Sun path · Melbourne
Sunrise & sunset direction in Melbourne
See which way the sun rises and sets in Melbourne, with the full arc showing elevation against compass direction. Dashed curves show the June solstice, equinox and December solstice for comparison.
Drag the timeline to see where the sun will be in the sky.
Sun path in Melbourne on Thu, Sep 24
The sun rises at 91°, E and sets at 269°, W in Melbourne, reaching a peak elevation of 53° at solar noon. Day length is 12h 11m, measured from sunrise to sunset.
The chart above plots the full arc of the sun across the sky. The horizontal axis is compass direction, the vertical axis is elevation. Dashed reference curves show the June solstice, equinox and December solstice so you can see how the arc shifts through the year.
Use the scrubber to walk through the day and read the sun's compass bearing and elevation at any moment. For photography, check which direction light will come from at your planned shoot time and whether your subject will be front-lit, side-lit or backlit.
Sunrise and sunset direction in Melbourne
Bearings are measured clockwise from north and calculated from the sun path for this location.
| Date | Sun rises | Sun sets |
|---|---|---|
| Today | 91°, E | 269°, W |
| June solstice | 61°, ENE | 300°, WNW |
| Equinox | 91°, E | 269°, W |
| December solstice | 121°, ESE | 239°, WSW |
Shooting the light in Melbourne
Melbourne opens south onto Port Phillip, but its most useful light corridors run along the Yarra and through the central grid. The city’s famously changeable weather can move from hard sun to a broad cloud softbox within a shoot, while clearing fronts leave reflective pavement and sharply separated clouds around sunset.
The seasonal change is pronounced this far south. Summer brings late sunsets and a long working evening; winter keeps the sun low across the northern sky, sending directional light deeper between buildings and beneath the lanes’ awnings.
Where photographers go
Princes Pier
The old timber pylons lead toward the western sky, making this a clean sunset and long-exposure foreground.
Brighton Beach
Morning light reaches the bathing boxes from across the bay; clear evenings leave pastel color behind the city side of the shore.
Birrarung Marr
Work along the Yarra for low light on the skyline, rail lines and Princes Bridge, then stay as the river begins reflecting city lights.
Shrine of Remembrance
The elevated forecourt looks north toward the central skyline and holds a strong blue-hour city view.
Frequently asked
- Which way does the sun rise in Melbourne?
- On Thu, Sep 24, the sun rises in Melbourne at 91°, E (east).
- Which direction does the sun set in Melbourne in December?
- At the December solstice, the sun sets in Melbourne at 239°, WSW (west-southwest).
- How high does the sun get in Melbourne?
- On Thu, Sep 24, the sun reaches about 53° above the horizon at its highest point in Melbourne.
