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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 Cover100%
Mid Cloud Cover21%
High Cloud Cover100%
Sun Elevation-77.6° (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 at Sunrise
Byron Bay
Sun, May 31 · 06:13–07:03 · 1h window
Medium confidence
46%
🌇Golden Hour Potential100%
Low Cloud Cover: 8%
Mid Cloud Cover: 0%
High Cloud Cover: 0%
Sun Elevation: -6.8° (Nautical twilight)
golden-hour weather icon
Exceptional Golden Hour (calm) at Sunrise
Byron Bay
Mon, Jun 1 · 06:13–07:04
🌇Golden Hour Potential:100%
Medium
golden-hour weather icon
Exceptional Golden Hour (calm) at Sunset
Byron Bay
Mon, Jun 1 · 16:22–17:12
🌇Golden Hour Potential:96.9-97.6%
Medium
golden-hour weather icon
Exceptional Golden Hour (calm) at Sunrise
Byron Bay
Tue, Jun 2 · 06:14–07:04
🌇Golden Hour Potential:100%
Medium
golden-hour weather icon
Exceptional Golden Hour (calm) at Sunset
Byron Bay
Tue, Jun 2 · 17:00–17:12
🌇Golden Hour Potential:85.5%
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
0matching hours in the next 95 hours
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
Sat, May 23
23:0022%100%24134m
Sun, May 24
24:0022%100%19874m
01:0027%100%21740m
02:0027%100%15139m
03:0026%100%17046m
04:0023%100%16542m
05:0027%100%12431m
06:0059%100%13642m
07:0048%100%24135m
08:0025%100%11029m
09:0027%100%10376m
10:0024%100%10049m
11:0021%100%10701m
12:0023%100%11139m
13:0022%100%22973m
14:0024%100%12965m
15:0021%100%14233m
16:0049%100%22535m
17:0048%100%23166m
18:0018%100%9909m
19:0018%100%8744m
20:0018%100%7227m
21:0014%100%2721m
22:0013%100%2230m
23:0016%100%1955m
Mon, May 25
24:0019%100%2514m
01:0019%100%2300m
02:0019%100%2034m
03:0019%100%2181m
04:0019%100%2347m
05:0019%99%2124m
06:0038%99%2084m
07:0059%98%2425m
08:0024%99%4138m
09:0021%99%9405m
10:0021%99%10534m
11:0020%88%10741m
12:0021%76%8665m
13:0022%65%11472m
14:0020%68%12035m
15:0018%70%9142m
16:0041%73%9893m
17:0048%76%22512m
18:0019%79%21459m
19:0019%83%24135m
20:0019%87%15929m
21:0019%92%24134m
22:0021%97%24135m
23:0024%97%15308m
Tue, May 26
24:0022%97%24134m
01:0021%98%24134m
02:0028%98%24134m
03:0031%99%24101m
04:0021%100%17939m
05:0022%98%16171m
06:0041%97%5337m
07:0035%96%1294m
08:0017%96%3115m
09:0017%97%3144m
10:0014%97%4187m
11:0019%89%23909m
12:0027%80%24071m
13:0021%72%12962m
14:0024%76%22504m
15:0027%81%24134m
16:0065%86%24135m
17:0057%82%24134m
18:0026%79%24135m
19:0026%76%24134m
20:0025%79%24036m
21:0024%81%22925m
22:0024%84%13381m
23:0027%78%16718m
Wed, May 27
24:0020%71%13992m
01:0018%65%24135m
02:0020%63%5482m
03:0017%61%2262m
04:0016%59%1031m
05:0010%61%4138m
06:0093%63%7244m
07:00100%64%10351m
08:0016%68%14369m
09:0017%71%18387m
10:0017%74%22405m
11:0017%68%22982m
12:0017%61%23558m
13:0017%55%24135m
14:0017%62%24135m
15:0017%70%24135m
16:0099%78%24135m
17:0099%76%24135m
18:0016%74%24135m
19:0015%72%24135m
20:0012%78%24135m
