Wollongong’s Flagstaff Hill lighthouse was named No.1 on the list, which has been put out by tourism body Destination NSW to promote scenic tourism in the state.

The placement may surprise some residents who know how the beautiful Illawarra Escarpment can mean we see less sunsets than the folks on, or west of, the Great Dividing Range. 

But when we do get a great sunset, it can be absolutely spectacular – often because it’s projected onto an intricate cloud pattern stretching from the top of the cliff out into the Tasman Sea.

Prominent Australian travel “Instagrammer” Lauren Bath nominated the lighthouse as one of her favourite spots.

And Shellharbour makes the cut – the view back towards the harbour from a grassy park picnic pushed this location to No.7.

Other inland locations more traditionally associated with sunsets fill out the list – from Mudgee to Perisher Valley to Broken Hill.

Destination NSW is calling the hour before sunset or after sunrise the ‘golden hour’, on account of the light being softer and more orange or gold in its hue. And it says “up to 30 per cent” of pictures shared with it on social media come from this time.

Destination NSW CEO Sandra Chipchase encouraged travellers to post their favourite NSW holiday moments at visitnsw.com/ilovensw, and to share them on Instagram and Twitter using #ILoveNSW. The best will be chosen for a tourism ad, with prizes awarded.