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Rule Golden Hour

Byron Bay - Golden Hour - Australian Coast

Byron Bay, New South Wales, Australia

That magical warm light just after sunrise or before sunset

Currently

Real-time conditions
Low Cloud Cover97%
Mid Cloud Cover0%
High Cloud Cover0%
Sun Elevation-77.0° (Astronomical night)

Upcoming Opportunities

When all conditions match, PhotoWeather marks an opportunity window.

Times shown in Australia/Sydney
golden-hour weather icon
Next opportunity
Exceptional Golden Hour (calm) at Sunrise
Byron Bay
Sat, Jul 11 · 06:22–07:12 · 1h window
Medium confidence
54%
🌇Golden Hour Potential100%
Low Cloud Cover: 22%
Mid Cloud Cover: 3%
High Cloud Cover: 0%
Sun Elevation: -8.5° (Nautical twilight)
golden-hour weather icon
Exceptional Golden Hour at Sunrise
Byron Bay
Sun, Jul 12 · 06:21–07:12
🌇Golden Hour Potential:95.8-99%
Medium
golden-hour weather icon
Exceptional Golden Hour (calm) at Sunset
Byron Bay
Sun, Jul 12 · 16:30–17:20
🌇Golden Hour Potential:97.7-98.2%
Medium
golden-hour weather icon
Exceptional Golden Hour (calm) at Sunrise
Byron Bay
Mon, Jul 13 · 06:21–07:11
🌇Golden Hour Potential:98.7-99%
Medium
golden-hour weather icon
Exceptional Golden Hour (calm) at Sunset
Byron Bay
Mon, Jul 13 · 16:30–17:21
🌇Golden Hour Potential:96.8-98%
Medium
golden-hour weather icon
Exceptional Golden Hour at Sunrise
Byron Bay
Tue, Jul 14 · 06:21–07:11
🌇Golden Hour Potential:100%
Medium

What this forecast looks for

Plain-language explanation from the rule

This forecast identifies when the Australian east coast will catch spectacular sunrise light—the golden hour that makes icons like the Sydney Opera House and coastal landscapes glow. We track sun angle, cloud cover, and atmospheric conditions to predict when warm light will illuminate the coast at its finest.

Australia's east-facing coastline means sunrise is the premier golden hour opportunity. The Sydney Opera House catching first light is one of photography's iconic shots, while the Great Ocean Road's limestone formations take on golden warmth. The subtropical north offers year-round warm weather, while the temperate south brings seasonal variation.

What makes Australian coastal golden hour exceptional:

  • Sydney Opera House sunrise - World-famous architecture catches first light over Pacific horizon
  • Great Ocean Road glow - Twelve Apostles and London Bridge limestone turns warm gold at sunrise
  • Byron Bay lighthouse - Australia's most easterly point catches the nation's first light
  • Year-round accessibility - Mild climate means golden hour photography in every season

Best conditions occur during clear winter mornings (June-August) when atmosphere is crisp and sunrise happens at reasonable hours (6-7am). Summer brings very early sunrises (5am) but offers warm swimming weather as bonus. The Great Ocean Road faces south, so golden hour works better for overall scene illumination rather than direct sunrise shots. Classic locations include Mrs Macquarie's Chair for Opera House sunrise and Gibson Steps for Twelve Apostles access.

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72-hour requirements breakdown

