Maitland and the 22 July 2028 total solar eclipse

Maitland eclipse times (AEST)

Eclipse begins 12:40:47 pm · Maximum 2:01:46 pm · Eclipse ends 3:15:01 pm.

Your nearest totality

Maitland is about 26 km north of the edge. The quickest route into the path is south-west through Kurri Kurri and Cessnock to Paxton, Ellalong and Millfield (about 1 min 07 to 16 s), then on to Wollombi (about 2 min 12 s) or Laguna on the Great North Road (about 2 min 28 s). Allow 40 to 65 minutes in normal traffic, and more on the day.

Or head for the lake

Freemans Drive takes you from the Lower Hunter to Cooranbong and Morisset on Lake Macquarie's western shore, inside the path with about 1 min 36 to 44 s of totality. Morisset Showground is the biggest open site in the area. By train, change at Broadmeadow or Newcastle Interchange for the Central Coast & Newcastle Line to Morisset.

Staying in Maitland?

You'll still see a dramatic 99.6% eclipse: a thin crescent Sun, strange light and a drop in temperature. Keep your eclipse glasses on the whole time. It's also a good chance to watch the southern sky, where the edge of the Moon's shadow may darken the horizon towards the Watagans.

Why totality is worth the trip

At 99.6%, Maitland gets a striking eclipse: a thin crescent Sun and strange, dimming light. Inside the path, even a minute of totality adds the corona, stars and a sudden twilight: the light drops away in seconds, the temperature falls, and a sunset glow rings the horizon. Certified glasses stay on the whole time, including totality.

What you'll see from Maitland, minute by minute

Times are AEST for Maitland.

1. 12:40:47 pmfirst contact. On the lawns at Maitland Park, put glasses on now: a small bite is just appearing on the right-hand side of the Sun.
2. About 1:31 pmthe Moon has taken about 55%. Light across the open lawns starts to look thin and a little metallic, and under the trees the patches of sunlight become rows of tiny crescents.
3. About 1:46 pmabout 79% covered. The afternoon begins to feel like evening. July at nearby Cessnock (Nulkaba) averages 16.6°C at 3 pm, so a drop in temperature is easy to notice, and birds may go quiet.
4. About 1:56 pmabout 95% covered. Moving at more than 4,000 km/h, the Moon's shadow is closing in from the north-west on the valleys around Laguna and Wollombi, and the sky on that side may begin to darken.
5. 2:01:46 pmmaximum eclipse, 99.6% covered. Only a fine crescent of Sun is left, and it still needs glasses. Maitland goes dim, with an odd cast to the light, but it stays daytime. Look south towards the Watagans, where the edge of the shadow may darken the horizon.
6. 3:15:01 pmlast contact. The Moon moves clear and Maitland's eclipse is over.

Where the edge is

From Maitland the nearest part of the edge is about 26 km to the south-west, just past Cessnock. The whole line runs from Caves Beach and Swansea on the coast, past Wangi Wangi and Toronto, under Cessnock and through Pokolbin, then between Broke and Singleton and on past Denman and Merriwa. Maitland, Morpeth, Kurri Kurri and Cessnock itself are on the north side, where the eclipse reaches about 99 to 99.99% but never goes total, so there is no corona and no stars. On the south side the gain is quick at first, then slower: about 50 s at 2 km inside, 75 s at 5 km, 1 min 40 s at 10 km and about 2½ min at 22 km. Paxton and Millfield, just inside, get 1 min 16 s; Wollombi and Laguna, further in, get more than two minutes.

Where to go

The Narrow Place Lookout in the Watagans (about 1 min 35 s), Paxton or Millfield (1 min 16 s, about 40 min), Wollombi (2 min 12 s) and Laguna (2 min 28 s). Morisset (1 min 44 s) is about 50 minutes via Freemans Drive.

Eclipse times near Maitland

Times AEST, computed from JPL DE421 lunar ephemeris and cross-checked against NASA/Espenak Besselian elements. Paxton and Millfield are close to the edge, and that near it a duration can be out by 10 s or more. The Narrow Place Lookout coordinates are approximate.

July weather in Maitland

Cessnock (Nulkaba) averages 7.7 clear and 8.1 cloudy July days; Williamtown 11.3 clear. (Mean 3 pm temperature in July: 16.6°C.)

Maitland residents will head south-west through Cessnock into small valley villages. Roads such as Wollombi Rd and the Great North Rd are two-lane and will congest.

Where to watch in Maitland

Quick answers

Keeping your eyes safe

Maitland stays outside the path, and the Sun is not safe to look at with the naked eye at any point in the eclipse, here or inside the path. Keep ISO 12312-2 certified glasses on from 12:40:47 pm until 3:15:01 pm, including at 2:01:46 pm when only a sliver remains, because a 99.6% eclipse is still bright enough to burn your retina. If you drive past Cessnock into the path, the rule is the same: glasses stay on for the whole eclipse, including the minutes of totality.

For schools, clubs and venues

With the eclipse on a Saturday, glasses and safety lessons for Maitland schools need to happen on Friday 21 July 2028 or earlier. A viewing event at Maitland Park, or one run by a council, club, venue or accommodation host, should allow one certified pair per person. Maitland has 90,226 people, many of whom will want glasses at the same time, so expect demand to peak in the final weeks. Our range covers bulk cartons, fundraising boxes of 20 to 250 pairs for schools and clubs, and custom-branded glasses from 500 units, which come with an artwork proof before printing. Plan for glasses on through the full two and a half hours, in Maitland and for any group that travels to Wollombi or Laguna, including during totality.

• Bulk & wholesale
• Custom-branded glasses
• School & club fundraising
• Eclipse safety plan for schools

Guides for nearby towns

• Cessnock eclipse guide
• Hunter Valley eclipse guide
• Newcastle eclipse guide
• Lake Macquarie eclipse guide
• 2028 eclipse times across Australia
• Interactive eclipse map

← Back to the 2028 eclipse guide