Mudgee total solar eclipse, 22 July 2028

Mudgee eclipse times (AEST)

Mudgee: eclipse begins 12:36:48 pm · totality 1:56:58 pm to 2:00:52 pm (3 min 54 s) · eclipse ends 3:13:15 pm. The table below has times for every town nearby.

On the centre line

Mudgee is about 10 km from the centre line, so you do not need to drive anywhere for more time. Every town in the district is within a few seconds of the maximum: Lake Windamere 3 min 53 s, Ilford 3 min 53 s, Lue 3 min 49 s and Hargraves 3 min 48 s. Pick your spot for the view, the crowd and the weather, not the clock.

Book early

Mudgee is a popular weekend destination even without an eclipse. With nearly four minutes of totality about three and a half hours from Sydney, accommodation in town and at the wineries will be in heavy demand. If you are staying, book early; if you are driving in on the day, leave before dawn.

Getting there

From Sydney the usual route is the Great Western Highway to Lithgow, then the Castlereagh Highway. On eclipse weekend expect queues through the mountains and at Lithgow. From the west, Mudgee is about 90 minutes from Dubbo.

What you'll see in Mudgee, minute by minute

Times are AEST for Mudgee.

1. 12:36:48 pmfirst contact. From the Showground or Flirtation Hill, the Moon takes its first small bite. Glasses on.
2. About 1:24 pmabout 50% covered. The light across the vineyards goes flat and slightly metallic, and the shadows of the vines and gums turn into small crescents.
3. About 1:40 pmabout 75% covered. July afternoons in Mudgee peak around 14 to 15°C, so the drop in temperature is easy to feel. Birds may stop calling.
4. About 1:50 pmabout 91% covered. Watch the sky to the north-west, towards Gulgong. It darkens first as the Moon's shadow comes in.
5. 1:56:58 pmthe diamond ring, then totality over Mudgee. Glasses stay on. For close to four minutes the valley is dark and the horizon all around glows like sunset.
6. 2:00:52 pmthe second diamond ring and totality ends. Glasses stay on.
7. 3:13:15 pmlast contact. The Moon moves clear and the eclipse over Mudgee is over.

Where to look

At totality the eclipse sits 31° up in the north-north-west (bearing 329° true). The hills around Mudgee are low, so the view is clear from almost anywhere open. Check what is close to you on that side: a tree or building blocks the eclipse if you are closer to it than about 1.8 times its height. Allow 18 m from a 10 m gum.

Eclipse times near Mudgee

Times AEST, computed from the JPL DE421 lunar ephemeris with NASA/Espenak Besselian elements. Near the edge of the path, durations can shift by several seconds, so treat edge figures as approximate.

July weather in Mudgee

Mudgee averages about 9.4 clear days in July, better than Bathurst or the Blue Mountains, and the odds improve further west. If the forecast is poor, Dubbo (about 90 minutes north-west) is drier and also on the centre line.

Where to watch in Mudgee

Quick answers

Keeping your eyes safe

Every second of the eclipse, totality included, needs ISO 12312-2 certified eclipse glasses, from Gulgong to Kandos. Sunglasses, smoked glass and homemade filters are never safe, and a camera, binoculars or a telescope must have a proper solar filter on the front.

For schools, clubs and venues

The eclipse is on a Saturday, so Mid-Western schools will need to hand out glasses and run safety lessons by Friday 21 July 2028. Wineries, accommodation hosts, clubs and the council running viewing events should allow one certified pair per guest and order early. We supply bulk cartons, fundraising boxes of 20 to 250 pairs, and custom-branded glasses for venues.

• Eclipse glasses for councils and events
• Custom-branded glasses
• Eclipse glasses for schools
• Eclipse safety plan for schools

Guides for nearby towns

• Dubbo eclipse guide
• Bathurst eclipse guide
• Lithgow eclipse guide
• Orange eclipse guide
• NSW eclipse guide
• 2028 eclipse times across Australia
• Interactive eclipse map

← Back to the 2028 eclipse guide