Brewarrina Total Solar Eclipse 2028
Brewarrina, on the Barwon River east of Bourke, gets 3 minutes 28 seconds of totality at 1:53 p.m. AEST, with one of the best July cloud records on the path.
Brewarrina on 22 July 2028
Totality in central Brewarrina lasts 3 minutes, 28 seconds, at about 1:53 p.m. AEST on 22 July 2028. The partial eclipse runs from 12:29 p.m. AEST to 3:10 p.m. AEST. Totality varies by less than five seconds across the 3 Brewarrina sites measured below, so choose on sightline and access.
Brewarrina's key decision: the river at the fish traps or an hour west to Bourke?
Brewarrina has an excellent sky record and one of Australia's most important Aboriginal heritage sites. Bourke, 100 km west, adds about half a minute.
- All measured sites get about 3m 28s to 3m 30s on flat ground.
- Brewarrina Hospital averages 14.4 clear and 5.5 cloudy July days.
- Do not go east: Walgett is outside the path.
Eclipse times in Brewarrina
- First contact
- Maximum
- End
- Totality
- 3 minutes, 28 seconds
- Magnitude
- 1.012
In UTC on 22 July 2028: first contact 02:29, maximum 03:53, eclipse ends 05:10. Add to calendar (.ics)
Brewarrina in the path of totality
Brewarrina lies about 47 km inside the northern edge of the path. The three measured sites agree to within two seconds, from 3 minutes 28 at the river to 3 minutes 30 at the racecourse. Bourke, 100 km west and nearer the centre line, gets about 4 minutes; Walgett, 140 km east, is just outside the path and sees a 99% partial.
What you will see in the dark sky
During totality the sky over Brewarrina darkens to deep twilight. Look for Venus, 7 degrees up in the west-northwest; Mercury, 31 degrees up in the north-northwest, only 4 degrees from the eclipsed Sun; Jupiter, 46 degrees up in the northeast. From Brewarrina the brightest stars likely to show are Sirius (west), Canopus (southwest), Alpha Centauri (southeast), Arcturus (east-northeast).
| Object | Height | Direction | Magnitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| Venus | 7° | west-northwest | -4.6 |
| Mercury | 31° | north-northwest | -1.9 |
| Jupiter | 46° | northeast | -1.8 |
| Sirius | 48° | west | -1.5 |
| Canopus | 48° | southwest | -0.7 |
| Alpha Centauri | 33° | southeast | -0.3 |
| Arcturus | 8° | east-northeast | -0.1 |
What makes Brewarrina distinctive for the 2028 eclipse?
Brewarrina is home to Baiame's Ngunnhu, the Aboriginal fish traps on the Barwon River: a network of stone walls and pools that, in Ngemba tradition, the creator Baiame built. They are on the National Heritage List, and their age is unknown; estimates range from about a thousand years to many thousands. Source.
3 Brewarrina viewing sites, measured
The land is flat and the Sun is 35 degrees up: every measured horizon is at zero. Choose a site for its meaning and facilities rather than geometry. The river near the fish traps is the most memorable place to watch; the oval and racecourse have the most room.
| Site | Totality | Terrain horizon toward Sun | Sun vs terrain | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baiame's Ngunnhu (fish traps) and weir | 3:28 | 0.1° | Clear by 35° | 118 m |
| Geoff New Oval | 3:29 | -0.0° | Clear by 35° | 120 m |
| Brewarrina Racecourse | 3:30 | -0.0° | Clear by 35° | 121 m |
Each chart traces Brewarrina's terrain 30° either side of azimuth 333°, where the Sun stands at maximum; it shows hills, not trees or buildings (how the sites were measured).
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Baiame's Ngunnhu (fish traps) and weir
The heritage-listed fish traps and weir on the Barwon River, beside the Aboriginal Cultural Museum. Watch from the bank and treat the traps as the cultural site they are. Facilities and access.
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Geoff New Oval
The town's main sports ground, recently upgraded with a clubhouse, lighting and walkways, and used by the council for community events. Facilities and access.
