Melbourne has good sunrise and sunset spots right in the city, and better ones a short drive out into the hills and along the bay. Here are seven, with what you need to know about getting there and when they're open.
Sunset times swing a long way through the year in Melbourne. The sun sets around 5:10pm at the winter solstice and closer to 8:45pm in January, so check the time before you go, especially for spots with closing hours.
In the city
Melbourne Skydeck
For sunset from above, the Melbourne Skydeck on Southbank looks across the city, Port Phillip Bay and the sports precinct. It's open until 9pm, extending to 10pm from early November to early April, so summer sunsets fit inside opening hours. You won't need a car for this one.Swan Street Bridge
For a quiet sunrise, walk to the Swan Street Bridge and look back along the Yarra River to the city skyline, with the Queen Victoria Gardens beside you. Weekend mornings are the calmest.Along the bay
St Kilda Pier
Sunset over Port Phillip Bay from St Kilda Pier is a Melbourne classic. The bay is usually calm in the evening, so the colours reflect off the water.Half Moon Bay, Black Rock
From St Kilda, follow Beach Road south along the bay to Half Moon Bay at Black Rock. The red cliffs light up at sunrise, and the wreck of the 1870s warship HMVS Cerberus sits offshore as a breakwater. How much of it you see depends on the tide.In the hills
Sky High, Mount Dandenong
Sky High on Mount Dandenong is less than an hour's drive from the CBD and looks back over the whole city. Its gates lock at 6pm, though, so it only works for sunset between about mid-April and August, when the sun goes down before 6pm. It isn't open early enough for sunrise.Warrandyte South
For a country sunset close to town, Pietro Gallus Estate in Warrandyte South has hills and an Italian restaurant, Olivigna, which serves dinner Friday to Sunday. Book ahead and plan a designated driver.Worth the drive: the Twelve Apostles
For a sunset you'll remember, take the Great Ocean Road to the Twelve Apostles in Port Campbell National Park. It's about 291 km from Melbourne along the coast, roughly four and a half hours of driving, so plan to stay the night rather than drive back in the dark. Our Great Ocean Road itinerary breaks the drive into easy days.For the hills, the bay or the coast, you'll want your own wheels. Compare car hire in Melbourne, or take a campervan from Melbourne and make the Great Ocean Road sunset part of a longer trip.
