Cromwell Total Solar Eclipse 2028
Cromwell gets 2 minutes 51 seconds of totality at 4:16 p.m. NZST, almost on the centre line, but the ranges around Lake Dunstan leave the 10-degree Sun only 2 to 4 degrees clear.
Cromwell on 22 July 2028
Totality in central Cromwell lasts 2 minutes, 51 seconds, at about 4:16 p.m. NZST on 22 July 2028. The partial eclipse runs from 3:08 p.m. NZST to 5:20 p.m. NZST. Totality varies by less than five seconds across the 3 Cromwell sites measured below, so choose on sightline and access.
Cromwell's key decision: near-maximum totality or a clearer horizon?
Cromwell is close to the centre line, but the ranges around Lake Dunstan leave the low Sun only a few degrees clear. Scout a site with a low north-west horizon before the day.
- The Sun clears the terrain by 2 to 3.7 degrees at the measured sites.
- Alexandra and Clyde keep the same totality, about 2m 53s.
- Rehearse at 4:15 p.m. on a clear afternoon in the week before.
Eclipse times in Cromwell
- First contact
- Maximum
- End
- Totality
- 2 minutes, 51 seconds
- Magnitude
- 1.018
In UTC on 22 July 2028: first contact 03:08, maximum 04:16, eclipse ends 05:20. Add to calendar (.ics)
Cromwell in the path of totality
Cromwell lies about 13 km from the centre line, so its totality is near the maximum for Central Otago: 2 minutes 49 to 2 minutes 51 seconds across the measured sites. Clyde and Alexandra, 20 to 30 km south-east, get about 2 minutes 53 seconds. Wānaka, 55 km north, gets about 2 minutes 29.
What you will see in the dark sky
During totality the sky over Cromwell darkens to deep twilight. Look for Mercury, 6 degrees up in the northwest, only 4 degrees from the eclipsed Sun; Jupiter, 41 degrees up in the north. From Cromwell the brightest stars likely to show are Sirius (west), Canopus (southwest), Alpha Centauri (southeast), Arcturus (northeast).
| Object | Height | Direction | Magnitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mercury | 6° | northwest | -1.9 |
| Jupiter | 41° | north | -1.8 |
| Sirius | 24° | west | -1.5 |
| Canopus | 41° | southwest | -0.7 |
| Alpha Centauri | 59° | southeast | -0.3 |
| Arcturus | 16° | northeast | -0.1 |
What makes Cromwell distinctive for the 2028 eclipse?
The old centre of Cromwell, at the meeting of the Kawarau and Clutha rivers, was flooded when Lake Dunstan filled behind the Clyde Dam in the early 1990s. Volunteers moved and rebuilt its historic stone buildings on higher ground as the Cromwell Heritage Precinct, now on the lake shore. Source.
3 Cromwell viewing sites, measured
This is the town where the horizon matters most. From the heritage precinct the terrain toward the Sun rises 6.7 degrees, leaving only 3 degrees of clear sky below a Sun at 9.6 degrees; from Lowburn Harbour the margin is 2 degrees. A tree line, a building or a bank of cloud over the ranges will hide it. Check your exact spot on a clear afternoon at 4:15 p.m. in the week before.
| Site | Totality | Terrain horizon toward Sun | Sun vs terrain | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cromwell Heritage Precinct | 2:51 | 6.7° | Clear by 3° | 202 m |
| Lake Dunstan foreshore | 2:51 | 6.0° | Clear by 4° | 195 m |
| Lowburn Harbour | 2:49 | 7.6° | Marginal | 199 m |
Each chart traces Cromwell's terrain 30° either side of azimuth 312°, where the Sun stands at maximum; it shows hills, not trees or buildings (how the sites were measured).
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Cromwell Heritage Precinct
The rebuilt historic town on Melmore Terrace, on the shore of Lake Dunstan, with cafes and galleries. The Sun clears the measured terrain by 3 degrees. Facilities and access.
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Lake Dunstan foreshore
Open lake edge near the precinct, with the best measured margin of the three sites, 3.7 degrees. Facilities and access.
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Lowburn Harbour
A small harbour on the lake's eastern shore, ten minutes north of Cromwell. The ranges behind leave the Sun only 2 degrees clear, so check it in advance. Facilities and access.
If the ranges or cloud hide the Sun: open ground toward Alexandra
Central Otago is often clear when the coast is cloudy, but winter inversions can bring fog: Alexandra records about 24 fog days between March and August. Use the visibility map to find a site with a lower north-west horizon; the open terraces toward Bannockburn and the Cromwell Gorge road toward Alexandra are worth checking. Alexandra and Clyde keep the same totality.
Eclipse day in Cromwell
First contact is at 3:08 p.m. NZST, totality runs from about 4:15 to 4:18 p.m. and the partial phase ends at 5:20 p.m., just before sunset. Expect a cold afternoon of a few degrees and a hard frost afterwards.
Getting to Cromwell
Cromwell is about 45 minutes from Queenstown Airport via the Kawarau Gorge and about 50 minutes from Wānaka on State Highway 6. Dunedin is about three hours away. Accommodation in Cromwell is limited, and Queenstown and Wānaka will be busy with skiers and eclipse visitors.
Who Cromwell suits
Cromwell suits people who want near-maximum totality in Central Otago and are prepared to scout a site with a low north-west horizon. It is less suited to anyone who wants a guaranteed open view without checking it in advance.
Safety in Cromwell
Winter driving is the main hazard: black ice is common on Central Otago roads in July, especially in the Kawarau and Cromwell gorges after dark. Leave plenty of time and drive home slowly. See the eye safety guide.
Questions about Cromwell
Where is the best place to watch the eclipse in Cromwell?
Of the measured sites, Lake Dunstan foreshore has the longest totality, 2:51. The Sun clears the terrain at every Cromwell site measured, so trees, buildings and facilities decide the rest.
Will the hills block the eclipse in Cromwell?
From the measured lakeside sites the Sun clears the ranges by only 2 to 4 degrees. That is enough on a clear day, but trees, buildings or cloud on the ridges can hide it. Check your spot at 4:15 p.m. on a clear afternoon beforehand.
Is Cromwell or Alexandra better for the eclipse?
Alexandra gets about two seconds more totality and is closer to the centre line. Both can be foggy on winter mornings, so check the forecast and satellite imagery on the day.
Further reading
- The Aotearoa NZ sunset eclipse
- First-timer's eclipse plan
- Eclipse photography
- Build your eclipse-day plan — turn Cromwell's contact times and your fallback route into a printable checklist.
- South Island regional guide — how Cromwell compares with the rest of Otago for horizon and weather.
Nearby city guides
Compare Wānaka, Queenstown, Ranfurly, or browse all city guides.
Sources
Cromwell's eclipse times are calculated from NASA GSFC Besselian elements (path table). The Cromwell site horizons use the terrain model behind the visibility map, with coordinates from OpenStreetMap.