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NSW Eclipse 2028 — Field Guide

Total Solar Eclipse • Saturday 22 July 2028 • Western, Central West, and Sydney corridor • Primary hubs: Cobar • Warrumbungle NP • Sydney

Plan A/B/C ready Centreline targets included Cloud-dodge logic Photographer run-sheet Outback checklist

Operational plan

Plan A: Commit to your centreline anchor early, then lock in a micro-backup within walking distance.
Plan B: Have a west/NW alternative ready if cloud builds toward your anchor.
Plan C: Have an east/NE alternative ready if western cloud bands persist or access is constrained.

Logistics hubs

  • Cobar — Logistics Hub — Fuel • supplies • accommodation • strong base for western NSW
  • Bourke — Logistics Hub — Darling River town • fuel • staging for north-west NSW
  • Walgett — Logistics Hub — North-west NSW base • fuel • supplies
  • Warrumbungle NP — Centreline Base + Hub — On the path; Dark Sky Park access. Expect higher demand near Siding Spring and visitor areas.
  • Sydney — Centreline City Hub — Path runs through the metro; heavy crowds and traffic. Weather is variable in July (watch coastal cloud).

Safety and capture

Solar safety: Use certified eclipse glasses and proper solar filters for any optic during partial phases. Remove filters only during totality.

Outback & metro essentials

  • Water: minimum 10–20 L per person
  • Tyre repair + compressor + full spare
  • First aid kit
  • Offline maps; consider sat messenger/PLB if remote
  • For Sydney: plan transit/parking early; scout elevated or coastal viewpoints with clear west/north-west horizon.

Capture approach

  • Telephoto: bracket exposures during totality (corona dynamic range).
  • Wide: 14–35 mm story shots + short time-lapse.
  • RAW, fixed white balance, manual focus (tape it).

Centreline target coordinates

Aim points with nearby hubs. Links jump to the Nightmap map pop-ups; choose a safe, legal pull-off nearby. Times shown are local. Use the Nightmap eclipse layer for live timings/durations.

Target Nearby hub Time (local) Centreline Lat, Lon Central duration
Western NSW — Centreline (Cobar corridor) Cobar hub 13:52 AEST -29.828333, 145.881667 04m09.8s
Warrumbungle NP — Centreline (Dark Sky Park) Warrumbungle hub ~13:57 AEST -31.2740, 149.0250 ~03m58s
Sydney Metro — Centreline (Harbour corridor) Sydney hub ~14:04 AEST -33.8650, 151.2100 ~03m40s (watch coastal cloud)
Last updated: 2025-12-25 (AEST). Sydney forecast is uncertain in July; monitor short-range models the week of the event. Times are approximate—verify in the Nightmap eclipse layer.
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