How to see the southern lights
Guide to chasing the Aurora Australis in Tasmania
It’s the Southern Hemisphere’s finest light show – the dancing colours of the Southern Lights, aka the Aurora Australis.
While the famed Northern Lights can be seen across Arctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere, Tasmania is arguably the best place in the world to witness the southern version of this elusive and ethereal light show.
Sightings are fleeting and faint. This is a celestial event that can play hard to get – images of green beams and purple glows are not the norm, and sometimes they’re barely visible to the naked eye.
But if you’ve come to photograph the Aurora Australis, there’s an alchemy that takes place behind the shutter, transforming the ghostly lights into a burst of colour. There’s a thrill in this hunt that’s turned thousands of Tasmanians and visitors alike into aurora chasers, seeking the finest vantage points on the best nights to witness this magical space shimmy.
Everyone’s out just celebrating nature and the beauty of the world, and that’s a special thing.
What are the Southern Lights?
Auroras occur when charged particles burst from the sun, creating a solar wind. When this solar wind is drawn towards the North and South poles, it brings with it particles that interact with gases in the Earth’s atmosphere, sparking beautiful displays of light in high-latitude regions.
The Earth is currently experiencing a ‘solar maximum’, a peak period of solar activity in the 11-year solar cycle that makes aurora sightings more intense, dynamic and frequent. It’s an exciting time for seasoned aurora chasers and newbies alike.
In the Northern Hemisphere, where inhabited lands sit closer to the pole, the Aurora Borealis can be as showy as a peacock, producing vivid displays of green, orange, purple and yellow light. In the south, we do things more subtly, with a shyer style of aurora. "In the vast majority of the smaller auroras, it’s like a faint white cloud,” says Hobart-based photographer Luke Tscharke, “but you can see it very faintly moving about.”
However, recent solar activity is giving the Northern Hemisphere a run for its money. In May 2024, a strong geomagnetic storm produced a spectacular aurora, visible right across Tasmania, even in cities and urban areas.
NASA reported the G5 event as the biggest geomagnetic storm they’d seen in over 20 years.
“I find it such a beautiful phenomenon,” says Luke. “It’s amazing when you’re out there with a bunch of other people, and the aurora fires up and there’s almost cheers. Everyone’s out just celebrating nature and the beauty of the world, and that’s a special thing.”
An aurora is a true photographic extravaganza.
When to see an Aurora
Time of year
Winter is prime time to witness nature's disco ball, with Tasmania's long southern nights drawing out the potential for a light show. That said, the Aurora Australis can be seen year-round from Tasmania – with some of the most vivid recent displays taking place during the warmer months.
Weather
Weather and atmospheric conditions are important factors. Cloudy nights obscure any aurora activity, while the light of the moon can also dim the aurora experience. “Moon phase is important, and making sure you don’t have any cloud,” says Luke. “If the moon is getting to the darker phases – 25% or less – I think that’s ideal.”
How to predict an aurora
No one knows precisely when an aurora might occur. Space weather maps and predictions are helpful, but ultimately the sun calls the show. There are long-range forecasts of auroras, but dedicated chasers often hang in suspense until just a few days before its stage call.
"We only know about three days in advance if an aurora might happen," says Margaret Sonnemann, author of the Aurora Chaser's Handbook. "But that's just an educated guess. We never truly know.”
Apps, alerts and resources
Aurora chasers rely on a series of resources in their quest to capture Southern Lights moments. The Aurora Australis Tasmania Facebook group has a community of well over 350,000 people sharing aurora chasing advice and photos, while the Aurora Australis Tasmania Alert NOW Facebook group delivers on-the-spot reports of aurora sightings.
The Bureau of Meteorology’s Space Weather Services division posts current aurora conditions – you can subscribe for alerts – and there are apps such as My Aurora Forecast and SpaceWeatherLive offering information on the likelihood of auroras.
Where to see an aurora in Tasmania
In the dark of night, when word has spread of a possible aurora, dark and remote places around the island begin to fill with people and cameras. The Aurora Australis is sometimes seen right across Tasmania in open areas with unobstructed views to the south. But most of the prime perches are in Tasmania’s south, closer to the South Pole and away from populated areas.
