Is it always possible to see the Southern Lights? No. Is it worth trying? Without a shadow of a doubt. The Southern Lights (aurora australis) are notoriously more difficult to see than their northern counterparts, but that only makes the swirling rivers of greenish blue even more spectacular when you do catch a glimpse of them. The best time to see the aurora australis is during the Southern Hemisphere’s darker, cooler months – from March to September – when the skies are clearest and the nights are longest. But the real question is, where to see the Southern Lights? Below are our top picks for where to witness one of Earth’s most spectacular light displays…
- Mount John Observatory, New Zealand
- Falkland Islands
- Antarctica
- Ushuaia, Argentina
- Wilsons Promontory, Australia
- Bruny Island, Tasmania
1
Mount John Observatory, New Zealand
Standing beneath a completely star-specked night sky is mind-blowing enough. However, when there’s no light pollution and the sky could come alive with blues and reds at any moment, it becomes truly unforgettable. The remote (and light-pollution-free) University of Canterbury Mount John Observatory, within New Zealand’s Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve, is our first answer for where to see the Southern Lights. For star-lovers and fans of dark skies, we suggest joining a guided tour of the observatory while you wait for the ethereal phenomenon to appear.
Best time to see them: March to September, with the best chances between June and August.
Image by momo / Getty Images.
2
Falkland Islands
Believe it or not, the aurora australis is visible from the UK. Well, sort of. The Falkland Islands are a British overseas territory and are one of the best places to see the Southern Lights. Watch as they whirl across the sky in hazy green swirls and bands of brilliant pink, leaving splashes of colour on the waves that crash along the coastline. For history buffs, explore the dark past of the islands with a guided tour of the Argentine Military Cemetery, where the Southern Lights bounce off the brilliant-white rosary-adorned crosses.
Best time to see them: April to August if there’s high solar activity.
Image by Tiphanie May / Getty Images.
3
Antarctica
Antarctica is arguably the best, but most difficult to reach, place to spot the Southern Lights. Lucky visitors can spot the Southern Lights dancing across the night sky all year round on mainland Antarctica, whether you’re admiring them from a research centre, in an igloo-like lodge or on a guided cruise. One of the best ways to see them is on an expedition to South Georgia Island, where you can stare at the sky and listen to the soundtrack of young penguins peeping. There really is no greater place to witness the Southern Lights than at the most southerly place on the planet.
Best time to see them: May to August, during the Arctic winter.
Image by Jeff Miller / Getty Images.
4
Ushuaia, Argentina
As the closest major landmass to the South Pole, Argentina is a safe bet for spotting the epic pink plumes of light. Due to its ‘End of the World’ and ‘Gateway to Antarctica’ statuses, the distant city of Ushuaia is a top-notch Southern-Light-viewing location, with 17-hour stints of darkness during the winter months. The vast, snowcapped peaks of the Tierra del Fuego Province are lit by the dancing skies, and the stark contrast between the monochrome mountains and the vibrant ribbons of sky-high colour is a must-see when visiting Argentina.
Best time to see them: June to August during solar storms.
Image by Marcelo Martin Guevara / Getty Images.
5
Wilsons Promontory, Australia
Although Australia is further north than other Southern-Light-spotting destinations, it has some of the most amazing views of the intricate illuminations; flecks of iridescent green and vivid pink transform hilly horizons into rolling rainbows. But where to see the Southern Lights in the land of kangaroos and white sandy beaches? Venture to Wilsons Promontory National Park in Victoria for a wilderness adventure complete with camping, stargazing and aurora observing. Ancient superstitions say that the spirits of the lights may come and whisper messages from the dead if you whistle, so hold your tongue and kick back on the deck of a wood-clad cabin as the spectacle unfurls.
Best time to see them: May to August.
Image by colbourne49 / Getty Images.
6
Bruny Island, Australia
Last on the list of where to see the Southern Lights is the wildlife haven of Bruny Island, located off the coast of Tasmania. This charming island is a favourite weekend getaway for Tasmanians, with wedge-tailed eagles hanging in the breeze and white wallabies dashing around in the undergrowth. The views of the Southern Lights, each display as mesmerising as the one before, are an unforgettable sight over the expansive beaches and incredible Tasmanian wilderness. While nighttime sightseeing with a local guide, head to Kingston Beach or Adventure Bay to gawk at the bioluminescent plankton turning the ocean into a natural lava lamp.
Best time to see them: March to September, with the best chances between June and August.
Image by Chasing Light / Getty Images.
Written by Immy Kelly.
