The short version. The path of totality crosses south-west Queensland in the early afternoon of Saturday 22 July 2028. Bedourie, Betoota, Eromanga, Noccundra, Thargomindah, Hungerford, Yowah and Eulo are inside it, with up to 4 minutes 31 seconds of totality. Charleville is not: it gets a deep partial eclipse, 94% of the Sun covered at 1:51pm AEST, with totality about 210 km to the south-west. Everyone needs certified eclipse glasses for the whole eclipse, inside the path or not.
Which Queensland towns are in the path of totality?
We calculated each town from NASA's eclipse elements, the same method behind our 2028 eclipse map. Queensland has no daylight saving, so all times are AEST.
| Town | Eclipse begins | Totality or maximum | Totality lasts | Eclipse ends |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Betoota | 12:11pm | 1:37:49pm to 1:42:20pm | 4 min 31 s | 3:02pm |
| Bedourie | 12:06pm | 1:34:09pm to 1:38:36pm | 4 min 27 s | 2:59pm |
| Thargomindah | 12:21pm | 1:45:21pm to 1:49:36pm | 4 min 15 s | 3:06pm |
| Hungerford | 12:23pm | 1:47:04pm to 1:51:10pm | 4 min 5 s | 3:07pm |
| Noccundra | 12:18pm | 1:43:14pm to 1:47:01pm | 3 min 47 s | 3:05pm |
| Yowah | 12:22pm | 1:47:29pm to 1:50:23pm | 2 min 54 s | 3:07pm |
| Eulo | 12:24pm | 1:48:39pm to 1:50:53pm | 2 min 14 s | 3:08pm |
| Eromanga | 12:18pm | 1:44:39pm to 1:46:36pm | 1 min 56 s | 3:05pm |
| Birdsville | 12:08pm | Maximum 1:37pm, 99.9% of the Sun covered | Not total | 3:00pm |
| Cunnamulla | 12:25pm | Maximum 1:51pm, 99.4% covered | Not total | 3:09pm |
| Windorah | 12:15pm | Maximum 1:44pm, 99.0% covered | Not total | 3:04pm |
| Quilpie | 12:20pm | Maximum 1:47pm, 98.7% covered | Not total | 3:06pm |
| Charleville | 12:25pm | Maximum 1:51pm, 94.0% covered | Not total | 3:08pm |
| Longreach | 12:17pm | Maximum 1:45pm, 90.2% covered | Not total | 3:05pm |
| Roma | 12:31pm | Maximum 1:55pm, 88.6% covered | Not total | 3:11pm |
| Brisbane | 12:41pm | Maximum 2:02pm, 81.5% covered | Not total | 3:15pm |
The path runs from the Channel Country near Bedourie south-east through Betoota, Eromanga and Thargomindah, then crosses into New South Wales past Hungerford towards Bourke. Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the rest of the south-east get a partial eclipse. For the whole country, see our eclipse times for every capital city.
2028 eclipse path map for Australia
Is Charleville in the path of totality?
No. Charleville gets a deep partial eclipse: 94.0% of the Sun covered at 1:51pm AEST, with the eclipse running from 12:25pm to 3:08pm. The sky dims, but it does not go dark, and glasses stay on for the whole eclipse. The nearest totality is about 210 km south-west in a straight line, around Eulo and Yowah. Thargomindah and Hungerford, further south-west, get over four minutes.
That makes Charleville a sensible base. It has more beds and services than the small towns in the path, and a day trip south-west reaches totality. Leave early: the eclipse begins before 12:30pm, and the roads will be busier than usual. Before you pick a spot, check the 2028 eclipse weather and cloud odds.
Cunnamulla is even closer, at 99.4%, but 99.4% is still a partial eclipse. Totality starts about 37 km south-west of town. Quilpie, at 98.7%, is about 63 km from the path. Our guide to towns just outside the path explains why the last fraction of a percent makes all the difference.
Why does it matter where you stand in the path?
Totality is longest on the centre line and shortest near the edges. Eulo and Eromanga, near the northern edge, get about two minutes. Thargomindah and Betoota, closer to the centre, get over four. Near the edges the calculation is also less certain, by 10 seconds or more, so a few kilometres further in buys you margin. Put your exact spot into the eclipse map before you book.
How should you plan a trip into the path?
- Book early. The towns in the path are small, and beds, caravan sites and campsites will go first.
- Travel the day before. The eclipse is in the early afternoon, so arriving on the morning of 22 July leaves no margin for delays.
- Carry fuel, water and food. Services are far apart, and every town on the route will be busier than usual.
- Check road conditions. Some roads in the region are unsealed; check QLDTraffic and the local council before you go.
- Pick a backup spot. If cloud is forecast for your town, a spot elsewhere in the path may be clear.
Running tours, a caravan park or a pub in the region? See our guide to eclipse planning for tourism operators. Over the border, Bourke gets 4 minutes 5 seconds of totality and has its own town guide.
Do you need eclipse glasses in outback Queensland?
Yes, everyone does, for the whole eclipse. In the path, the partial phases before and after totality last well over an hour each. Outside the path, in Charleville, Longreach or Brisbane, the whole eclipse is partial. Certified glasses stay on from the start of the eclipse to the end, totality included.
Don't count on buying glasses in a small town on the day. Before the 2017 and 2024 eclipses in the US, stock sold out in the final weeks. Order before you travel: our certified eclipse glasses are A$5.45 a pair, and the family eclipse kit has four pairs and a viewing guide for A$19.25. Online orders ship from NSW until 31 May 2028.
- Never use eclipse glasses with binoculars, a telescope, a camera or a phone. Optics need their own solar filter on the front.
- Check every pair before use, and throw out any that are scratched, torn or punctured.
- Supervise children closely, and fit their glasses before the eclipse starts.
FAQ
Is Charleville in the path of totality in 2028?
No. Charleville gets a deep partial eclipse, with 94.0% of the Sun covered at 1:51pm AEST on 22 July 2028. The nearest totality is about 210 km south-west, around Eulo and Yowah.
Which Queensland towns get a total eclipse in 2028?
Bedourie, Betoota, Eromanga, Noccundra, Thargomindah, Hungerford, Yowah and Eulo, all in south-west Queensland. Betoota gets the longest, 4 minutes 31 seconds.
What time is the eclipse in Thargomindah?
The eclipse runs from 12:21pm to 3:06pm AEST on Saturday 22 July 2028, with totality from 1:45:21pm to 1:49:36pm, 4 minutes 15 seconds.
Is Cunnamulla in the path of totality?
No, but it is close. Cunnamulla reaches 99.4% at 1:51pm AEST. Totality starts about 37 km south-west of town, and Eulo gets 2 minutes 14 seconds.
Does Brisbane get a total eclipse in 2028?
No. Brisbane gets a partial eclipse, 81.5% of the Sun covered at 2:02pm AEST. Everyone in Brisbane needs certified eclipse glasses for the whole eclipse.
Do I need eclipse glasses if I'm in the path of totality?
Yes. The partial phases before and after totality last over an hour each. Certified glasses stay on for the whole eclipse, totality included.
Sources
All checked 12.11.2026.
- Times calculated from NASA's Besselian elements for the 22 July 2028 eclipse, Fred Espenak, NASA GSFC, with Delta T of 69.2 s, for each town centre. Near the edge of the path, real durations can differ from the calculation by 10 seconds or more.
- Distances to the path are straight-line distances from the town centre to the nearest point of totality, from the same calculation.
- ARPANSA, Solar eclipse; American Astronomical Society, Solar eclipse eye safety; NASA, Eclipse safety.
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