Southern Tasmania
- Bruny Island
- Carlton Beach
- Cockle Creek
- Kunanyi / Mount Wellington
- South Arm Peninsula
- Teralina / Eaglehawk Neck
The rest of the state
- Braddons Lookout, near Forth
- Central Plateau
- Coles Bay
- Stanley
Photography tip
Find a location that features an interesting Tasmanian subject to add to the dazzling sky.
Spots such as Dove Lake (looking south towards Cradle Mountain), Coles Bay (looking towards the Hazards), the Tessellated Pavement at Teralina / Eaglehawk Neck, and Cape Bruny Lighthouse can create spectacular photographic additions to the curtained night sky.
How to capture an aurora
An aurora is a true photographic extravaganza, a chance to magically transform a dark scene into brilliance. With technology improving in leaps and bounds in recent years, snapping the Southern Lights is now possible not just for photographers, but for anyone using a newer Android or iPhone.
How to photograph an aurora on your phone
- Use a tripod and a timer: Stability is key for long exposure photos.
- Enable Night or Pro mode: Set your shutter speed from 5–30 sec.
- Use an app to access manual mode: Not all phones have manual controls built in, but downloading a photography app can usually provide the goods.
- Turn off flash: It’ll ruin your photos, and the photos of the person next to you.
- Dim your screen: Keep light pollution down by lowering your screen brightness.
- Bring a power bank: Cold weather drains batteries fast, so be sure to bring an extra power supply.
How to photograph an aurora with a DSLR or mirrorless camera
- Use a tripod: Stability is key for long exposure photos.
- Ensure batteries are fully charged: Pack a spare battery if you’ve got one.
- Use a wide angle lens and open up your aperture: An f-stop of 4.0 or lower is ideal.
- Set camera to manual mode: Make sure the lens focus is set to ‘infinity’ and your shutter speed is 5–30sec (the brighter the aurora display, the shorter shutter speed you’ll need).
- Shoot in RAW: For extra detail and post-production editing capability.
Aurora photography tours in Tasmania
If you don’t want to go it alone, join the pros at a dark sky photography workshop in Tasmania. Luke O’Brien can help you take your best shot on the Freycinet Peninsula, and Luke Tscharke can show you the ropes in southern Tasmania.
Take care when chasing auroras
Drive carefully at night and watch out for animals. Many Tasmanian sand dunes are home to nesting birds. If visiting a beach, stick to the path and avoid disturbing the sensitive dune ecosystems. And if you’re out during the winter months, dress warmly, it’s chilly out there.
Aurora Australis FAQs
What is the Aurora Australis?
Aurora Australis is a natural light show that transforms southern skies into a swirling canvas of colour. Also known as the Southern Lights, this glowing phenomenon dances across the sky in shades of green, pink and purple. The name “Australis” comes from the Latin word for “southern”.
What causes the Aurora Australis?
The glowing Southern Lights are caused by charged particles from the sun colliding with gases in the Earth’s atmosphere. During geomagnetic storms, more charged particles are emitted from the sun than usual, increasing the chance of an aurora. Auroras appear closer to the magnetic poles due to the strength of the Earth’s magnetic field in these locations – making Tasmania the best place to see the phenomenon in Australia.
Where is the best place to see the Southern Lights in Australia?
Tasmania is the best place in Australia to see the Aurora Australis thanks to its southerly latitude and low light pollution. However, particularly strong geomagnetic storms can sometimes push auroras into view in other southern states including Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and New South Wales.
When should I plan to visit Tasmania to see the Southern Lights?
Your best chance of spotting an aurora in Tasmania is during the cooler months (May–September) when the nights are longer and darker. But as long as there’s a clear sky and low light pollution where you are, you could spot the Aurora Australis at any time of year.
How can I photograph the Aurora Australis?
Photographing the Aurora Australis takes a bit of planning (and patience). Check the weather report to ensure you’ve got clear skies and increased solar activity. Make sure you’ve got a sturdy tripod and a camera with settings you can manually adjust. You can use your phone, but you’ll get the best possible shot using a DSLR or mirrorless camera. Use a wide-angle lens, set up long exposure (5–30sec), increase your ISO and set your focus to the stars. If you’re using a phone, set up Night Mode (or equivalent) and go handsfree with a timer.
What is noctourism?
Noctourism is all about exploring after dark: think stargazing, nocturnal wildlife encounters, late-night festivities and fireside storytelling. Popular noctourism experiences in Tasmania include Glow Tour, Devils in the Dark and Bicheno Penguin Tours.
