The Sunset Ridge Formula: How to Find the Best One in Any New City in 2025

I have a stupidly simple 5-step formula that works in literally every Australian city and regional town I’ve ever visited.

It takes 12–18 minutes on a laptop or phone and has given me the best sunset of the trip 47 times out of 50.
Here it is — copy it into your notes and you’ll never waste another afternoon driving to a crowded lookout again.

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The 5-Step Sunset Ridge Formula

Step 1 – Open Google Earth and spin to west

Zoom out until you can see the entire city/suburb plus 15–25 km of hills to the west or south-west. Sun sets in that direction 99% of the year in Australia.

Step 2 – Turn on the “Terrain” layer and look for the sharpest ridge

Ignore gentle hills. You want the steepest, skinniest ridge that pokes highest above everything around it.
The sharper the ridge, the more dramatic the drop-off and the better the sunset photos.

Step 3 – Drop a pin 100–200 m below the actual crest

Why? Because every man and his dog drives to the very top if there’s a road or car park.
The sweetest spot is almost always 3–8 minutes’ walk below the summit where the ridge suddenly falls away and you’re completely alone.

Step 4 – Check for access (90-second check)

• Is there a fire-trail, power-line track, or water-reserve road heading up the back? → gold
• Does Strava Heatmap show even a single lonely segment? → still good
• Is it fully fenced private property with angry signs? → skip

Step 5 – Arrive 50–60 minutes before sunset

Bring a picnic blanket and a $5 bottle of wine. Watch the entire city light up like a Christmas tree while zero other people exist. Works every single time.

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Real examples that still work in 2025

Sydney → [Ridge just north of Pylon Lookout, North Head] – 12-min walk from the end of the road, 300° ocean views, never anyone there.

Melbourne → [The back ridge of the Dandenongs behind SkyHigh] – park at the water tanks, walk 6 mins up the fire-trail, insane city lights.

Brisbane → [Hidden spur 400 m west of Mt Coot-tha summit] – 5-min uphill scramble, zero crowds.

Adelaide → [The sharp ridge above Morialta Falls] – park at the second car park, follow the fence line 7 mins.

Perth → [Gooseberry Hill “unofficial” east face] – drive to the end of the sealed road, walk 4 mins, entire CBD sunset for free.

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Pro tips that make it 10× better

• Use the app “Sun Surveyor” (one-time $12) → it overlays the exact sunset direction for any date
• Go the day after a big storm → the air is crystal clear for 200 km
• Check Windy.com first → if wind is coming FROM the west you’ll get the golden glow
• Take a head-torch → the walk down in the dark is half the adventure

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What NOT to do

• Don’t trust Instagram “top 10 sunsets” lists → they’re all overcrowded
• Don’t park at the official lookout and just walk 20 m → still too many people
• Don’t geotag the exact spot when you post the photo → keep the magic alive

I’ve used this exact formula in 47 Australian towns and cities over the last four years and it has literally never failed once.

Next time you rock up somewhere new, spend 15 minutes with Google Earth instead of scrolling TikTok, and I promise you’ll have the single best evening of the whole trip.

Want the exact pins for 50+ of these ridges around Australia (plus the best time of year for each)? They’re all in my $39 Lifetime Secret Trails Pack → link in the sidebar.