Complete Guide to the Southern Lights in Tasmania

Seeing the Southern Lights in Tasmania is a truly memorable experience. At the same time, the Aurora Australis is a fickle thing, which is why you will find this guide so incredibly helpful.

It has everything you need to plan your special night under the stars – including where to see the Southern Lights in Tasmania, the best time of year, and practical photography tips for a jaw-dropping photo!

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Cradle Mountain is where to see the Southern Lights in Tasmania on your Tasmania Road trip — Southern Lights dancing at Cradle Mountain in Tasmania | Photo: Pierre Destribats

So… you want to see the ‘Southern Lights’ in Tasmania?

Of course you do – it’s an absolute stunner when Lady Light puts on a show down here in Australia’s most southerly state – Tasmania!

We hear so much about the aurora borealis in the northern hemisphere, but her southern sister seems to fly under the radar.

That is exactly why I’ve created this guide – to use my knowledge, tips and advice as a Tassie local and keen photographer to help provide you with all the information you need to maximise your chances of seeing the Aurora Australis in Tasmania.

Key topics I cover in this guide include:

Best time of year to see the Aurora Tasmania
Best places to see the Southern Lights in Tasmania
Apps and other resources to help plan your night of aurora-watching
Photography tips for capturing the aurora in all its glory
Aurora tour information in Tasmania
…and plenty more!

Important

I’m sure you are super-excited to see the Southern Lights while you’re touring Tasmania, but it would be remiss of me not to provide a gentle sanity check.

I would love for you to see the light show, but the reality is you need a lot to go right on the night – including luck. A solar flare while you’re in Tasmania, after dark, no moon, no clouds, southern-facing, no light pollution…. and even then it’s very possible that the aurora isn’t strong enough to be seen with the naked eye…

But… please don’t let this stop you. When it all comes together it is an unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime experience!

When is the best time of year to see the Southern Lights in Tasmania?

Quick Answer: The best time of year to see the Southern Lights in Tasmania (also called the Aurora Australis) is during winter, with September being the best month due to solar flares peaking annually at this time.

Did you know that the Aurora Australis occurs just as frequently in summer as it does in winter?

So, why is it that everyone says winter is best?

They aren’t wrong, but it’s only because at winter time we get much longer nights than in summer (15 hours or more), and this means you have more dark hours during which you can physically see the aurora while it’s happening.

You could actually have more aurora activity outside winter – September is when we see solar flares hitting their annual peak – but if they happen during the long daylight hours of summer (up to 15 hours in Tasmania) then you aren’t going to see a thing, and that’s not much use to anyone.

If you are coming to Tasmania in summer then you definitely still have a chance of seeing the Southern Lights after dark!

What is the best time of night for seeing the Aurora Australis?

Quick Answer: The best time of day for seeing the Aurora Australis is after sunset and before sunrise, on a night when there is either no moon in the sky or the moon is only a narrow crescent.

What a lot of people don’t realise is that a bright moon will make it a lot more difficult to see the Southern Lights.

A full moon is obviously worst, but even a half-moon will be problematic – especially for photography.

If you can time your aurora-watching for before moon-rise, or after moon-set, then you’ll increase your chances of seeing the aurora.

Southern Lights in Tasmania - Cape Bruny Lighthouse — Cape Bruny Lighthouse | Photo: Luke Tscharke

Where are the best places to see the Southern Lights in Tasmania?

Quick Answer: The best places to see the Southern Lights in Tasmania face south, and do not suffer from excessive light pollution.

The don’t call them the Southern Lights for no reason!

An aurora is caused by a solar flare being drawn to earth via the north and south poles, and that means that the Aurora Australis is strongest in the direction of the magnetic south pole.

It isn’t as simple as picking a southerly-facing location though, because there are a couple of other things you need to know that could prevent you from seeing the lights.

Here is how I suggest you choose the best place to see the Southern Lights, no matter where you in Tasmania.

