Cradle Mountain, Tasmania
Tomorrow · Saturday 27 June
Score based on your shot types: Aurora · Landscape
Conditions at a glance
Weather values at sunrise unless noted · hourly forecast for the day
Shooting windows
Astro 06:41 GMT+10 Sunrise 07:43 GMT+10 Sunset 16:53 GMT+10
Night Blue hour Golden hour Daylight
Hourly forecast
Wind in km/h · arrow shows direction
- Sun & twilight
- Morning blue hour
- 07:11 GMT+10 → 07:43 GMT+10
- Sunrise
- 07:43 GMT+10 (59° NE)
- Morning golden hour
- 07:43 GMT+10 → 08:28 GMT+10
- Evening golden hour
- 16:08 GMT+10 → 16:53 GMT+10
- Sunset
- 16:53 GMT+10 (301° NW)
- Evening blue hour
- 16:53 GMT+10 → 17:24 GMT+10
- Cloud at sunrise
- 30%
- up to 50% through the day
- Wind at sunrise
- 18 km/h · 230°
- up to 28 km/h through the day
- Temperature at sunrise
- 2°C
- 0–12°C through the day
- Rain chance at sunrise
- 15%
- up to 30% through the day
- Moon
- waxing crescent, 8% lit
- Sky ⓘ
- Bortle 2 — Typical truly dark site
- Aurora (Kp)
- Kp 4.1 · not visible at this latitude
Briefing
Best for your interests: Landscape
Landscape is your main play tomorrow, with a 65/100 score driven by broken cloud at sunrise that should add texture and colour to the peaks. Morning light will be your strongest window — 07:43 sunrise facing northeast, with 18 km/h wind from the southwest that's manageable for tripods. Cloud sits at 30% at dawn, so expect gaps between the overcast patches; this scattered sky often works better than clear for alpine shots, catching light on the breaks. Temperature at 2°C, so dress for cold.
Head to Dove Lake circuit if you want the full range: scattered cloud should leave gaps for alpenglow on Cradle, and the dark Bortle 2 skies mean you can shoot landscape through the morning golden hour (07:43–08:28) and still have usable light. Ronny Creek boardwalk is a solid alternative if you prefer the wombat meadows and mountain backdrop — wind will gust higher on the ridge but stays fine on the boardwalk itself.
Evening is less certain. Golden hour runs 16:08–16:53, but cloud thickens to 50% through the day and rain chance peaks at 30% — you may hit heavy overcast by late afternoon. If skies clear enough, the evening window is worth a look, but don't bank on it. Aurora scores 8/100 because Kp sits at 4.1 with no visibility at this latitude, so focus on landscape.
Shot ideas · Landscape
- Shoot Cradle Mountain reflected in Dove Lake during morning golden hour 07:43–08:28, using broken 30% cloud to frame alpenglow on the peak without washing out the water.
- Walk the lake circuit after sunrise to catch gaps in cloud cover lighting the moorland and distant ridges; 18 km/h wind is steady enough for tripod work along the shore.
- Return to Dove Lake at evening golden hour 16:08–16:53 when low light and scattered cloud create warm texture across the landscape; bring a filter for the bright western sky.
Recommended spots
Dove Lake circuit (3.4km away) 84
Scattered cloud should leave gaps for alpenglow on Cradle · Dark skies after dusk for astro from the lake shore
Ronny Creek boardwalk (5.9km away) 76
Wombat meadows and mountain backdrop at dawn · Wind 18 km/h — fine on the boardwalk, gusty on the ridge
Cradle summit trailhead (7.2km away) 62
Exposed to southwest wind · Better as a backup if lake cloud fills in