Aurora australis Cradle Mountain tonight
Cradle Mountain sits at 934 m elevation in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area - 54°S magnetic latitude with Bortle Class 1-2 sky. Kp 5 is the threshold from this position. Dove Lake at the base of Cradle Mountain's distinctive serrated silhouette is Tasmania's finest aurora australis foreground. Face south and look low on the horizon. Peak season: May to August.
Aurora visibility - Cradle Mountain
Unlikely tonight
Kp 1 is well below the Kp 5 threshold needed for aurora to be visible from Cradle Mountain.
Current Kp
1
of 9
7-day outlook for Cradle Mountain
Today
19 May
Tomorrow
20 May
Thu
21 May
Fri
22 May
Sat
23 May
Sun
24 May
Mon
25 May
Based on CME arrival predictions from NASA DONKI. Arrival times ±6 hours.
What Kp is needed here?
Cradle Mountain sits at a magnetic latitude of approximately 54°S. The Kp index - a global measure of geomagnetic activity on a scale from 0 (quiet) to 9 (extreme storm), updated every 3 hours - needs to reach Kp 5 before the auroral oval expands far enough north to be visible from here.
At Kp 5, visibility is possible from Cradle Mountain but skies need to be clear and dark. Cloud cover and light pollution remain the main obstacles even when Kp is high enough.
Best dark sky sites near Cradle Mountain
Light pollution is the biggest obstacle after cloud cover. These sites give you the best dark southern horizon within reach.
Dove Lake boatshed
Get directions ↗The wooden boatshed on the north shore of Dove Lake is the benchmark foreground for Cradle Mountain aurora photography. The lake faces south-southwest across still dark water, with the serrated Cradle Mountain ridge reflected when conditions are calm. No artificial light reaches this position from any direction. Bortle Class 1-2 conditions across the lake. The track from the car park is marked and manageable in darkness with a headtorch. In winter the track may have ice - wear appropriate footwear.
Ronny Creek boardwalk
Get directions ↗The alpine moorland boardwalk at Ronny Creek faces south across a flat button-grass plain with Cradle Mountain behind. The open sky to the south is unobstructed by any ridge. At night the wetland foreground gives reflective pools under a completely dark sky. The boardwalk itself has no lighting. The visitor centre generates minimal glow but it is behind you when facing south. A sheltered alternative to Dove Lake when wind is strong.
Barn Bluff saddle
Get directions ↗A high saddle between Cradle Mountain and Barn Bluff at approximately 1,200 m, accessible via the Overland Track. Requires a full day's hiking from the car park - not suitable for a same-night aurora chase unless camping on the Overland Track. The elevated position gives a wider southern horizon than Dove Lake and complete 360° dark sky wilderness. The Overland Track is well marked. Used primarily by multi-day walkers who have clear nights during their circuit.
Best time to see the aurora australis in Cradle Mountain
At 54°S magnetic latitude, Cradle Mountain sits at the outer edge of regular aurora australis territory. Only the southern winter months, May through July, occasionally bring storms powerful enough to push the oval this far north. Outside this window, there is insufficient darkness for aurora to be visible.
Activity peaks around the March and September equinoxes, when Earth's magnetic field geometry is most favourable for coupling with the solar wind. These windows produce the strongest aurora australis events of the year for observers at this latitude.
Outside May through July, twilight prevents aurora visibility even during significant geomagnetic storms. The season is short, but equinox months on either side of winter can extend it when timing is favourable.
Other Australia aurora forecasts
← Australia overviewRelated pages
Aurora Australis Australia
Australia aurora hub with current Kp status.
Aurora Australis Hobart Tonight
Hobart - 90 minutes south, South Arm and Cockle Creek.
Aurora Australis Launceston Tonight
Launceston - northern Tasmania, Ben Lomond alpine dark sky.
What Is the Kp Index?
How Kp 5 produces aurora australis at 54°S.
Northern Lights Photography
Camera settings for Dove Lake aurora photography.
Common questions
Aurora australis from Cradle Mountain - Dove Lake, Overland Track, and when to go.
