You probably know all about the amazing phenomenon of the Northern Lights – but have you heard of their cousin Down Under?
(I hadn’t either, until a fellow traveller in Iceland asked me if we ever saw the Southern Lights in New Zealand and I had to pretend I knew what he was talking about.)
But oh boy have I been schooled. The Southern Lights, or aurora australis are spectacular, as these photos show.
So far it’s been a good year for aurora sightings – one of the best in recent times! To increase your chances of spotting them, come between April and September (one good reason to visit New Zealand in winter). There are aurora forecasts you can check, too. Cold, dark nights are ideal – get as far away from light pollution as you can in order to better the odds.
The Southern Lights are seen mainly toward the bottom of the country, in the lower half of the South Island. Try Lake Tekapo (part of an International Dark Sky Reserve complete with observatory – just made for stargazing), Dunedin, Queenstown, Wanaka, Southland and even Stewart Island.
(Feature image: Ben)
