Best Places to See the Southern Lights

How do you see the Aurora Australis?

To give yourself the best chance, head somewhere well away from city lights. Basically, the darker and more remote, the better! Tasmania’s southern latitude and minimal light pollution make it one of the world’s primo viewing spots. Head out on a clear, cloud-free night with little or no moonlight, which allows the colours to really pop against the darkness of the big blue.

When is the best time to see the Southern Lights in Australia?

The Southern Lights (and the Northern Lights) are famously unpredictable, so patience is part of the adventure. 

• They’re most commonly spotted in March and September. That’s when the Earth’s magnetic field is best oriented to interact with the solar wind. 

• Winter has the reputation for being ‘aurora season’. That’s simply because darkness lasts longer, of course, boosting your chances. 

• Displays often last one to three hours and tend to peak between 10pm and 2am.

For the best intel, keep an eye on the Bureau of Meteorology’s Aurora Watch alerts or sign up to the Tasmanian Aurora page on Facebook – this is honestly the best place for local and frequent information.

How do you photograph the Southern Lights?

Charge everything before you go — or pack spare batteries — and dress warmly. It gets very chilly standing still under the stars.

Photographing an aurora on your phone

1. Use a tripod and a timer for stability.

2. Switch on Night mode or Pro mode, with a shutter speed between 5–30 seconds. 

3. Download a manual photography app if your phone doesn’t have these settings.

4. Turn off the flash — it will blow out your shot (and annoy everyone around you).

5. Lower your screen brightness to reduce unwanted light. 

Photographing an aurora with a DSLR or mirrorless camera

1. Lock everything down with a tripod.

2. Choose a wide-angle lens and the lowest f-stop you have (f/4 or lower).

3. Shoot in manual mode, set your lens focus to infinity, and use a 5–30 second shutter speed (shorter if the aurora is bright).

4. Capture in RAW for maximum detail and editing flexibility.