The Ultimate Guide to Seeing the Southern Lights

It all starts with the sun. High-energy particles are carried from the sun as solar winds, some of which reach Earth. When they do, they hit our planet’s magnetic field and are drawn towards the magnetic north and south poles where they reach the Earth’s atmosphere. These charged solar particles then bash into the oxygen and nitrogen atoms in our atmosphere, interacting to cause magnificent colourful displays.

The same thing is happening in both instances, it's just the location that's different. The Northern Lights, or aurora borealis, is concentrated around Earth’s magnetic north pole. Whereas the Southern Lights, aurora australis, is seen around the magnetic south pole. The Northern Lights are more easily accessed as there is much more inhabited land around this end of the planet. Meaning, during particularly strong solar winds, Northern Lights are more likely to be seen as they reach more inhabited areas, sometimes including the UK.

You've guessed it, there’s a clue in the name. When seeking aurora australis, you’re going to need to be in the southern hemisphere. The ideal spot would be Antarctica, but while it might be good for aurora sightings, it’s hardly an easy destination to visit. That’s why most aurora hunters head to New Zealand or Australia. It is sometimes possible to catch sight of the Southern Lights from southern Chile and Argentina (Patagonia), this is dependent on strong solar winds - similar to when the Northern Lights are visible in the UK.

With perfect conditions, it is possible to observe the aurora australis from Australia’s south-eastern territory of Victoria. On rare occasions, lucky locals have been treated to gorgeous displays seen from Melbourne and surrounding areas. But sightings from the mainland are not common. If you want to up your chances of a Southern Lights spectacle, you'll need to be in Tasmania. The aurora australis can be seen from many places on the island with low light pollution, but here are some of Tasmania's most interesting spots:

Just a 40-minute drive from Hobart (and a 20-minute ferry), Bruny Island is one of the top destinations in Tasmania for viewing aurora australis. Combining awesome coastal vistas with dark skies, you can compose some memorable photos here. For example, it's a popular choice to incorporate Cape Bruny lighthouse into a shot. There is very little light pollution on Bruny Island so if you're not lucky enough to see the aurora on a clear night, the jaw-dropping display of stars will ensure your camera gets plenty of use.

Specifically, Goats Bluff Lookout. By day, Goats Bluff is a top surfing spot for local wave riders. By night, boards are swapped for cameras as stargazers replace surfers, hoping for a glimpse of aurora activity. It's not just the night sky that can put on a show here, when the conditions are right bioluminescence (glow-in-the-dark algae) can sometimes be seen in the shallow waters.

You'll want to wrap up warm for this one. Yes, the views from the summit are stunning, but that's because you're 1,271 metres above sea level. kunanyi / Mount Wellington is about a 30-minute drive from Hobart so you might find the city lights reduce the contrast of the aurora. However, the elevated location gives you an excellent view to the south over the city - very dramatic.

When it comes to hunting out the Southern Lights, New Zealand has a latitudinal advantage over neighbouring Australia. It's closer to the magnetic south pole and therefore sightings of the aurora australis are more likely. On top of that, New Zealand has some exceptional dark sky areas, meaning very little light pollution. Of course, while these factors increase your chances of seeing the aurora australis, there are no guarantees. To boost your chances even more, check out these sites:

Some 18 miles off the southern coast of New Zealand, Stewart Island-Rakiura is the southernmost Dark Sky Sanctuary in the world. So, what better place for an aurora hunter to go, right? Of course, even though this is probably the best spot, don't forget the Southern Lights are not guaranteed anywhere, even here. So, you might need to make do with unforgettable views of the Milky Way and a mind-blowing amount of stars. Not bad, to be fair.

This is the largest Dark Sky reserve in the southern hemisphere, and it's found in the middle of New Zealand's South Island. It covers Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park and the Mackenzie Basin, but despite its impressive size, it is possible to see the Southern Lights from many parts of this region (when the conditions are right). Not only is this reserve more accessible than others in NZ, the magnificent Southern Alps bring a rugged grandeur and texture to your sky-watching experience.

Despite its leafy forests and dramatic coastline, The Catlins region hasn't made it onto the tourist trail. It's as far south as you can go on the mainland, plus its forest surroundings mean this off-the-beaten-track destination has minimal light pollution. A prime spot for aurora seekers along this coastline is Nugget Point. If you're here around sunset or sunrise you might also be lucky enough to spot yellow-eyed penguins at nearby Roaring Bay.

Sightings have been reported all year-round in both Australia and New Zealand, but the ideal seasons are March to September (winter in the southern hemisphere), when nights are longer and darker.

As both New Zealand and Australia are a fair trek from the south pole, you are relying on excellent conditions for a good show. This means clear skies, minimal light pollution, no moonlight, and most importantly, high solar activity. Finding a forecast for solar activity isn't as tough as you might think. You could use the My Aurora Forecast app or the NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center website.

As a tourist, witnessing the ribbons of colour shimming across the sky is not an everyday experience so you’re going to want to snap a few photos. Not least because the aurora always looks more dramatic when photographed compared to when viewed with the naked eye.

So, how do you capture the perfect aurora pic? Luck certainly plays a role, as you’ll need a clear night with no light pollution (and that includes the moon). But let’s assume you have perfect conditions. Here are a few tips:

You’ll need to take advantage of manual settings, rather than relying on automatic or presets so a DSLR/mirrorless camera is a prerequisite. Ideally, you’ll have a wide-angle lens too with a low f-stop (f/2.8 or lower). The final bit of kit is a very sturdy tripod. This is essential for stability as you’ll be taking very long exposures and the slightest movement will blur your masterpiece. 

There's no magic trick to getting your settings right every time so you will need to do some experimenting when shooting the aurora. If you're a serious photographer, you're probably not reading this blog for tips on settings. But for the rest of us, these general pointers should help to get off to a good start:

• ISO: Start at 800-3200.
• Shutter Speed: Between 5-30 seconds.
• Aperture: Keep it wide open (f/2.8 or lower).

Using a timer is strongly recommended for aurora shots, as it reduces the chance of moving the camera as the photo is taken.

The latest smartphone cameras are probably up to the task, but the problem is keeping them still. You could use a timer to avoid having to touch the phone to take the picture but it still needs to be securely stabilised. A flimsy phone stand won't cut it.

1. The first thing to remember: you are shooting at night, during winter. It's going to get chilly. So make sure you dress warmly.
2. Experiment with shutter speeds. It might take longer than you think to get the perfect shot.
3. Ideally, you'll be shooting RAW rather than JPG as the colour range is greater. But this means larger image files so bring spare memory cards.
4. Use manual focus, and zoom in to check clarity. A sturdy tripod really helps here, once you've got the focus you want.
5. Finally, don't forget to bring extra batteries. A dead battery is the last thing you want if you've been lucky enough to get an aurora sighting. Battery life also tends to deplete quicker in colder temperatures.