Southerly facing – This is pretty much anywhere in Tasmania, but you will need to know how to find ‘south’ in the middle of the night, and to make sure you are facing that direction. Your watch or phone compass might help, but another hack is to look for the distinctive shape of the southern cross, and the south pole is just a little bit to the right – easy!
No obstructions – If there is a mountain or a building between you and south then you aren’t going to see the aurora. The aurora tends to extend upward from the horizon for around a quarter of the sky – not all the way overhead – so if there is something between you and the horizon then you won’t see a thing (or just the top edge if you’re lucky).
No light pollution – Cities and large town are full of lights, and these light sources effectively ‘drown out’ the light of the aurora, making it a lot more difficult to see the colours. To increase your chances you are best finding a location some distance from urban environments (15-30 mins drive or longer if possible).
Safe parking – Tasmania’s rural roads can be narrow, winding, hilly, and have few places to safely pull your vehicle over – especially in the dark! Your safety is critical, so please keep this in mind when choosing a location.

With those criteria in mind, I’ve researched the entire island to find the best places to see the Southern Lights in Tasmania.

If you’re wanting to see the aurora near Hobart, then I would be driving 30mins over to South Arm Peninsula where you’ll find Goat Bluff, Clifton Beach and Calvert’s Beach to be really good viewing spots for the Southern Lights.

If you prefer to not drive so far then Howrah Beach, Seven Mile Beach, Taroona Beach or Park Beach are good options in Hobart’s outer suburbs. The summit of Mt Wellington is also popular, but you’ll often find that light pollution from the southern suburbs will dull the brightness of the Aurora Australis.

The table and map below shows you where they are all located – just click on the links for more info. I also include written descriptions (including driving times) and accommodation recommendations for each location at the bottom of this guide.

Location	Region	Access	Overall	Map
Rosny Hill Lookout	Hobart	Easy	Ok	Click
Mt Nelson Signal Station	Hobart	Easy	Ok	Click
Howrah Beach	Hobart	Easy	Ok	Click
Mt Wellington / kunanyi	Hobart	Easy	Ok	Click
Howden Boat Ramp	Hobart	Easy	Good	Click
Cremorne Beach	South Arm	Easy	Good	Click
Clifton Beach	South Arm	Easy	Good	Click
Goat Bluff Lookout	South Arm	Easy	Excellent	Click
Calvert’s Beach	South Arm	Average	Good	Click
Gypsy Bay / Primrose Sands	South Arm	Easy	Good	Click
Tinderbox Beach	Huon / Far South	Easy	Good	Click
South Cape Bay	Huon / Far South	Difficult	Excellent	Click
Trial Bay Boat Ramp	Huon / Far South	Easy	Ok	Click
Cygnet	Huon / Far South	Easy	Good	Click
Tessellated Pavement	Tasman Peninsula	Average	Excellent	Click
Cradle Mountain	Cradle Coast	Easy	Excellent	Click
Mt Roland	Cradle Coast	Easy	Average	Click
The Gardens	Bay of Fires	Easy	Poor	Click
Cape Bruny Lighthouse	Bruny Island	Average	Excellent	Click
Cloudy Bay	Bruny Island	Difficult	Excellent	Click
Coles Bay	Freycinet	Easy	Excellent	Click
Cape Tourville Lighthouse	Freycinet	Easy	Excellent	Click
Strahan	West Coast	Easy	Poor	Click

How to forecast an aurora?

Predicting when the Aurora Australis is going to make an appearance can be difficult, which is why it often seems more ‘dark art’ than science!

There is a massive rabbit-hole of technical terms and astrophysical boffinry down which we could easily disappear… but I prefer to keep things simple.

The easiest way to stay up to date is to join either the Aurora Australis Tasmania Facebook group (low-key more social vibe) or the SHAG FB Group (more technical and scientific perspective) for real time alerts, and download the Aurora Forecast app to forecast when an aurora is likely in the next couple of days.

