Sydney summertime is well and truly underway – with everything from movie time to happy hour best enjoyed outside at this glorious time of year. If you’re hoping to soak up the warmer days and balmy summer nights, you’ll want to mark your calendar for the summer solstice on Saturday, December 21 – aka the longest day of the year. (Aka: tomorrow).
This year in Sydney, the summer solstice is set to bless us with 14 hours and 24 minutes of sunshine. Here’s a rundown of how long the daylight will last and the exact timings of sunrise and sunset.
What is the summer solstice?
The summer solstice marks the longest day of the year, bringing the most daylight hours between sunrise and sunset. In the Southern Hemisphere, this happens when our side of Earth is tilted closest to the sun. As a result, the sun's rays hit the Earth more directly, leading to extended daylight hours and the sun appearing higher in the sky.
At the same time, the Northern Hemisphere will experience the winter solstice, due to the North Pole being at its farthest tilt away from the sun.
When is the summer solstice in Sydney 2024?
The summer solstice occurs annually across the Southern Hemisphere between December 21 and 23. In 2024, Sydney’s longest day falls on Saturday, December 21, with 8.20pm marking the exact time of the solstice in the Harbour City. From December 22, our days will gradually become shorter than our nights until the winter solstice in Australia on Saturday, June 21.
How many hours of sunshine in Sydney on the summer solstice?
On December 21, Sydney will bask in 14 hours and 24 minutes of sunlight. Keen to make the most of it? These are the best sunset and sunrise watching spots in the city, and these are the best camping sites close to Sydney.
Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, travel inspo and activity ideas, straight to your inbox.