GEOGRAPHIC EXTREMES SOCIETY

 

AUSTRALIAN RECORDS

 

First light to strike Australia

The summit of Mount Warning is what most people believe to be the point at which you can see the first Sun’s rays in strike Australia. This isn’t quite true, but the early morning summit hike attracts many thousands of people every year wanting to experience the first rays of sunlight. The summit hike has turned into a pilgrimage for backpackers and tourists and is fast becoming something many Australians have on their bucket list. The most popular day for this hike is January 1, New Year’s Day. I’m sure many hikers link the first rays experienced during a summit climb to starting a variety of New Year’s resolutions.

Mount Warning overlooks Australia’s eastern-most point at Cape Byron and, yes, it does usually receive the first rays of sunlight for the continent. However, this isn’t true for every day of the calendar year, including the much-celebrated New Year’s Day.  From the first week of November through to the first week in February, the first rays of sunlight strike elsewhere.

Mount Warning. First place to see sunlight on Australian continent for most of the year. Image: Gold Coast Bulletin

 

During Australia’s extended summer days, the further south you go, the longer the daylight length due to the Sun rising earlier and setting later. If we take into account sunlight striking Australian soil, then during the height of summer, Macquarie Island, just north of the Antarctic Circle and administered by Tasmania, would hold the title of first light on Australian soil. Heading further south, while not considered official Australian territory, the Australian Antarctic Territory never loses sunlight from late November to mid-January. However, for the greater majority of the year, the Australian Overseas Territory of Norfolk Island would see the first rays of sunlight. But what of the continent of Australia? Now that we understand that Mount Warning doesn’t experience the first rays of Sunlight on January 1, so how far south must we travel to see first light on the first day of the year?

To the south of Eden sits the 900-metre peak of Mount Imlay, which is a prominent, conical mountain standing high above the coastal plain. This single peak lies just south of Eden and 25 kilometres to the north of Cape Howe, protruding much higher than the surrounding ranges. On January 1, Geoscience Australia records Eden’s Sunrise a full seven minutes before the Sun rises at Cape Byron. From the last week of November to the first week of February, including the celebrated New Years Day, Mount Imlay is the first place to see the sunrise on Continental Australia.

Mount Imlay. The first place to see the sunrise on New Years Day on Continental Australia. Image: Bundian Way

 

First Sunlight Records

GES Record: First place to see sunlight in Australia – (for the majority of the year) – Norfolk Island (Source: Geoscience Australia)

GES Record: First place to see sunlight in Australia – (January 1) – Macquarie Island (Source: Geoscience Australia)

GES Record: First place to see sunlight in continental Australia – (for the majority of the year) – Mount Warning (Source: Geoscience Australia)

GES Record: First place to see sunlight on continental Australia – (January 1) – Mount Imlay (Source: RJ Andrews)

The Geographic Extremes Society welcomes any input as to the veracity of these records and we encourage everyone to contribute to these extreme records by contacting us to initiate the discussion