What passed or failed, hour by hour
2matching hours in the next 95 hoursJump to next match
AND logic: all conditions required
Meets requirement
Misses requirement
Time
Australia/Sydney
Golden Hour
Any
Golden Hour Potential
≥ 80.0%
Precipitation Chance
≤ 5.0%
Visibility
≥ 1000.0m
Tue, Jul 7
23:0012%99%21841m
Wed, Jul 8
24:0015%98%8420m
01:0015%98%2267m
02:0015%99%2039m
03:0015%99%1697m
04:0015%100%1860m
05:0014%97%1870m
06:0048%95%3096m
07:0049%93%3980m
08:0012%93%5486m
09:0012%94%20361m
10:0012%95%18135m
11:0016%78%19636m
12:0012%59%22593m
13:0012%39%24135m
14:0020%53%24135m
15:0014%67%24134m
16:0065%82%22622m
17:0065%82%24134m
18:0012%82%24135m
19:0014%82%24134m
20:0012%87%24134m
21:0012%93%24134m
22:0011%99%24004m
23:0012%93%8397m
Thu, Jul 9
24:0012%87%3868m
01:0014%82%9505m
02:0011%86%24135m
03:0012%90%22819m
04:0015%95%2053m
05:0015%96%3541m
06:0076%97%4038m
07:0077%98%4315m
08:0019%98%4063m
09:0021%99%24134m
10:0019%100%24135m
11:0018%98%24135m
12:0015%96%22586m
13:0014%94%8582m
14:0012%95%9823m
15:0012%96%20163m
16:0050%97%7361m
17:0049%92%9065m
18:009.6%87%8619m
19:009.6%82%24135m
20:009.6%85%24134m
21:0011%88%24135m
22:0014%91%24135m
23:0018%79%24134m
Fri, Jul 10
24:0015%68%24135m
01:0015%56%4073m
02:0015%54%3636m
03:0016%51%3460m
04:0014%49%3701m
05:0011%45%5631m
06:0073%41%5598m
07:0069%38%4093m
08:0012%49%24135m
09:0012%60%24135m
10:0012%71%24135m
11:0012%54%24135m
12:0013%38%24135m
13:0013%21%24134m
14:0015%26%14316m
15:0017%32%14442m
16:0084%37%10928m
17:0084%32%24134m
18:0020%27%24134m
19:0023%22%24135m
20:0022%31%24134m
21:0020%41%11750m
22:0018%50%14317m
23:0022%33%24135m
Sat, Jul 11
24:0026%17%6685m
01:0026%0%6282m
02:0020%0%24135m
03:0020%0%24135m
04:0020%0%24135m
05:000%0%24135m
06:00100%0%24135m
07:00100%0%24135m
08:000%8.7%24135m
09:000%17%24135m
10:000%26%24135m
11:000%17%24135m
12:000%8.7%24135m
13:000%0%24135m
14:000%5.6%24135m
15:000%11%24135m
16:0056%17%24135m
17:0062%11%24135m
18:000%5.6%24135m
19:000%0%24135m
20:000%0%24135m
21:000%0%24135m
How to read: colored cells show whether each predicate requirement is met; highlighted rows mean the full rule matched (an opportunity).

What does Golden Hour Potential mean?

Inputs that drive the score

This derived score summarizes multiple raw weather signals. The table below shows the supporting inputs hour by hour, so you can see what's pushing the score up or down.

