Aurora Hotspots and Tips

If you go to Tassie from May to August, you’re in luck! That’s peak season for the Aurora Australis. 

Seeing it is one of the best memories we have from our trip.

So here’s a quick guide to help you see it, too: 

Hotspots

These are places with minimal light pollution, a key factor in seeing the aurora:

• Bruny Island. Cloudy Bay and the southern beaches are ideal. 

• Cockle Creek. As far south as you can drive in Australia. Remote, dark and epic if the skies are clear.

• South Arm Peninsula. Easy access from Hobart and wide open southern views.

• Fortescue Bay. If you’re camping there for the Three Capes hike, keep an eye on the aurora forecast!

• Anywhere remote and not too populated!

If you’re lucky, you might even see it on Bicheno, Bay of Fires, and even Cradle Mt!

Tips for actually seeing it

• Download an aurora app! There are plenty of them, here's a good one

• Check cloud cover, you NEED clear skies

• There is a KP index which gives an idea of it's "strength" and your likeliness of seeing it, also join some Aurora Australis FB groups because they will tell you what's going on

• Get away from town lights. Even 10 to 15 minutes out makes a big difference

• Always face south

• Even if you can’t see much with your eyes, your camera might pick it up

• At first I struggled to notice it. It looked like electricity colours in the sky. It kind of "bled" into vision and then back out. Very amazing once you spot it though.

But the main thing is to be patient. We’ve waited hours before, but when it shows up, it’s magic ✨

Cover image by: Fir0002/Flagstaffotos