The Southern Lights (Aurora Australis) are best seen from high southern latitudes with dark, clear skies and minimal light pollution, especially in winter and around solar-activity peaks.

Top countries to see them

  • Tasmania, Australia
    • One of the most accessible and reliable places, thanks to its southerly latitude and many dark-sky coastal and wilderness spots.
* Popular locations include Bruny Island, Cradle Mountain–Lake St Clair National Park, the Central Highlands, and coastal areas facing south.
  • New Zealand (South Island & Stewart Island)
    • The Aoraki Mackenzie Dark Sky Reserve (around Lake Tekapo and Mount John Observatory) offers exceptionally dark skies and frequent aurora activity.
* Stewart Island/Rakiura is famous for its “glowing skies” meaning and is a bucket-list spot for aurora chasers.
  • Antarctica & Sub‑Antarctic islands
    • Offers the most dramatic and frequent displays because you are closest to the South Pole and under the auroral oval.
* Usually accessed via expedition cruises that also pass near the Falkland Islands and South Georgia, where auroras can sometimes be seen.
  • Southern Argentina (Ushuaia & Tierra del Fuego)
    • Ushuaia, known as the “End of the World” and a gateway to Antarctica, has very long winter nights and occasional strong auroras.
* Clear, cold nights over the snowcapped peaks of Tierra del Fuego can provide striking aurora backdrops during periods of high solar activity.

Best specific spots

  • In Tasmania
    • Bruny Island (especially The Neck lookout), South Arm Peninsula, Cockle Creek, and coastal lookouts south of Hobart are regularly recommended.
* Inland, Cradle Mountain–Lake St Clair and the Central Highlands offer lake reflections and low light pollution.
  • In New Zealand
    • Mount John Observatory and the wider Aoraki Mackenzie Dark Sky Reserve near Lake Tekapo give high-altitude, crystal-clear views.
* The Catlins and other southern coastal areas of the South Island provide dark southern horizons over the ocean.
  • From the air or sea
    • Dedicated “Southern Lights flights” from Australia or New Zealand sometimes operate, flying along the auroral zone above the Southern Ocean.
* Expedition cruises to Antarctica often report regular aurora sightings on clear nights away from any artificial light.

When and how to improve your chances

  • Best time of year
    • Late autumn to early spring (roughly April–September in the Southern Hemisphere) brings longer, darker nights and better viewing windows.
* The current period of heightened solar activity around the mid‑2020s has increased the frequency and intensity of auroral displays globally.
  • Best viewing conditions
    • Look for: clear skies, no moon or a small moon, and locations facing south with an unobstructed horizon.
* Escape city lights by heading to national parks, remote coasts, or designated dark-sky reserves.
  • Forecast and alert tools
    • Real-time aurora monitoring sites and alert services track solar wind data and issue location-based notifications when conditions look promising.
* Check local space-weather apps plus cloud-cover forecasts on the day you plan to go, and be ready to wait outside for several hours.

Quick tips before you go

  • Bring a tripod and use long-exposure settings if photographing; the camera often picks up colours your eyes see only faintly.
  • Dress for sub-zero windchill in winter locations, especially in Tasmania’s mountains, New Zealand’s highlands, or any Antarctic route.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.