel deep into the outback to experience the southern night sky. Located in Bickley, Perth Observatory offers guided Night Sky Tours using a collection of telescopes. Depending on conditions, you may observe nebulae, star clusters, the Moon, and visible planets.

Choose a dark-sky session to view fainter celestial objects or a moonlit session to explore features on the lunar surface. Your visit also includes access to the observatory museum, which features historical instruments, meteorites, astrophotography, and an early printed star atlas. If weather prevents telescope viewing, sessions may continue with an astronomy presentation and guided facility tour.

Activities to include:

• Book a Night Sky Tour at Perth Observatory
• Observe nebulae, star clusters, the Moon, and visible planets
• Choose a dark-sky or moonlit session
• Explore the observatory museum
• Take a short bushwalk in the Perth Hills

Make your stargazing experience part of a longer Perth getaway with Mercure Perth. Spend the day exploring the city's galleries, restaurants, and waterfront precincts before heading to the Perth Hills for an evening of telescope viewing and celestial discovery. After a night spent observing distant planets, star clusters, and nebulae, return to the comfort of the city and extend your stay by discovering more of Western Australia's capital.

Best for: Travellers interested in astronomy, science, and local history.

Canberra offers a different type of stargazing holiday, combining astronomy with science and history. At Mount Stromlo Observatory, you can choose from private stargazing sessions, combined history tours, and small-group Galaxy Safari experiences led by professional and experienced amateur astronomers.

Alongside telescope viewing, combined tours explore the observatory's history, from its beginnings as the Commonwealth Solar Observatory to its recovery after the 2003 bushfires. Canberra also hosts occasional public stargazing nights, after dark photography workshops, and astronomy-themed events, with bookings generally required for organised experiences.

Activities to include:

• Book a Galaxy Safari small-group experience
• Join a private telescope session
• Add a behind-the-scenes historical tour
• Walk the Mount Stromlo Heritage Trail during the day
• Look for local astrophotography workshops

Complete your astronomy-led trip with a stay at Mercure Canberra Belconnen, where selected rooms offer lake or mountain views. Spend the day exploring the capital before travelling to Mount Stromlo for a private telescope session, Galaxy Safari, or astronomy event.

From remote outback skies and Southern Lights viewing in Tasmania to observatory tours near Australia's major cities, stargazing offers a unique way to experience the country after dark. Along the way, you might discover Indigenous stories, local food and wine, wildlife encounters, historic observatories, and landscapes that feel entirely different beneath the stars.

Ready to plan your journey? Book your stay directly through Mercure.com or the ALL Accor app to earn exclusive benefits with your membership. Not a member yet? Join the free ALL Accor loyalty programme to enjoy member benefits and save up to 10% from your very first booking.

Do you need a telescope to see the Milky Way in Australia?

In a sufficiently dark location with clear conditions, the Milky Way can be visible without a telescope in Australia. Binoculars may reveal additional detail, while a guided telescope session can introduce you to planets, clusters, nebulae, and other objects.

What should you take on a stargazing trip?

Bring warm layers, enclosed shoes, water, and a low-powered or red-light torch on your stargazing trip. A picnic rug or reclining chair can make longer sessions more comfortable. If you’re joining a tour, check whether cameras, tripods, food, or drinks are permitted.

What is the best time of night for stargazing in Australia?

The sky becomes darker after astronomical twilight, but the ideal time for stargazing in Australia varies with sunset, the Moon, cloud cover, and the objects you want to see. Check local conditions and the session time supplied by your tour or observatory.

What are Dark Sky Places in Australia?

Dark Sky Places in Australia are locations recognised for their low levels of light pollution and exceptional night-sky visibility. These areas protect natural darkness, making it easier to observe stars, planets, the Milky Way, and other celestial objects. Examples include Palm Beach Headland near Sydney and Snake Valley in regional Victoria.

Is a new moon always best for stargazing in Australia?

A new moon is often the best phase for stargazing because darker skies make faint celestial objects easier to see. However, a brighter Moon can be an interesting target in its own right, particularly when viewed through a telescope. Perth Observatory offers both dark-sky and moon-focused sessions.