Northern lights in Falls Creek tonight
Victorian Alps, Australia · 50° magnetic latitude · Kp 6–7 threshold
Kp 1 is well below the Kp 6–7 threshold needed for aurora to be visible from Falls Creek.
7-day outlook for Falls Creek
Based on CME arrival predictions from NASA DONKI. Arrival times ±6 hours.
auroratonight.space
What Kp is needed here?
Falls Creek sits at a magnetic latitude of approximately 50°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 6–7 before the auroral oval expands far enough north to be visible from here.
At Kp 6–7, visibility is possible from Falls Creek 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 Falls Creek
Light pollution is the biggest obstacle after cloud cover. These sites give you the best dark southern horizon within reach.
Falls Creek resort area (1600 m)
Get directions ↗The ski resort village sits at 1600 m on the Bogong High Plains. In summer it is accessible by the Falls Creek Road from Mount Beauty. The open snowfields face south with wide unobstructed sky. At 1600 m elevation, atmospheric haze is significantly reduced compared to valley positions. The resort lights go off late - after midnight the village is dark enough for aurora photography. A 3.5-hour drive from Melbourne via the Hume Freeway and Mount Beauty.
Bogong High Plains (beyond resort)
Get directions ↗The road continues past Falls Creek resort onto the open Bogong High Plains - a subalpine plateau extending for 20 km. The high plains give a panoramic 360-degree sky at 1700-1800 m. No settlements for many kilometres in any direction on the plain. In summer the road is open to ordinary vehicles. In winter and spring, chains are required and sections may be closed. Aurora australis photographers from Victoria make the drive to the high plains for elevated, dark conditions during G2-G3 events.
Lake Dartmouth (Kiewa Valley base)
Get directions ↗Lake Dartmouth on the Kiewa Valley Highway below the falls gives a lower-elevation alternative when the alpine road is closed. The lake surface faces south and the surrounding mountains block north light pollution from Mount Beauty. About 20 km north of Mount Beauty on the Kiewa Valley Highway. Not as dark or elevated as the high plains, but accessible year-round and a practical position during G3+ events.
Best time to see the aurora australis in Falls Creek
At 50°S magnetic latitude, Falls Creek 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
Up to 8 locations
How often does the aurora appear in Falls Creek?
Average nights per month the Kp reached Falls Creek's threshold of 6+, from 15 years of geomagnetic data (2010–2024).
Counts the Kp 6+ threshold only - cloud cover and local darkness are not included.
Kp data: GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, CC BY 4.0
Plan your trip to Falls Creek
Best window
The January to March window averages 1 aurora nights - the strongest consecutive stretch of the year.
How long to stay
Aurora at this latitude requires patience - allow as many nights as possible during March.
Aurora activity peaks at the March and September equinoxes in both hemispheres. This is driven by the angle of Earth's magnetic field relative to the solar wind, not by local seasons. Winter months at this latitude offer longer dark nights for observing, but March and September average the highest number of aurora nights in the historical data.
Related pages
Aurora Australis Australia
Australia aurora hub - all locations with current Kp status.
Read →Aurora Australis Melbourne
Melbourne - Point Nepean and Wilson's Promontory, Kp 7.
Read →Aurora Australis Hobart
Hobart - Australia's lowest aurora threshold, Kp 5.
Read →What Is the Kp Index?
How Kp 6-7 translates to aurora visibility at 50°S.
Read →Northern Lights Viewing Tips
Dark site selection and camera settings - same principles for aurora australis.
Read →Aurora photographs from Falls Creek
Real photos sourced from Wikimedia Commons.
Aurora over Falls Creek 
Aurora over Falls Creek 
Aurora over Falls Creek 
Aurora over Falls Creek 
Aurora over Falls Creek 
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