Unfortunately, you can’t predict an aurora weeks or months in advance. At best you will get a couple of days notice, but in most instances it is only hours ahead that you know for sure that something is likely to happen.

Southern Lights in Tasmania - Mt Roland — Mt Roland | Photo: Allaboutadventure

Tips and tricks for taking a photo of the aurora

Taking a photo of the Aurora Australis is a piece of cake. Taking a good photo is a completely different story!

A phone can often be good enough (with a tripod), but an SLR will always provide far superior results.

This is what I use:

Camera: Nikon Z6 – Compact and light with incredible image quality (my ideal travel camera)
Lens: Nikon 14-24mm f2.8 (wide-angle is perfect for landscapes and sky shots)
Tripod: Gitzo GT1544T (ultra light-weight and perfect for domestic and international travel)

Here are some great tips for capturing the perfect memory. Click to expand each box if you’d like to learn more.

The best tip I can give you for a crisp photo of the aurora is to invest in a tripod.

Your tripod doesn’t need to be expensive or fancy – even a bean bag under your camera can work – as long as it means you can keep your phone or camera still for up to 30 seconds.

A long shutter speed is needed so that your camera sensor can pick up all the colours of the aurora.

You don’t want it too long though (30 seconds max), or the stars will blur and turn into star trails.

For me, the shutter speed sweet-spot is around 15-20 seconds, and once I have that set I tweak my other camera settings as I explain below.

The ‘ISO’ setting on your camera is like its sensitivity level. The aurora is usually faint, so we want this to be a fairly high number, boosting the colours so they can be captured in less than 30 seconds.

I suggest that you use an ISO of at least 800, but ideally 3200 or higher. I find that colour noise becomes an issue above 32,000 but each camera is different.

Older cameras don’t have great noise performance, so you may want to limit these to 1200-1600.

My settings? I normally shoot at around ISO 3200-6400.

The size of your aperture, or f-stop, determines how much light gets into your camera. Generally bigger/wider is better.

If you are just taking a photo of the horizon and the aurora then you should select the largest aperture your camera camera or lens can provide. It’s a little confusing, but this corresponds the the smallest ‘f’ number’. Common f-stop settings include f1.4, f2.8, f4.0 or f5.6.

The exception to this is if you also want to include a foreground object in your photo. In this case you will want to use a narrower f-stop of around f8 or f11 to ensure that both the close object and the stars are in focus together. This can be a tricky balance!

Getting tack-sharp images can be challenging at night, but well worth the effort.

Before starting, make sure your camera focus is in ‘Manual’ mode. If you only want a photo of the Aurora Australis, and don’t care about trees or other objects close by, then you need to focus on ‘infinity’ in order to make the stars as sharp as possible. There are two ways of doing this:

Prepare before you go – I highly recommend this, as it’s can be very difficult to get it right in the middle of the night! To do this, during daylight hours focus on a tree or other object on the horizon and then lock the focus ring in place using paper tape. Or, if you know your lens really well then you can also simply memorise the position of the focus ring. For example, using my wide-angle lens I know that if I rotate the lens ring clockwise as far as it will go and then back it up half an inch it will be in the perfect position for shots of the night sky.
Set the focus at night – In this case I recommend switching on ‘liveview’ (if available on your camera model). Then, point it at the sky so that a bright star is right in the middle of the LCD screen and zoom in as close as possible using the ‘+’ button. Once you’ve done that, twist the focus ring backwards and forwards until you get the star in focus.

It’s easy to forget, so I’ll repeat it – make sure your focus mode is ‘Manual’.

If you also want to include objects in the foreground (eg. a jetty or tree) then you may want to bring the focus point in just a tad from infinity, in order to get some extra focus on foreground. A narrower aperture (f8 or f11) will help with this but at the cost of a longer shutter speed.

