10 of the best sunrise and sunset spots in Brisbane

Perfect for: Perspective along the jetty at sunrise and sunset.

Location: Historic Redcliffe Jetty is a popular sunrise vantage point, while Woody Point Jetty has the best of both worlds - with a sweeping view over the Moreton Bay region to the west, which is pretty rare on the eastern side of Australia. For a different point of focus, check out the Gayundah Wreck which is perched nearby.

Tips: Use the jetty lines to get a perspective shot and keep an eye out for people fishing. If the timing works with low-tide, the ripples of sand on the beach become a great focus point.

2. Nudgee Beach

Perfect for: Nudgee Beach is a great sunrise spot - so set your alarm. 

Location: From the car park, head along the boardwalk for the beach or bird hide (shelter).

Tips: Use the mangrove trees popping up as a point of interest in the wriggly sand at low tide, or use your fellow early-bird photographers to capture some reflections or perspective in the landscape shot.

Nudgee Beach is also an awesome place to take your dogs so keep an eye out for furry four-legged types after sunrise.

3. Kangaroo Point

Perfect for: Sunsets, cityscapes and picnics.

Location: Kangaroo Point has loads of great sunset vantage points of the River City. Gaze out at the skyline from the top of the cliffs at the Kangaroo Point Cafe or Rotunda meeting points, or head down the stairs for rocks, river action and rock climbers as the sun sets.

Tips: Get set pre-sunset so you can shoot a few different locations as the sun goes down. Be creative with camera angles and use the bougainvillaea at the top of the rocks to help frame your shot, or use a slow shutter speed to capture the glow of the CityCats as they glide across the Brisbane River from dusk and into the evening.

4. Wilson’s Outlook

Perfect for: Sunsets and cityscapes across the Brisbane River.

Location: Wilson’s Lookout Reserve, Bowen Terrace (near the corner of Bowen Street), New Farm.

Tips: This is a great spot to highlight the sparkly Story Bridge and city skyline at dusk all year round, but if you’re in Brisbane for Riverfire or New Year’s Eve, you have to see the city from this epic position.

Take the elevator or stairs down to Howard Smith Wharves afterwards for a bite to eat or drink.

5. Mount Coot-tha

Perfect for: Sunrise city views from above, with dreamy cloud-filled panoramas and silhouettes.

Location: Head to Mount Coot-tha's summit lookout for a fabulous view of the city and surrounds - on a clear day you'll see as far as Moreton Bay and the Scenic Rim. There aren’t many spots in Brisbane where you can get this elevated view without a helicopter.

Tips: The best light and colours come before the sun actually pops up, so it’s important to be at your sunrise spot at least 20 - 30 minutes before the sun rises.

If you want to get some adrenaline pumping before you get your camera out, why not walk or cycle up Mount Coot-tha?

6. The Redlands: Bayside

Perfect for: Sunrise and sunset across the bay, followed by a coffee or some fresh fish and chips.

Locations:

• Manly and Wynnum: Manly Boat Harbour along Royal Esplanade is a great spot. Or, try Manly Jetty or waterfront between Wynnum and Manly (especially at low tide).
• Wellington Point: Wellington Point Esplanade (check out Wellington Point Jetty).
• Cleveland: Head to the Lighthouse and the Old Jetty on Shore Street. This is one of the best sunset spots in Brisbane.
• Victoria Point: Head to either Wilson’s Esplanade or Thompson’s Beach, Victoria Point.
• Take in sunset from the water, sailing with Aria Cruises. 

Tips: The marinas at these bayside locations make great photo opportunities. When the water is super calm, shoot the reflections that are everywhere. Keep an eye out for kite surfers and canoe or kayak crews. The jetties are great for strong lines and perspective, while the solo mangroves add a bit of interest at low tide, too.

While you’re out this way, try one of the many fish and chip takeaways and get stuck in!

7. Mulgumpin (Moreton Island)

Perfect for: Near endless sunrise and sunset spots around Moreton Island.

Location: For the best sunrises, head to Cape Moreton or anywhere along the eastern beach. The Moreton Island lighthouse is a popular spot.

Later in the day, head to the western beaches for a sunset vantage point. Try silhouettes of The Wrecks- or stick around for the show on the beach at Tangalooma Island Resort (once the sun goes down, you can join the nightly ranger-led wild dolphin feeding. If you want to see the Glass House Mountains, head to Comboyuru Point or the northern end of Moreton Island. Get a sweat up as you climb big sandhills in the south for another aspect.

Tips: Use the lines of the sand at low tide, reflections on the lakes, lagoons and ocean and silhouettes of people and the beach highway crew.

8. Story Bridge

Perfect for: Sunset over the city from a truly unique perspective. 

Location: You'll need your wits about you for this sunset view: harness up and climb above Brisbane River on a twilight tour with Story Bridge Adventure Climb. One of Brisbane's most iconic landmarks, from the bridge's summit you'll score uninterrupted views of the city, river, mountain ranges and islands. 

Tips: Twilight climbs are popular, so book well in advance. 

9. Tamborine Mountain

Perfect for: Sunrises, sunsets and stars across the valley below Tamborine Mountain.

Location: Hang-glider lookout or Governor’s Chair Lookout, Tamborine Mountain in the Scenic Rim.

Tips: Keep an eye out for hang gliders and hot air balloons at sunrise, or sunset silhouettes and moon rise and star trails after dark.

If you’re headed further south, use this guide to the best sunrise and sunset spots on the Gold Coast.

10. Lake Moogerah

Perfect for: Sunsets and night photography across Lake Moogerah.

Location: Haigh Park, Lake Moogerah, Scenic Rim.

Tips: Get ready to shoot 30 minutes before sunset, but stick around a little longer for star trails, light painting and steel wool spinning.

Spend the weekend camping at Lake Moogerah to ensure you get a couple of sunrises and sunsets.

Essential sunrise and sunset photography tips

Our local photographers know best, here's their advice:

• @laurenepbath says: “To achieve a quality landscape image when there isn’t much light, such as just after sunset, invest in a tripod for your camera. A tripod will stabilise your shot during a longer exposure time. I recommend trying a semi-manual mode like aperture priority and using f11 and ISO 100. Once you’re more confident you can switch it up to manual mode and fine tune your exposure there. I always use a single focus point and focus around one-third of the way into my landscape for optimal depth of field.”
• @rikerama says: “The best light and colours always occur before sunrise and after sunset so get up a little earlier or hang around a little longer.”
• @camthaman says: “Try to take more than one shot of the same angle and shoot a batch of three bracketed exposures. As an example, do one shot at 0, one shot at -2 and another at +2 EV.  Then when you process your images, try to merge the three shots together to get the most dynamic shot possible.”
  
• @jasoncharleshill says: “Come for sunset but stay for the night sky. Put your camera into manual mode, fine-tune your settings and watch the moon light up your subject.”