AGO Holiday Planner 2026

GIANT PLANISPHERES Popping up around the Astrotourism Towns, you’ll find Giant Planisphere signs. These are interactive star maps to help you find out what’s up in the night sky and what to watch out for when you’re stargazing the Golden Outback. Find them in Perenjori, Narembeen, Gascoyne Junction, Menzies and Narrogin .

TOP TO BO OM Wave Rock Hyden, The Granites Mt Magnet.

In the wide-open Gascoyne outback, Mount Augustus and Kennedy Range National Parks are a magnet for stargazers. An experience with Wooramulla Eco Cultural Journeys is a must. Include a night at Gascoyne Junction to take fun nighttime images of “The Plane VH-DMT” in town! THE STARS OF 2026 January to March – On 3rd March, a rare total lunar eclipse will be visible from all over the Golden Outback. Summer stargazing is spectacular, dark night skies are the perfect backdrop for the Seven Sisters cluster of stars.

Top Tips for Stargazing No telescope, no worries! Naked-eye stargazing is an awe-inspiring and wonderous experience. Find a place with as little artificial light as possible. It makes seeing the stars easier. Allow your eyes to adjust to the darkness. It takes 10-15 minutes, and your night vision will kick in. Watch out for meteors, commonly referred to as shooting stars, as they flash across the sky. Eat lots of carrots! April to August – It’s the best time to see the Milky Way, the band of stars that make up our galaxy. Discover the Aboriginal constellation of the “Emu in the Sky” by looking for the dark parts of the Milky Way. August to September – Venus is dazzling in the night sky after sunset. Look west on 14th September to see Venus appear above a captivating crescent moon. October to December – Keep an eye out at dark sky locations with no moon light to see meteor showers - Orionids in October, Leonids in November and Geminids in December.

In wildflower season, head east to Koolanooka Springs for the magic of day and night. Not far is The Salmons, near Perenjori . Watch the Red-tailed Black Cockatoos at sunset before an evening of stargazing. It’s pure golden stars in the Goldfields . Menzies has a stargazers’ lounge set up and waiting for you at Mount Owen . If you’re travelling in or out of WA on The Outback Way, plan a couple of days to enjoy the stars at Menzies . Call ahead to see if it’s time for one of the Shire of Menzies special events.

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AUSTRALIA'S GOLDEN OUTBACK