A wider angle (ie. zoomed out) will reduce the likelihood of star trails and gives you the opportunity to fit a wide aurora into one frame, but it may also make the aurora appear smaller. Alternatively, a narrower focal length (ie. zoomed in) will let you focus in on the detail of an aurora, but will increase the likelihood of star trails.

Personally, I prefer to get some foreground interest in my shots and like the effect of a sweeping panorama, so I usually stick with around 10-12mm on a crop camera (DX) , or 14-18mm on a full-frame camera (FX).

Please Stay Safe

Aurora watching is a lot of fun, but please stay safe. If it is your first time visiting a site I recommend getting there during daylight hours. This allows you to look for any hidden dangers such as cliffs, slippery rocks, dangerous surf, uneven surfaces or other hazards.

It also gets very cold in Tasmania at night, with temperatures dropping to as low as -10°C on Mt Wellington. Warm clothing is essential, and you’ll love a hot thermos of coffee!

Tasmania Southern Lights Tour

I get a lot of Lappers asking whether it is possible to book a Tasmania Southern Lights tour. Unfortunately, because the aurora is so unpredictable in Tasmania there aren’t any tours where you can be guaranteed to see the Southern Lights.

Instead, I suggest planning your itinerary using the advice I’ve provided in this guide, so that if you do get lucky and an aurora happens while you’re in Tasmania, you are as prepared as possible to see it.

Aurora Viewing – Location Descriptions

I thought I might provide you with a local’s perspective on each of the aurora watching locations that I provided at the top of this guide, including access instructions, light pollution levels, and quality accommodation where you can base yourself for easy access and less driving in the dark.

Just click on the location of interest and it will expand for you – the medal icon represents the best places for seeing the Southern Lights in Tasmania.

Rosny Hill Lookout is the easiest place to see the southern lights in Tasmania – it’s just 10mins from central Hobart – and the panoramic views of Hobart and the Derwent River are fantastic.

The only downside of this location is that the bright lights of Hobart city can easily drown out the light of the weaker auroras.

This site is great if you are limited on time, or when the predictions are for a super-strong aurora.

Overall: Average
Region: Hobart
Driving time: <10mins (Hobart CBD) | 2hrs (Launceston)
Access: Easy
Accommodation: RACV/RACT Hobart Apartment Hotel

Mt Nelson Signal Station is another easy site close to Hobart that can be good for spotting the Aurora Australis in Tasmania. There are picnic facilities up top as well, perfect for a light meal at sunset before the southern lights start to show.

The good thing about this site is that it is easy to access, and the pretty shape of the station itself.

The downside is that there are a lot of trees on and around the reserve, and they can stop you from seeing the aurora lights.

Driving there is very easy. You can either take the Southern Outlet, remembering to leave at the Proctor’s Road off-ramp, or you can drive up through the suburbs on Nelson Road (very winding).

Overall: Average
Region: Hobart
Driving time: 10mins (Hobart) | 2hr 15mins (Launceston)
Access: Easy
Accommodation: 110 Hampden

Howrah Beach is a lovely spot seeing the Southern Lights. The rocks and beach look really nice in photos and you can also enjoy the views of Hobart across the water.

As with Rosny Hill Lookout, Howrah Beach is in suburban Hobart and unfortunately the bright lights can stop you from seeing an aurora.

Access is easy from central Hobart, and there is parking at either end of the beach.

Overall: Average
Region: Hobart
Driving time: 15min
Access: Easy
Accommodation: MACq 01

With or without an aurora the views from Mt Wellington are stunning!

There are some interesting features at the summit that can add a lot of interest to your photos of the Southern Lights – the visitor shelter, the boulders scattered across the mountain top, and the huge telecommunications tower.

Unfortunately light pollution can sometimes prevent you from seeing an aurora on Mt Wellington, and it’s going to be a lot colder than down in Hobart.

To get the best features of the mountain in your photo you will need to try and position yourself on the northern side of the summit – the viewing platforms are a good place to start.

