Today in West Coast, New Zealand, the sun rises at 7:19 AM and sets at 5:58 PM, giving the city exactly 10h 39m of daylight. That is 3 minutes longer than yesterday—gaining about 3 minutes of daylight per day. With 121 days until the Winter Solstice on December 21, West Coast is currently in its Winter season.
Golden Hour & Twilight Windows in West Coast
For photographers, filmmakers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the morning golden hour in West Coast runs from N/A to 7:58 AM. The evening golden hour begins at 5:19 PM and lasts until 5:58 PM.
Civil twilight—when there is still sufficient ambient light to see clearly outdoors—begins at N/A. West Coast sits in the subtropics, where the annual swing in daylight is moderate.
Solar Noon & UV Index
Solar noon in West Coast falls exactly at 12:38 PM, which is the moment the sun reaches its peak altitude of -58.21 above the horizon. At this specific time, the solar angle produces a relatively low UV exposure day for West Coast, typical of its Winter season.
Why Does Sunrise Shift in West Coast?
At West Coast's latitude of -42.5638896°, the sun currently rises at an azimuth of 17.61° (NNE). Because of the Earth's axial tilt, this position shifts slightly every day. Sunrise and sunset times for West Coast are calculated using advanced solar algorithms (SunCalc) based on coordinates -42.5638896, 171.452334. Times are mathematically accurate to ±30 seconds.
Historical Sunrise in West Coast (Past Years)
Due to the Earth's precise orbit, solar times remain highly consistent year over year. Here is a comparison of today's sunrise and sunset times in West Coast versus 1 year and 5 years ago:
| Year | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Today | 7:19 AM | 5:58 PM | 10h 39m |
| 2025 | 7:18 AM | 5:58 PM | 10h 40m |
| 2021 | 7:18 AM | 5:58 PM | 10h 40m |
Frequently Asked Questions
What time does the sun rise in West Coast today?
In West Coast, the sun rises at exactly 7:19 AM and sets at 5:58 PM today. This gives the city a total of 10h 39m of daylight.
When is golden hour in West Coast today?
Today, morning golden hour in West Coast runs from N/A to 7:58 AM. Evening golden hour begins at 5:19 PM and lasts until 5:55 PM.
Why does sunrise in West Coast shift every day?
At West Coast's latitude, the sun currently rises at an azimuth of 17.61° (NNE). Because of Earth's tilt, the city is gaining about 3 minutes of daylight per day until the Winter Solstice on December 21.
What is the UV Index in West Coast at solar noon?
Solar noon occurs at 12:38 PM when the sun reaches -58.21. This produces a relatively low UV exposure day for West Coast, typical of its Winter season.
Has the sunrise time in West Coast changed compared to previous years?
Due to the Earth's precise orbit, solar times remain highly consistent year over year. Exactly one year ago in 2025, sunrise was at 7:18 AM, and five years ago in 2021, it was at 7:18 AM.