The Northern Lights are often a topic of conversation, and understandably so. The Aurora Borealis, a mesmerizing natural light phenomenon in the Earth’s sky, is truly remarkable. However, you don’t need to venture to Scandinavia to experience such a dramatic spectacle; Australia has its own version known as the Aurora Australis, or Southern Lights.

So, what’s the deal? Why are the Southern Lights less celebrated than their Northern counterparts? It primarily relates to geography. In the Arctic Circle, the Aurora Borealis is visible from places like Greenland, Iceland, northern Canada, Norway, and Russia. Conversely, in the south, there are fewer locations that extend close enough to Antarctica to provide optimal viewing for the Southern Lights—much of it is just ocean.

If you’re not interested in commandeering a ship to explore the waters beyond Tasmania, there are some easier places for viewing.

Where can I see the Aurora Australis in Melbourne?

Your best opportunity to witness the Aurora Australis is to go as far south as you can. Tasmania is the obvious destination, and you’ll want to seek out locations away from city pollution.Mount Wellington, Bruny Island, Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, the Huon Valley, the Central Highlands, and Tasmania’s South Arm all provide excellent southern horizon views.

But it’s not all bad news for those living on the mainland: regions in Victoria, southern New South Wales, and the southernmost areas of South Australia and Western Australia occasionally get a glimpse of the lights. In Victoria, we recommend Point Lonsdale, Cape Schanck, Flinders, the southern side of Phillip Island, Tidal River at Wilsons Promontory, Aireys Inlet, Anglesea , or anywhere with an unobstructed horizon view. Closer to the city, try the coast near Werribee South, Point Cook , and up a hill in Meredith.

What time of year is best?

The Aurora Australis, like its northern sibling, is notoriously hard to forecast. Patience is essential. The optimal times to view the lights are during winter and around the equinox in September, but in theory, the Southern Lights can be spotted in Tasmania throughout the year.

First, keep your eyes to the south: the Southern Lights originate from that direction. Victorian observers will generally see the “top” part of the aurora that’s visible in Tasmania, but it may only show up strongly on camera. A vibrant aurora typically lasts one to three hours, peaking between 10 PM and 2 AM.

Human vision often struggles to detect the subtle color variations that occur during an aurora event, but DSLRs tend to capture these details much better, so be sure to bring your camera. You may spot the aurora even without a camera, but that typically requires an exceptionally bright display. Additionally, it varies by individual eyesight—some people can discern color tints in faint auroras while others perceive them in monochrome.

To stay informed, this website offers real-time maps of atmospheric conditions and provides aurora predictions using a Kp scale ranging from zero to nine (zero indicating very weak and nine meaning strong auroras are visible). There’s also a Facebook group dedicated to discussing the Aurora over Tasmania, along with another group that offers current updates about when to catch the Southern Lights in Australia.