The road is narrow but it’s still an easy, winding drive to the summit. Snow can cause road closures, so check the alerts (here) before you leave.

Overall: Good
Region: Hobart
Driving time: 30mins
Access: Easy
Accommodation: Galleria Salamanca

Howden is a beautiful and quiet part of Tasmania, and yet it is still very close to Hobart.

The area around the boat ramp is good for seeing the Aurora Australis because it has unrestricted southerly views, and the rocky water’s edge looks nice as well. Being a little bit further from Hobart the light pollution isn’t so bad either.

To get there, take the Southern Outlet to Kingston and then the road to Kettering, turning off at Howden and following the short unsealed road to the boat ramp.

If you like the sound of this one then you may want to consider Tinderbox Beach as well. I’ve got more on this below.

Overall: Good
Region: Hobart (greater)
Driving time: 30mins
Access: Easy
Accommodation: Villa Howden

I’ve got a soft spot for Cremorne Beach, because it’s one of the first places I took my brand new SLR camera to start learning how to use it properly

At the bottom end of the beach is a large sandy tidal inlet that faces south. It’s a really quiet spot and you won’t have to compete with too much light pollution from Hobart.

Please be careful accessing this beach. Pipe Clay Esplanade may seem logical, but it has a sharp drop into the water on the right hand side with no barriers, and there is no parking either.

Instead, park on Frederick Henry Parade near the public toilets (here) and then walk along the beach to the south.

Overall: Good
Region: South
Driving time: 30min (Hobart) | 2hr 40min (Launceston)
Access: Easy
Accommodation: Foreshore Motel and Tavern

This was the place where I experienced my very first southern lights!

I didn’t realise at the time that it wasn’t quite facing south as much as I would have liked – which is why you can see the aurora hiding behind the rocks in the photo above – but the rugged cliffs and rocks next to the beach make for a really interesting photo.

Clifton Beach is where to see the Aurora Australis or Southern Lights in Tasmania

There’s plenty of parking next to the surf club, and for a different perspective you could walk to the eastern end of the beach where you would get a slightly better view to the south.

Watch out for the surf and the tides, as it can get rough.

Overall: Good
Region: South
Driving time: 30min (Hobart) | 2hr 40mins (Launceston)
Access: Easy
Accommodation: Foreshore Motel and Tavern

Goat Bluff Lookout is probably one of the most popular places for seeing the Southern Lights in Tasmania.

Southern Lights in Tasmania - Calvert's Beach and Goat Bluff — Calvert’s Beach and Goat Bluff | Photo: Luke Tscharke

This tall headland provides fantastic views across Betsey Island to the south, and if you’re clever you can make use of the foreground to make a really cool photo.

Light pollution is also very low, although you may find squid boats appearing at random times on the water with their extremely bright lights. They won’t ruin the aurora, but they can get in the way of a good photo.

One thing you must know about this site is that it is dangerous in the dark. There are cliffs on three sides of the headland and you don’t want to fall because it’s a long way down!

Take a torch, don’t go walking into the bush, and don’t ever walk around while looking at your camera screen.

Overall: Excellent
Region: South
Driving time: 30min (Hobart) | 2hr 40min (Launceston)
Access: Easy
Accommodation: Foreshore Motel and Tavern

Calvert’s Beach doesn’t get as much love as Goat Bluff Lookout, but you get exactly the same views, just from ground level and not high up on a cliff.

You could set up your camera straight away at the southern end of the beach, but Goat Bluff will partially cover the aurora here. For better views of the Southern Lights I recommend walking along the water’s edge to the northern end of the beach where you’ll find some nice rock formations and ledges that will make for a great photo.

Access to Calvert’s Beach is on sealed roads all the way, except for the last 200m that takes you down to the beach carpark. The turnoff is here.

