Where to Watch the Best Sunsets in Victoria (and the Dreamiest Stays to Wake Up In)
All the way across Victoria, we have been blessed with some of Australia’s most unforgettable sunsets — from the river views in the middle of Melbourne, ocean cliffs on the Great Ocean Road, to reflective salt lakes, mountain summits, and vineyards in regional Victoria. We’ve put together our favourite sunset spots, including a special place at our doorstep that is a treasure. To make your trip to the golden hour even more unforgettable, here’s a curated guide to the best sunset spots and where you can curl up afterwards. Find yourself staying at this state’s best getaways, think cosy fireplaces, waterfront balconies and mountains glowing pink at dusk.
Warrnambool & the Great Ocean Road
If you love wild coastline and dramatic skies, this is your place.
Sunset Spots We Love
Warrnambool Stingray Bay
Image Credit - Andrew Englisch
Warrnambool, Stingray Bay – Our all-time favourite place to watch a sunset. A midsummer sunset is a must-see.
Thunder Point, Warrnambool – Rugged cliffs, swirling sea, and 360° colour-drenched skies.
12 Apostles — 12 Apostles – Nothing beats watching those limestone stacks turn gold and then deep orange as the sun slips away.
There’s something truly magical about watching the sun disappear along the Great Ocean Road. At the 12 Apostles, the sky shifts from soft peach to deep amber as it falls behind the limestone stacks. No matter whether it is a roaring winter or a perfect calm summer’s night, the scene is set for a stunning departure of the sun. In Warrnambool, sunsets can also be on the wild side, especially at Thunder Point, where the rugged cliffs are a sight in their own right, where the Southern Ocean and the sky stretch wide and open across the horizon line. At Stingray Bay with the backdrop of the sandstone land masses that are Middle and Merri Islands, you are in for a delightful sight - if you locate yourself in the right position, the sun will drop down in the gap in between and kiss the ocean as day turns into night. If the clouds are on your side, you are in for an amazing light spectacular.
Somewhere Special to Stay
The Landing - Warrnambool
The Landing, Warrnambool — A stunning couples’ luxury getaway, this accommodation includes twin bathtubs, a fire-pit and an outdoor cinema. Perfect for your next romantic escape. Book here
Port Cottage, Port Campbell — One of Port Campbell’s original beach houses, this charming white weatherboard cottage is perfectly located for exploring everything the 12 Apostles coastline and hinterland offers. Book here
Grampians
Mountain silhouettes, stillness and sunsets that make you fall a little more in love with life.
Where to Watch the Sun Go Down
Reeds Lookout & The Balconies — Famous for their panoramic sunsets across jagged ridgelines and misty valleys.
Boroka Lookout — Another easy-access gem with dramatic sky views.
The Grampians do sunsets differently — it’s quieter, slower and somehow more grounding. The climb or short drive up to Reeds Lookout and The Balconies rewards you with endless layers of mountains rolling into the distance, each one turning a softer shade of blue and violet as the sun begins to fall. The air cools, a quiet falls over the valley, and the sky catches fire. It’s the kind of moment where you don’t need to say much — stand there, admire Mother Nature at work, and watch the world glow.
Pinnacle Panorama
Image Credit - Mr & Mrs Hemsley
Mountain silhouettes, stillness, and sunsets that allow you to appreciate the good things in life.
Stays for Slow Mornings & Starry Nights
Mr & Mrs Hemsley — The perfect place to escape, relax and do nothing at all, or get out there into nature and do it all. Hike that mountain, abseil, rock climb, visit any of the local award-winning wineries, or take a flight. The perfect place to stay to fall in love with nature. Book here
Melbourne’s City Glow
City sunsets have a charm of their own — twinkling lights, river reflections, and rooftop drinks.
Docklands, Melbourne CBD
Image credit: niko nguyen
City sunsets
St Kilda Pier — Golden skies, calm water, and penguins returning to the rocks.
Docklands Sunset Point — Stroll along the waterfront or grab a cocktail at one of the bars and watch the sun reflect across the Yarra.
Melbourne Skydeck — See the city glow from the tallest viewing platform in the Southern Hemisphere.
