No, your eyes aren’t fooling you. We are talking about the Southern Lights. Not the Northern ones. The celestial light display called the Aurora Borealis is famous for a good reason, but did you know that it has a Southern Hemisphere sibling? Well, it does, and it’s called the Aurora Australis. The same natural phenomenon that makes the pretty lights dance near the Northern polar cap also exists near the southern cap. The colors of the light bear a slight variation to the ones up north but they are just as (if not more) impressive. The following destinations are where you can witness this magic with your mortal eyes.
Stewart Island, New Zealand
Known for its incredible landscape and minimal light pollution, Stewart Island is the ideal place to view the Aurora Australis. It’s located right off the southern coast of New Zealand’s South Island, and on a larger scale, in a latitude that will be doing aurora hunters many favors, especially on clear nights. Tourists can join a guided tour that will take them to the best vantage points on the island to witness the light display, like Ackers Point or Horseshoe Bay.
Queenstown, New Zealand
There is so much to do in New Zealand, it’s enough to make anyone’s head spin. The nature, the local culture, the adventures — it’s everywhere and one can’t help but yearning to experience it all. One adventure that we would recommend starting with is a trip to Queenstown’s Lake Wakatipu, where you can see the Southern Lights in all of their ethereal glory as they illuminate the lake shores and the Remarkables mountain range.
Tasmania, Australia
To see the beautiful lights dance across the sky, one can also venture on a trip to the Australian island state of Tasmania. With a nice portion of the island dedicated to endemic wildlife, you might want to also include a visit to a nature reserve on your trip. The Aurora Australis will be more visible the further south you go, so make your way to South Arm or the Tasman Peninsula and join a guided tour where you can meet more people who want to enjoy the magic.