Seeing the southern lights
The southern lights, or aurora australis, are the same phenomenon as the northern lights, created at the same moment by the same solar wind. They are seen far less often only because there is so little inhabited land under the southern auroral oval, which lies mostly over the Southern Ocean and Antarctica. Still, from the right place on the right night, they are every bit as beautiful.
Where the southern oval lies
The southern auroral oval circles the south geomagnetic pole, which is offset from the geographic South Pole towards the Australian and New Zealand side of Antarctica. That offset matters: Tasmania and the south of New Zealand sit at a higher magnetic latitude than places at the same geographic latitude in South America.
As a result, southern Australia and New Zealand are the most practical places to see the aurora australis, while Patagonia needs stronger activity than its southern position might suggest. Away from Antarctica, the aurora is usually seen low on the southern horizon rather than overhead.
Best places
- Tasmania: the whole island is a good base, especially the south and east coasts and the highlands. Spots south of Hobart and on the Tasman Peninsula with an open southern view work well. Moderate activity, around Kp 5, often brings a visible glow; stronger storms produce rays and colour.
- New Zealand South Island: Southland, the Catlins, Otago and the Mackenzie Basin around Lake Tekapo, which is part of an international dark-sky reserve. Dunedin and Invercargill have good southern horizons just out of town.
- Stewart Island (Rakiura): New Zealand's southernmost inhabited island and a recognised dark-sky sanctuary, with almost no light pollution. It is the best-placed inhabited spot in the region.
- Southern mainland Australia: the coast of Victoria, South Australia and southern Western Australia can see the aurora during strong storms, usually Kp 6–7 or more.
- Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego: Ushuaia and southern Chile and Argentina can see it during strong storms, but less often than Tasmania or southern New Zealand.
- Antarctica and the sub-Antarctic: stations and islands under the oval see aurora on most dark, clear nights, but few people are there in the dark months.
When to go
In the southern hemisphere the long nights fall between March and September, with the longest in June. Unlike the Arctic, Tasmania and New Zealand have properly dark nights all year, so the aurora can be seen in summer too, but the hours of darkness are short.
The weeks around the equinoxes, March–April and September, tend to be slightly more geomagnetically active. They also have reasonable night length and milder weather than midwinter, which makes them good months for a trip.
Recent big displays
Solar cycle 25 has given the southern hemisphere some remarkable nights. During the G5 storm of 10–11 May 2024 the aurora australis was seen across Tasmania and New Zealand and as far north as parts of mainland Australia's southern states. The G4 storm of 10–11 October 2024 brought another widespread display.
Activity remains elevated in 2026 and into 2027 as the cycle declines, and this phase still produces big storms from CMEs and fast streams from coronal holes. The storm archive on this site records how far towards the equator the aurora reached during each major event.
Tips for southern-hemisphere viewing
- Face south. Find a spot with a clear, low southern horizon, ideally over the sea or open country.
- Expect a glow or arc low in the south rather than overhead curtains, except during big storms.
- Use a camera or phone in night mode: at these latitudes the aurora is often faint to the eye but colourful on camera, with red and pink common.
- The forecast numbers are the same as in the north: watch Kp, solar wind speed and a southward Bz. A Kp 5 forecast is a good reason to check the sky in Tasmania or southern New Zealand.
- Check town pages for the Kp each place needs and which direction to face, and the Tonight page for where it may be visible tonight.
Do the northern and southern lights happen together?
Yes. Both ovals respond to the same solar wind at the same time, and the two displays are broadly mirror images of each other. They are not perfect twins, though, because the tilt of Earth's magnetic field towards or away from the Sun changes with the seasons, so one hemisphere can be brighter than the other on a given night.
Frequently asked questions
- Where is the best place to see the southern lights?
- Stewart Island in New Zealand and Tasmania in Australia are the most reliable inhabited places, followed by the rest of New Zealand's South Island. They combine relatively high magnetic latitude with dark skies. Antarctica sees the aurora far more often, but few visitors are there during the dark season.
- What Kp do I need to see the southern lights in Tasmania?
- A visible glow on the southern horizon from a dark site in Tasmania usually needs about Kp 5, and rays or colour visible to the eye tend to need Kp 6 or more. Southern New Zealand has similar thresholds, while mainland Australia typically needs Kp 6–7 or higher.
- Can I see the southern lights from Australia's mainland?
- Yes, but only during strong storms. The coasts of Victoria, South Australia and southern Western Australia can see the aurora at around Kp 6–7 or more. During the G5 storm of May 2024 it was photographed much further north than usual. Find a dark spot with a clear southern horizon.
- Why is the aurora australis seen less often than the northern lights?
- The southern auroral oval lies mostly over the Southern Ocean and Antarctica, where very few people live. The aurora itself is just as frequent in both hemispheres. Only Tasmania, southern New Zealand and the tip of South America come close enough to see it regularly from land.
Last reviewed 16 October 2026