21:0010%85%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
%
Total Cloud Coverage
%
Wind Speed
m/s
Sun, May 24 Sunrise 06:26 Sunset 16:58
23:00
- 100% 100% 21% 98% 100% 0.94m/s
Mon, May 25 Sunrise 06:26 Sunset 16:58
24:00
- 100% 99% 22% 97% 100% 0.96m/s
01:00
- 100% 97% 72% 97% 100% 1.1m/s
02:00
- 100% 99% 6% 98% 100% 1.1m/s
03:00
- 100% 89% 12% 98% 100% 0.78m/s
04:00
- 98% 62% 65% 98% 98% 0.61m/s
05:00
- 100% 82% 95% 98% 100% 0.95m/s
06:00
- 100% 86% 65% 98% 100% 0.92m/s
07:00
- 36% 52% 48% 98% 52% 0.82m/s
08:00
- 6% 75% 44% 95% 75% 1.1m/s
09:00
- 12% 98% 97% 93% 99% 1.6m/s
10:00
- 34% 99% 65% 94% 99% 2m/s
11:00
- 88% 100% 74% 94% 100% 2m/s
12:00
- 5% 100% 94% 94% 100% 2.1m/s
13:00
- 8% 66% 87% 94% 88% 1.9m/s
14:00
- 90% 72% 61% 93% 90% 2.2m/s
15:00
- 95% 86% 59% 94% 96% 2m/s
16:00
- 80% 23% 84% 95% 86% 1.9m/s
17:00
- 100% 13% 92% 97% 100% 1.4m/s
18:00
- 100% 41% 99% 98% 100% 1.4m/s
19:00
- 100% 41% 93% 98% 100% 1.2m/s
20:00
- 99% 73% 95% 99% 100% 1.3m/s
21:00
- 100% 81% 100% 99% 100% 1.1m/s
22:00
- 95% 42% 100% 99% 100% 1.2m/s
23:00
- 100% 25% 100% 99% 100% 1.1m/s
Tue, May 26 Sunrise 06:26 Sunset 16:58
24:00
- 100% 24% 100% 99% 100% 0.91m/s
01:00
- 93% 32% 100% 99% 100% 0.58m/s
02:00
- 98% 43% 98% 99% 98% 0.92m/s
03:00
- 100% 82% 59% 98% 100% 0.98m/s
04:00
- 100% 80% 100% 99% 100% 0.93m/s
05:00
- 92% 60% 99% 99% 100% 1.3m/s
06:00
- 38% 56% 98% 100% 98% 1.6m/s
07:00
- 100% 81% 48% 100% 100% 1.6m/s
08:00
- 72% 96% 5% 99% 98% 1.6m/s
09:00
- 100% 83% 26% 98% 100% 1.5m/s
10:00
- 100% 67% 96% 96% 100% 1.5m/s
11:00
- 100% 52% 53% 90% 100% 1.4m/s
12:00
- 80% 36% 62% 83% 81% 0.87m/s
13:00
- 100% 27% 78% 79% 100% 0.81m/s
14:00
- 78% 18% 5% 78% 78% 0.74m/s
15:00
- 100% 6% 5% 79% 100% 1.2m/s
16:00
- 100% 0% 37% 86% 100% 1.3m/s
17:00
- 100% 5% 30% 94% 100% 0.58m/s
18:00
- 99% 16% 5% 96% 99% 0.48m/s
19:00
- 100% 24% 4% 98% 100% 0.57m/s
20:00
- 100% 18% 2% 98% 100% 0.7m/s
21:00
- 100% 25% 0% 98% 100% 0.55m/s
22:00
- 100% 29% 0% 99% 100% 0.53m/s
23:00
- 100% 29% 0% 99% 100% 0.97m/s
Wed, May 27 Sunrise 06:27 Sunset 16:57
24:00
- 100% 34% 0% 99% 100% 0.92m/s
01:00
- 100% 59% 0% 99% 100% 1.2m/s
02:00
- 100% 58% 2% 100% 100% 1.2m/s
03:00
- 100% 91% 1% 100% 100% 1.2m/s
04:00
- 46% 76% 0% 99% 77% 1.2m/s
05:00
- 30% 58% 0% 96% 59% 1.2m/s
06:00
- 15% 40% 1% 93% 41% 1.1m/s
07:00
- 0% 22% 1% 90% 22% 1m/s
08:00
- 0% 19% 1% 92% 19% 1m/s
09:00
- 0% 15% 1% 94% 15% 1.1m/s
10:00
- 0% 12% 2% 96% 12% 1.1m/s
11:00
- 4% 22% 1% 97% 22% 0.87m/s
12:00
- 7% 33% 1% 97% 33% 0.66m/s
13:00
- 11% 44% 0% 98% 44% 0.44m/s
14:00
- 7% 42% 0% 98% 42% 0.54m/s
15:00
- 4% 41% 1% 99% 41% 0.64m/s
16:00
- 0% 39% 2% 99% 39% 0.74m/s
17:00
- 0% 44% 1% 99% 44% 0.79m/s
18:00
- 0% 48% 0% 98% 48% 0.84m/s
19:00
- 0% 52% 0% 98% 52% 0.89m/s
20:00
- 0% 68% 0% 98% 68% 0.78m/s
21:00
- 0% 83% 0% 98% 83% 0.67m/s
22:00
- 0% 98% 0% 98% 98% 0.56m/s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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