Witnessed the Stunning Aurora Australis in New Zealand: A Life-Changing Experience

Share in the good fortune and let’s all bask in my incredible luck. During my 2020 trip to Iceland, I spent five or six days chasing the elusive aurora without success. But on the very last day before my departure, the night sky was set ablaze with a magical display of the Northern Lights. Fast forward to my 2024 adventure in New Zealand, where I had tempered my expectations for seeing the aurora.

Yet, on the final night, I was treated to an unexpected and breathtaking encounter with the Southern Lights.

⚠️ Aurora Chasing Guide:
1️⃣ Use “aurora” to check the KP index; generally, when KP reaches 5 or above, your chances of witnessing this natural wonder are significantly higher.
2️⃣ Choose a location with minimal cloud cover, at a high altitude, and with little light pollution (the darker the sky, the more vivid the aurora will appear).

3️⃣ The aurora can be unpredictable, so patience is key. Check the aurora distribution map; if the index is high and the weather is clear, you’re in for a spectacular show.
4️⃣ It’s highly recommended to bring a camera for photography (a tripod is essential), or even a phone can capture the magic. An exposure time of about 10 seconds and an ISO of 2500-3200 can produce stunning results.

5️⃣ Choose suitable aurora viewing spots. Here are some of the best locations in New Zealand for aurora chasing:
📍 Lake Tekapo (Church of the Good Shepherd)
📍 Otago Peninsula
📍 Dunedin (Brighton Beach/Nugget Point)
📍 Stewart Island
📍 Invercargill
📍 Bluff (Awarua Bay/Stirling Point)
📍 Mount Cook (Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park)
📍 Christchurch (Birdlings Flat)
📍 Te Anau (Lake Manapouri)
📍 Queenstown (12 miles/Moke Lake)

Today, I came across a humorous comment:
Top line: A great aurora burst in New Zealand, Bottom line: The hearts of Chinese workers are greatly broken.

Fortunately, I took a couple of extra days off, and it paid off beautifully. Life is truly wonderful.