Overall: Good
Region: South
Driving time: 30min (Hobart) | 2hr 40min (Launceston)
Access: Average
Accommodation: Foreshore Motel and Tavern

Another very popular place to see the Southern Lights in Tasmania is the Primrose Sands and Dodges Ferry area. It seems every time there is an aurora that some of the best pics come from here!

Most people visiting Primrose Sands will go to the beach and have a stroll with the camera. Access is easy from Petrel Street.

But if you feel like taking your aurora photography to the next level I recommend driving a little further along the coast on Primrose Sands Road to the Gypsy Bay Boat Ramp.

The combination of curved stone breakwater and timber jetty looks fantastic with the aurora dancing in the background!

Overall: Excellent
Region: South
Driving time: 45min (Hobart) | 2h 40mins (Launceston)
Access: Easy
Accommodation: Water’s Edge Primrose Sands

Just a little bit further down the road from Howden is Tinderbox and the Tinderbox Marine Reserve.

What I like about this site is that it looks out across the waters of North West Bay with a lot less land in the foreground. This means you can see a bit more of the bottom of the aurora!

As with the Howden Boat Ramp, drive to Kingston and then take the road to Kettering, before turning off at Howden and following Tinderbox Road all the way to the beach at the tip of the peninsula.

Overall: Good
Region: South
Driving time: 30mins (Hobart) | 2hr 40mins (Launceston)
Access: Easy
Accommodation: Waterview Gardens B&B

By the time you get to Kettering Hobart will be fading fast in your rear-view mirror – and that’s a good thing when it comes to light pollution!

The Trial Bay Boat Ramp is on the other side of the headland to the Bruny Island Ferry terminal, just 200m off the Channel Highway from this turnoff.

It’s a quiet spot, and the trees along the water’s edge can be used to nice effect in your photos of the Southern Lights. Personally I prefer some of the other sites listed here, but it’s still worth a visit if you’re in the area.

Overall: Average
Region: South
Driving time: 35min (Hobart) | 3hrs (Launceston)
Access: Easy
Accommodation: Waterview Gardens B&B

I’ve called this one ‘Cygnet’, but it’s a lot broader than that because there are many places you can pull up and take a photo.

The best way to find a good location is to arrive in Cygnet before sunset and then slowly cruise along the Channel Highway to the south. The road winds its way along the coastline and there are plenty of options to park the car and scout for a nice photo spot.

Places you may want to focus on include Gardners Bay, Purcells Bay, Tranquil Point, and Deep Bay Boat Ramp.

Overall: Good
Region: Far south
Driving time: 1hr (Hobart) | 3hr 15mins (Launceston)
Access: Easy
Accommodation: Cygnet Old Bank

Have you ever wondered what’s at the edge of the world…?

Everyone says the best place to see the Aurora Australis is to go as far south as possible.

Well, Cockle Creek is waaaay south. In fact it is as far south as it is possible to drive on Australian soil.

But that’s not enough. You’ll get some nice photos from the bridge at Cockle Creek, looking south across the creek. But for the best images of all you’ll need to hike in to South Cape Bay.

Southern Lights in Tasmania - South Cape Bay — South Cape Bay | Photo: Matty Eaton

The hike is easy and takes around 2-2.5hrs one-way, but remember that unless you camp the night you’ll be walking back out in the dark. If that’s your plan then make sure you bring a head lamp.

The beach at South Cape Bay is wild and windswept, but I recommend pushing on up the beach just a little further to the western end. That’s where you will get a box seat view of Lion Rock, perched on the horizon and framed by the Southern Lights.

It takes time, sweat and effort – and staying safe is a big factor – but I think this is one of the best views in Tasmania!

Overall: Excellent
Region: Far south
Driving time: 2hrs (Hobart) + 2hr hike | 4hr 30mins (Launceston) + 2hr hike
Access: Difficult
Accommodation: Ashdowns of Dover B&B

There is nothing at all between Bruny Island and Antarctica, so you know you’re in for a wonderful light show at Cape Bruny Lighthouse!