Even Melbourne knows how to put on a show at sunset. Down at St Kilda Pier, the water shimmers gold and the skyline turns dusty pink while the little penguins return to their rocky homes. At Docklands, with a backdrop of harbours, bridges and the Yarra River, this is a stunning place to wander, or you can sit with a glass in hand as the reflections of the city lights slowly replace the fading sun. And if you want the full panoramic experience, head up to Melbourne Skydeck — the whole city glitters beneath you, stretching all the way to the bay.
City Stays
Lola, Melbourne CBD — Experience modern comfort, historic charm, and breathtaking skyline views. Book here
Martini Suites, Melbourne CBD — An Art Deco-inspired apartment in the beautiful Majorca Building in the heart of Melbourne’s laneways. Book Here
Yarra Valley & Dandenong Ranges
Watch the Sunset
SkyHigh Mount Dandenong — Enjoy a glass of wine, fine dining and sweeping sunsets over the twinkling city below.
In the Yarra Valley and Dandenongs, sunsets feel softer, more romantic — less drama, more poetry. Drive up to SkyHigh Mount Dandenong in time for dinner, and you’ll watch the world below turn to a patchwork of soft lights as the sun dips behind rolling hills. The sky shifts through lilac, rose and charcoal, and the gum trees catch the last of the light. Vineyards, mountain ridges and silence — it’s the kind of place where time slows down a little.
Image Credit: James Dominko
The Murray River Region
Sunset Favourites
Lake Mulwala — Glassy water, ghostly red gum trees and fiery skies.
Pink Lakes & Lake Tyrrell (Mallee) — Nature’s mirror. Lake Tyrrell’s 120,000-year-old salt pan reflects the entire sunset sky — pinks, oranges and purples dancing across the water.
By the Murray, sunsets stretch wide across calm water and red gum silhouettes, especially at Lake Mulwala, where the still surface mirrors the sky back at you. Further out in the Mallee, it becomes surreal — at Lake Tyrrell, the salty, shallow lake turns into a giant reflection pool. Pinks, purples and molten gold ripple across 120,000-year-old salt flats, and standing in the shallow water feels like floating in the sky itself.
Lake Tyrrell, Sea Lake
Image credit - Nao Takabayashi
Stay Somewhere a Bit Magical
Seven Sundays, Bundalong — Soak up the sunshine by day and warm your toes by the fire pit in the evenings. The perfect relaxing or adventure-packed escape awaits. Book here
High Country
Mountain Top Sunsets
Summit of Mount Buller — Alpine sunsets with layers of lavender and blue as far as the eye can see.
The Horn Lookout, Mount Buffalo — Huge granite tors and 360° views drenched in alpine gold.
Up in the High Country, the air turns crisp and clean as the sun sinks behind the ranges. At Mount Buller’s summit, you’ll feel on top of the world as the mountains stretch endlessly in every direction, fading into layers of dusk. And at The Horn on Mount Buffalo, enormous granite boulders frame a 360-degree view that glows gold, rose, and then deep blue. It’s alpine silence, cool air, and that stillness that only comes from being high above the chaos of everyday life.
Mount Buffalo
Photo credit: Mitchell Luo
Stays You’ll Never Want to Leave
Roam Merrijig, Merrijig — With breathtaking mountain views from every corner, this home feels like a sanctuary secluded in the depths of nature. Book here
Black & Bright, Bright — With a modern, eclectic take on early Australian pioneers, gold diggers, and hunters, it offers a unique and stylish getaway, ideally for two couples. Book here
Final Tip
Here is the best snippet of knowledge for wherever it is you have chosen to spend this wonderful time of the day: stay after the sun sets. The “golden hour” continues well after that big, beautiful golden ball dips below the horizon, bringing with it a wide range of stunning colours. And don’t forget to look behind you - you may just be missing the best part of the show.
Start planning your next trip now. Grab the best camera you have, put on your walking shoes, and go out and enjoy nature. Climb to the top of a mountain, listen to the sound of waves, watch the slow fade to dusk, the stars appear, and know your dreamy stay is just around the corner.