Forget About The Northern Lights, Have You Heard About The Southern Lights?
And they're much closer than you think.
Published for AIR ASIA, 26 Jan 2016, 06:24 PM
As your Instagram feed gets peppered with breathtaking shots of the Northern Lights by world travellers, all you can do is marvel at their adventures through your phone screen
It really doesn't help that you can only view them in faraway places (with correspondingly hefty airfares) like Canada and Alaska.
But WAIT. What about the Southern Lights much, much closer to home...in New Zealand and Australia?
Just like their Northern cousin, the Aurora Australis offers a stunning display of ethereal lights in unbelievably gorgeous hues in the sky
If you're interested in the science behind this natural phenomenon: the lights are emitted as a result of collisions between charged particles with nitrogen and oxygen in Earth's upper atmosphere.
Red or green-yellow lights are often the result of collisions with oxygen, with the green-yellow hue being more commonly seen.
Cool blue hues that form part of the aurora, on the other hand, are often the result of nitrogen-based collisions.
If you're up for some Southern Lights stalking, plan your trip somewhere between late March and late September
Incredible displays occur at any time of the year, but to be on the safe side, pick a time between March and September. The winter months are naturally good aurora-watching times, simply because the nights are longer.
The best viewing times are generally between 10pm and 1am, and the brightest displays usually last between 1 to 3 hours.
bom.gov.au
The Southern Lights can be quite elusive, so keep these must-haves in mind to increase your chances of catching them in action:
2. Clear skies - clouds will make it more difficult to spot the lights
3. Limited artificial lights - get as far away from the city as possible
4. Limited moonlight - A full moon isn't the best time to view the auroras
5. Try to get as high as possible; viewing from a hill or mountain helps!
www.backpackerguide.nz
1. Stewart Island, New Zealand
Located near South Island, Stewart Island is one of New Zealand's most remote destinations, and its relative isolation and extreme southern latitude make it an ideal spot for catching some aurora australis in action. This is reflected in the island's Maori name, Rakiura, which translates to "the land of glowing skies."
How to get there:
Stewart Island is an hour's ferry ride away from the southern port city of Bluff. You can also choose to fly there from Invercargill Airport, which takes about 15 - 20 minutes.
2. Lake Tekapo, New Zealand
Being in the Dark Sky Reserve, Lake Tekapo is internationally recognised as having some of the darkest skies in the world. There are a number of high-in-the-mountain locations that are great to catch some magical displays, including the Mt John Observatory.
www.backpackerguide.nz
How to get there:
Scheduled air or rail travel are not available to Lake Tekapo; the only way to get there is by road. Christchurch International Airport is the closest to the location, and is about a 3-hour drive away. A number of bus lines, including InterCity, also serve routes to Lake Tekapo.
3. The Catlins, New Zealand
The coastal area of The Catlins is the southernmost spot on the main land, making it an ideal location for some aurora spotting. The Waipapa Point Lighthouse area is a popular spot for a bit of star gazing.
hubpages.com
How to get there:
The Catlins is accessible from Christchurch International Airport, Queenstown International Airport, Dunedin Airport, and Invercargill Airport. Travellers often prefer flying to Queenstown and taking an incredibly scenic 3-hour ride down to The Catlins.
4. Tasmania, Australia
Given that Earth’s magnetic field is closest to its surface at the North and South poles, Tasmania's close proximity to the South Pole makes it one of the best spots to catch the Southern Lights. The South Arm Peninsula, with its abundance of beaches and wide shallow bays, is a great place to catch gorgeous reflection shots of the lights.
australiantraveller.com
How to get there:
Tasmania is only accessible via air or sea. Flights to Hobart and Launceston in Tasmania are available from Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane. The Spirit of Tasmania sails from Melbourne to Devonport, and allows for cars to be brought onboard as well.
Basically, check out the Southern Lights if you're just DONE moving 'seeing the auroras' on your list from one year to another
Need just one more reason to justify your plane-hopping plan? AirAsia X will commence daily flights to Auckland (via Gold Coast) from March 2016 onwards from Kuala Lumpur!
Not only is it just in time for the winter season, travelling to New Zealand is about to get a whole lot cheaper too! For a limited time from now until 7 February 2016, book flights to Auckland (via Gold Coast) for only RM599. Take that first step to tick the Southern Lights off your travel wish list; get access to the best AirAsia X deals here.