How to see the Aurora Australis in Australia: Your complete guide to catching the southern lights

"We're in the best aurora conditions in a decade - and the window is closing."

Australia just witnessed its strongest aurora storm in 20 years. Skies across Tasmania, Victoria, South Australia - even parts of NSW and Queensland - lit up with colour. Social media exploded. And thousands of people had the same thought: I can't believe I missed it.

The good news? More are coming.

We're currently in a solar maximum - the peak of the sun's 11-year activity cycle. That means the next 12-18 months offer the best aurora hunting conditions we'll see until the mid-2030s.

But here's the challenge: you can't plan for them like a normal trip. You get a few days notice at best. They peak late at night. And you need to be somewhere dark and remote - far from city lights.

Here's what you need to know to actually catch one: how to track them, where to go, what makes a great viewing spot, and how to be ready when the alert hits.

What is the Aurora Australis?

The light show of a lifetime. Image: Queenstown Kombi

The Aurora Australis - or Southern Lights - is the southern hemisphere's version of the famous Northern Lights. It's caused by charged particles from the sun colliding with gases in Earth's atmosphere, creating curtains of light that shimmer and dance across the sky.

Being quite far from the magnetic pole, Australian sightings are rare. But during periods of high solar activity, strong storms push the aurora further north, bringing it within view.

Why 2026? The solar maximum window

The sun follows an 11-year cycle of magnetic activity. Right now, we're at the peak - called solar maximum. During this phase, the sun produces more sunspots and solar flares. These are what create auroras.

Translation: the next 12-18 months offer significantly higher chances of seeing the Southern Lights from Australia than the quieter years ahead. After this window, aurora activity will decline until the next solar maximum around 2035.

The window is closing. If seeing the Southern Lights is on your bucket list, now is the time.

How to track aurora activity

Get ready to move quickly: Aurora's can't be predicted. Image: Queenstown Kombi

Auroras can't be predicted in advance. You usually get 1-3 days warning when a strong solar storm is heading toward Earth.

Here's how to stay informed:

Aurora Australis (Facebook Group): The most active community for Australian aurora chasers. Over 300,000 members share sightings, forecasts, and real-time alerts.

Bureau of Meteorology Space Weather Services: Australia's official source for space weather forecasts. Their aurora alerts notify you when geomagnetic activity is expected to increase. You can subscribe to email alerts on their website.

SpaceWeatherLive (App and Website): Tracks solar activity in real-time, including the Kp index - a scale from 0-9 that measures geomagnetic activity. For mainland Australia, you generally need a Kp of 6+ for visible auroras. Tasmania can sometimes see activity at Kp 5.

What to watch for: When you see alerts mentioning G3, G4, or G5 geomagnetic storms, or Kp index readings of 7+, that's your cue to start planning. These strong storms are when auroras become visible further north and appear more vivid to the naked eye.

What makes a good aurora viewing spot

Even in regular conditions, Australia has some of the worlds best stargazing - with front row seats to the milky way.

Not all dark locations are equal. Here's what to look for:

Geography matters: The further south you are, and the darker your skies, the better your chances.

Unobstructed southern horizon: The aurora appears in the southern sky. You need a clear view to the south with no hills, trees, or buildings blocking your sightline. Coastal locations looking out over the ocean are ideal - there's nothing but water between you and Antarctica.

Minimal light pollution: City lights wash out the sky and make faint auroras invisible. Use a light pollution map (like lightpollutionmap.info) to find dark zones.

Elevated vantage points: Hilltops, lookouts, and headlands give you a better angle on the horizon and help you see auroras that might be partially obscured at sea level.

Weather considerations: Clear skies are essential - clouds block aurora viewing. Check weather forecasts for your target area.

Why most aurora chasers go home empty-handed

Here's the reality of aurora chasing that most guides don't mention: it requires a level of spontaneity that doesn't fit normal travel planning.

A typical scenario looks like this:

• Tuesday afternoon: You see an alert that a strong solar storm will hit Earth in 48-72 hours

• Wednesday evening: Forecasts confirm a G4 storm is likely, with peak activity expected Thursday night

• Thursday 6pm: You need to be somewhere dark and remote by 10pm

This is why experienced aurora chasers travel in campervans and motorhomes.

An RV solves every part of this equation:

• Flexibility: You can relocate if weather changes or the aurora is stronger in a different direction

• Access: You can stay in remote locations without accommodation options

• Timing: You can sleep during the day and be ready for late-night viewing

• Comfort: No driving home tired at 3am - your bed is right there

• Spontaneity: Keep a van booked during peak aurora season and you're always ready to go when an alert drops

The only question left: where do you find an RV at short notice?

The cheat code to aurora hunting in 2026: RV hire in your local area

Thousands of RV's for hire in your local area mean quick getaways have never been easier

Camplify is Australia's favourite van-hire platform: connecting you with thousands of RVs for hire from local owners right across Australia.

The beauty of it is speed. You're not driving hours to pick up a vehicle before you even start your trip. You're picking up a van in your local area - and are on the road within the hour, heading south while others are still refreshing hotel booking sites.

Whether it's a quick overnight dash to the coast or a few nights exploring Tasmania's dark sky spots, Camplify turns aurora chasing from "maybe one day" into "this Thursday."

See vans in your area →

The window is closing

Activity is already beginning its slow decline toward the next solar minimum around 2030.

If seeing the Aurora Australis is something you want to do, the next 12-18 months are your best window until the mid-2030s.

Set up your alerts. Know your locations. Have your RV ready.

The next solar storm is coming. Will you be ready?

Find an RV near you, and start planning your aurora chase →