Australia: Time Zones, Time Differences, and Key Facts

Current Time Zones in Australia

1. Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST) (UTC+10:00)

Observed in New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania, Victoria, and Norfolk Island, AEST is 10 hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).

2. Australian Central Standard Time (ACST) (UTC+09:30)

Observed in South Australia and the Northern Territory, ACST is 9 hours and 30 minutes ahead of UTC.

3. Australian Western Standard Time (AWST) (UTC+08:00)

Observed in Western Australia and Christmas Island, AWST is 8 hours ahead of UTC.

4. Australian Central Western Standard Time (ACWST) (UTC+08:45)

Observed in parts of Western Australia, ACWST is 8 hours and 45 minutes ahead of UTC.

Time Differences with Other Time Zones

The time difference between Australia and other major cities around the world can be significant:

• New York City: -15 hours (AEST)
• London: +9 hours (AEST)
• Tokyo: +1 hour (AEST)
• Los Angeles: -17 hours (AEST)

Sunrise and Sunset Times in Australia

Sunrise and sunset times in Australia vary depending on the season and location. Generally, during the summer months:

• Sydney (AEST): Sunrise around 5:30 - 6:00 AM, sunset around 7:30 - 8:00 PM
• Melbourne (AEST): Sunrise around 6:00 - 6:30 AM, sunset around 8:00 - 8:30 PM
• Perth (AWST): Sunrise around 4:30 - 5:00 AM, sunset around 6:30 - 7:00 PM

Key Facts

• Australia is divided into three standard time zones (AEST, ACST, AWST) and one daylight saving time zone (ACWST).
• Most of Australia observes Daylight Saving Time (DST) during the summer months (October to April), except for Queensland and Western Australia.
• The time difference between Australia and other countries can be confusing, especially when traveling or making international phone calls.
• Online time zone converters can be helpful for determining the correct time in Australia.