Access isn’t as easy as for other sites on the Tassie mainland, but that just means you’re more likely to have the place to yourself. The ferry runs regularly during the day, but doesn’t run during the night, so you’ll probably need to arrange for accommodation on the island.

Getting to the lighthouse is easy – just head south and follow the signs – but the last section is unsealed, so if you’re in a rental car please check your T&Cs to ensure you’re covered.

Overall: Excellent
Region: Bruny Island
Driving time: 3hrs (Hobart) | 5hrs (Launceston)
Access: OK
Accommodation: Bruny Island Escapes and Hotel

Other than South Cape Bay (see above), a trip to Cloudy Bay on Bruny Island is probably one of the most logistically difficult in Tasmania – but the payoff can be huge!

Not only do you need to travel nearly an hour from Hobart to Kettering, you then need to catch a ferry across to Bruny Island and drive almost as far as is physically possible – including unsealed roads – before you get to this isolated location.

I haven’t seen a lot of photos of the Southern Lights from Cloudy Bay, but I suspect that is because so few people make the effort to get there.

On paper it should be perfect. It’s a long way south, it faces the right direction, and there is zero light pollution.

Give it a try and let us know how you go!

Overall: Good
Region: Bruny Island
Driving time: 3.5hrs (Hobart) | 5.5hrs (Launceston)
Access: Difficult
Accommodation: Bruny Island Escapes and Hotel

When you think of Freycinet National Park the first things probably come to mind are Wineglass Bay, Mt Amos, and maybe Hazards Beach.

Cape Tourville Lighthouse isn’t as well known as some of these icons, but when it comes to aurora hunting it is easily one of the most beautiful sites in Tasmania – and nearby Coles Bay also has an easy-access foreshore from which you can see the aurora.

Southern Lights in Tasmania - Freycinet and The Hazards — Freycinet and The Hazards | Photo: Luke O’Brien Photography

The view from both locations is stunning, with the Hazards forming a beautiful silhouette on the horizon, emerging from the dark waters.

Overall: Excellent
Region: East Coast
Driving time: 3hrs (Hobart) | 2hr 30mins (Launceston)
Access: Average
Accommodation: Freycinet Lodge

The Bay of Fires is another part of Tasmania that many consider a natural paradise.

The red rocks and white sand are stunning during the day, but how good is it for seeing the Southern Lights at night?

Unfortunately, not so good.

The Gardens is one of the better places in the region to get a southerly view that is at least partially over water. However the Bay of Fires is a long way north and it seems that even with a lack of light pollution seeing a good aurora is rare.

Overall: Poor
Region: East Coast
Driving time: 3hr 30min (Hobart) | 2hr 30min (Launceston)
Access: Easy
Accommodation: Beaumaris Beach Guest House

Cradle Mountain is the jewel in Tasmania’s crown.

Even better, if the conditions are right it can be one of the most spectacular places to see the Aurora Australis in Tasmania!

Southern Lights in Tasmania - Cradle Mountain — Cradle Mountain | Photo: Luke O’Brien Photography

The only slight downer is that Cradle Mountain is a lot further north than Hobart, and this means the Southern Lights need to be pretty strong for you to see them above the iconic silhouette of the mountain and Dove Lake.

But as you can see from the photo above, it does happen!

Access to Dove Lake is easy most of the year. The only time you may have difficulty is if there have been heavy snowfalls, as they may close the road to Dove Lake from Cradle Mountain Village.

New rules were recently introduced at Cradle Mountain to manage congestion, limiting access in private vehicles during the day. For more information see the official Parks and Wildlife page.

Overall: Excellent
Region: Cradle Coast
Driving time: 4hrs (Hobart) | 2hrs 30mins (Launceston)
Access: Easy (non-winter) | Average (winter)
Stay: Discovery Parks Cradle Mountain Village – SAVE 10% with my LAPOFTAS code

The Tessellated Pavement is my favourite place in Tasmania for seeing the Southern Lights. Just look at that photo

The geology of this site is bizarre and if you didn’t know better you could easily think it was man-made. The straight lines and sharp corners are so weird, but just add water and it turns into a reflective pool that stuns the senses!