Time
Australia/Sydney
Golden Hour
High Clouds
%
Low Clouds
%
Mid-Level Clouds
%
Relative Humidity
%
Solar Elevation
°
Total Cloud Coverage
%
Wind Speed
m/s
Wed, Jul 8 Sunrise 06:38 Sunset 17:02
23:00
- 0% 97% 0% 92% -77° 97% 1.8m/s
Thu, Jul 9 Sunrise 06:38 Sunset 17:02
24:00
- 0% 63% 0% 96% -83° 63% 2.5m/s
01:00
- 0% 50% 0% 98% -73° 50% 2.4m/s
02:00
- 0% 77% 0% 98% -60° 77% 2.2m/s
03:00
- 0% 100% 0% 98% -47° 100% 2.3m/s
04:00
- 0% 100% 0% 98% -34° 100% 2.5m/s
05:00
- 0% 88% 0% 98% -21° 88% 2.3m/s
06:00
- 0% 29% 0% 98% -8.6° 29% 2.6m/s
07:00
- 0% 49% 0% 99% 3.6° 49% 2.6m/s
08:00
- 0% 50% 0% 97% 15° 50% 2.6m/s
09:00
- 0% 38% 0% 93% 24° 38% 2.7m/s
10:00
- 0% 42% 0% 85% 32° 42% 3.1m/s
11:00
- 0% 99% 0% 76% 38° 99% 3.2m/s
12:00
- 0% 100% 0% 81% 39° 100% 3m/s
13:00
- 0% 100% 0% 93% 36° 100% 2.3m/s
14:00
- 0% 100% 0% 93% 30° 100% 2.2m/s
15:00
- 0% 100% 0% 93% 22° 100% 2m/s
16:00
- 0% 79% 0% 91% 11° 79% 2.7m/s
17:00
- 0% 76% 0% 91% 0.29° 76% 3.4m/s
18:00
- 0% 72% 0% 91% -12° 72% 2.6m/s
19:00
- 0% 73% 0% 93% -25° 73% 1.8m/s
20:00
- 0% 43% 0% 94% -38° 43% 1.7m/s
21:00
- 0% 76% 0% 95% -51° 76% 1.5m/s
22:00
- 0% 53% 0% 93% -64° 53% 1.6m/s
23:00
- 0% 12% 0% 94% -77° 12% 1.9m/s
Fri, Jul 10 Sunrise 06:38 Sunset 17:02
24:00
- 0% 22% 0% 95% -83° 22% 2m/s
01:00
- 0% 31% 0% 97% -73° 31% 2.2m/s
02:00
- 0% 44% 0% 99% -60° 44% 2.3m/s
03:00
- 0% 56% 0% 99% -47° 56% 2.1m/s
04:00
- 0% 46% 3% 99% -34° 46% 2.3m/s
05:00
- 0% 40% 0% 98% -21° 40% 2.3m/s
06:00
- 0% 38% 2% 99% -8.6° 38% 2.2m/s
07:00
- 0% 39% 5% 98% 3.6° 40% 2m/s
08:00
- 0% 67% 3% 96% 15° 67% 2.1m/s
09:00
- 0% 100% 5% 91% 25° 100% 2.6m/s
10:00
- 0% 100% 5% 90% 33° 100% 2.5m/s
11:00
- 0% 96% 24% 82% 38° 96% 2.6m/s
12:00
- 0% 76% 5% 72% 39° 76% 2.2m/s
13:00
- 0% 63% 1% 68% 36° 63% 2.6m/s
14:00
- 0% 32% 1% 77% 30° 32% 2.1m/s
15:00
- 0% 2% 0% 82% 22° 2% 1.9m/s
16:00
- 0% 0% 0% 86% 11° 0% 1.8m/s
17:00
- 0% 0% 0% 94% 0.37° 0% 1.1m/s
18:00
- 0% 0% 0% 96% -12° 0% 1m/s
19:00
- 2% 9% 0% 96% -25° 9% 1.3m/s
20:00
- 6% 16% 2% 97% -38° 17% 1.3m/s
21:00
- 6% 40% 56% 98% -51° 57% 1.5m/s
22:00
- 5% 67% 47% 98% -64° 74% 1.6m/s
23:00
- 5% 30% 62% 99% -77° 62% 1.7m/s
Sat, Jul 11 Sunrise 06:38 Sunset 17:03
24:00
- 26% 34% 99% 99% -83° 99% 1.6m/s
01:00
- 0% 30% 64% 99% -73° 64% 1.6m/s
02:00
- 0% 19% 10% 98% -60° 22% 1.5m/s
03:00
- 0% 12% 28% 98% -47° 28% 1.5m/s
04:00
- 0% 15% 5% 98% -34° 16% 1.5m/s
05:00
- 0% 19% 4% 81% -21° 19% 1.7m/s
06:00
- 0% 22% 3% 63% -8.5° 22% 1.8m/s
07:00
- 0% 26% 2% 45% 3.7° 26% 2m/s
08:00
- 0% 45% 2% 55% 15° 45% 1.6m/s
09:00
- 0% 65% 3% 64% 25° 65% 1.3m/s
10:00
- 0% 84% 4% 73% 33° 84% 1m/s
11:00
- 0% 58% 2% 78% 38° 58% 1.1m/s
12:00
- 0% 31% 1% 83% 39° 31% 1.2m/s
13:00
- 0% 5% 0% 88% 37° 5% 1.3m/s
14:00
- 0% 27% 27% 88% 31° 32% 1.4m/s
15:00
- 0% 50% 53% 87% 22° 58% 1.5m/s
16:00
- 0% 72% 80% 87% 12° 85% 1.6m/s
17:00
- 0% 58% 75% 86% 0.45° 78% 1.6m/s
18:00
- 0% 44% 69% 85% -12° 71% 1.5m/s
19:00
- 0% 30% 63% 84% -25° 65% 1.5m/s
20:00
- 0% 21% 42% 85% -38° 43% 1.6m/s
21:00
- 0% 11% 21% 87% -51° 22% 1.6m/s
22:00
- 0% 1% 0% 88% -64° 1% 1.7m/s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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