-
Brewarrina Racecourse
Open ground on the southern edge of town with plenty of space for vehicles. Facilities and access.
July weather in Brewarrina: the station record
The long-term July record at Brewarrina Hospital shows 14.4 clear days, 3.1 eighths of the sky clouded at 3 p.m., 3.1 days with at least 1 mm of rain and a mean 3 p.m. temperature of 17.4°C.
| July | Brewarrina Hospital |
|---|---|
| Clear days | 14.4 days 38 yrs, 1969–2010 |
| Cloudy days | 5.5 days 38 yrs, 1969–2010 |
| 3 p.m. cloud cover | 3.1 oktas 38 yrs, 1969–2010 |
| 9 a.m. cloud cover | 2.2 oktas 86 yrs, 1911–2010 |
| Days with 1 mm or more of rain | 3.1 days 144 yrs, 1872–2026 |
| Rainfall | 27.7 mm 145 yrs, 1872–2026 |
| Mean maximum | 18.3°C 101 yrs, 1911–2026 |
| Mean 3 p.m. temperature | 17.4°C 38 yrs, 1969–2010 |
| Mean minimum | 4.5°C 101 yrs, 1911–2026 |
| Days at or below 0°C | 1.8 days 57 yrs, 1965–2026 |
| Mean 3 p.m. wind | 8.3 km/h 32 yrs, 1969–2010 |
Brewarrina Hospital holds the town's cloud record. Sources: Brewarrina Hospital, whose averages describe past Julys rather than the sky on 22 July 2028.
If you want more totality: Bourke is an hour west
Brewarrina Hospital averages 14.4 clear and 5.5 cloudy July days over 38 years, second only to Bourke among the towns here. If you want more time, the Kamilaroi Highway runs about 100 km west to Bourke, which gains about half a minute. Do not go east: Walgett is outside the path.
Eclipse day in Brewarrina
First contact is at 12:29 p.m. AEST, totality runs from about 1:51 to 1:55 p.m. and the partial phase ends at 3:10 p.m. Expect about 18 degrees in the afternoon and a cold night.
Getting to Brewarrina
Brewarrina is on the Kamilaroi Highway, about 100 km east of Bourke and 360 km north-west of Dubbo. There is no scheduled air service; most visitors will drive. Fuel up in Dubbo, Nyngan or Bourke.
Who Brewarrina suits
Brewarrina suits travellers who want a quiet outback eclipse with a strong sky record and a place with deep Aboriginal history. It is less suited to anyone needing much accommodation: the town is small and will fill early.
Safety in Brewarrina
Distances between towns are long: carry water and fuel, and avoid driving at dusk. Keep children back from the river and the weir. See the eye safety guide.
Questions about Brewarrina
Where is the best place to watch the eclipse in Brewarrina?
Of the measured sites, Brewarrina Racecourse has the longest totality, 3:30. The Sun clears the terrain at every Brewarrina site measured, so trees, buildings and facilities decide the rest.
Can I visit the Brewarrina fish traps on eclipse day?
The traps can be seen from the riverbank beside the Aboriginal Cultural Museum. Treat them as a cultural site, follow any signs or guidance from the museum, and do not climb on the stone walls.
Is Walgett in the path of totality?
No. Walgett, east of Brewarrina, sees a 99% partial eclipse. Stay in Brewarrina or go west to Bourke.
Further reading
- Inland NSW road trip
- First-timer's eclipse plan
- Eclipse weather strategy
- Build your eclipse-day plan — turn Brewarrina's contact times and your fallback route into a printable checklist.
Nearby city guides
Compare Bourke, Coonamble, Gilgandra, or browse all city guides.
Sources
Brewarrina's eclipse times are calculated from NASA GSFC Besselian elements (path table) and compared with the Astronomical Society of Australia's timing table. The Brewarrina site horizons use the terrain model behind the visibility map, with coordinates from OpenStreetMap.