The reason I’ve marked this site as being ‘Average’ for access is because you need to walk down a short dirt trail to get to the beach from the Lufra hotel. It’s not difficult, but care will be needed in the dark.

The other thing you will you need to watch is the tides. Because it is so close to the waterline the whole pavement gets covered at high tide making walking and photography both difficult and dangerous.

I recommend visiting the Tessellated Pavement any time the tides are at 0.7m or lower (check tides here).

Overall: Excellent
Region: South
Driving time: 1hr 10min (Hobart) | 3hr (Launceston)
Access: Average
Accommodation: Lufra Hotel and Apartments

Strahan is a lovely little harbour-side village on Tasmania’s west coast.

The still waters of Macquarie Harbour make for some incredible reflections at sunrise, but you might also be wondering if it’s a good place to see the Aurora Australis.

Aurora Australis from Strahan - Lap of Tasmania road trip — Aurora Australis from Strahan | Photo: Dietmar Kahles

While it does happen, my research has found that good light shows in Strahan aren’t common. It’s a fair way north and unless the Aurora is strong, and the skies are clear (a rarity on the West Coast) you’re probably not going to see much.

Overall: Poor
Region: West Coast
Driving time: 4hr 30mins (Hobart) | 3hr 45mins (Launceston)
Access: Easy
Accommodation: Wheelhouse Apartments

Final thoughts on seeing the Southern Lights in Tasmania…

As you can probably tell, seeing the aurora here in Tasmania is no guarantee – but with all these tips and hints you have everything you need to make it happen if the stars align!

If you are still in the planning stages of your Tassie holiday then you will love these other resources that are available on the Lap of Tasmania website.

Plan your itinerary – I’ve got plenty of FREE itineraries for short and long holidays, with some covering the entire island and others just focus on one region.
Choose your wheels – There are plenty of ways to get around Tasmania, and whether you choose to go by car, campervan, motorhome or motorcycle, you are guaranteed an amazing experience!
Decide where to stay – From coast to coast, my accommodation guides have got you covered.

If you are a first-time visitor to Tasmania, or maybe you haven’t planned a road trip before, then you will find my eBooks to be incredibly helpful!

They will save you sooooo much time by pulling all the best information together into one, convenient place that you can access before you leave, and while you’re on the road:

How to Plan Your Tasmania Road Trip – This one is a good ‘all rounder’ with a slight lean towards visitors planning on driving around Tasmania in a rental car, or those wanting to use my free itinerary templates and budget planner.
A Local’s Guide to Camping & Caravanning Tasmania – This eBook is exactly what you need if you are planning on bringing your caravan to Tasmania, or you are planning on renting a campervan or motorhome on arrival.
Hobart Day Trip Planner – A super handy eBook full of pre-planned itineraries, and all the info you could possibly need to create your own custom itinerary. Ideal if you plan on spending a day or two in Hobart.

I hope you’ve found this information helpful, and best wishes with all your holiday planning.

Happy road tripping!

Andrew.

There are literally dozens of articles and guides here on the website to help plan your Tassie road trip – but it can take a long time to find the ones that are most relevant to you and your style of travel.

My eBooks pull everything together into one place, saving you hours of browsing and getting you on the road with my practical (and local!) tips and advice.

Tasmania’s remote location means there are internet ‘black spots’ across the island.

A paper map is the perfect backup, and I love the range from HEMA and Lonely Planet.

My HEMA maps are sourced through the wonderful team at Adventure Awaits, and they are providing Lappers with a generous 10% OFF when you use the links below, or the LAPOFTAS code on checkout!

Complete Guide to the Southern Lights in Tasmania | Aurora Australis