Aurora australis Strahan tonight

A 33 km stretch of exposed Southern Ocean beach west of Strahan - one of the most direct southern horizon positions accessible by road in Tasmania. The beach faces west-southwest over open ocean with no land between it and the Roaring Forties. At night the sky is dark to the horizon in every direction. Bortle Class 1-2 conditions. The beach is accessible via the Ocean Beach Road from Strahan. The sand is soft and vehicles should stay on the access track. Powerful surf and dangerous rip currents make this a look-don't-enter beach, but aurora australis above the surf line is visible from the car park and dune crest. At Kp 3-4, a green arc or structured aurora may appear above the western and southwestern horizon.

The harbour behind Strahan faces south across the sheltered water of Macquarie Harbour, Australia's second-largest natural harbour. The harbour entrance - Hells Gates - opens south toward the open ocean. On calm nights the harbour surface gives aurora reflections when the display is strong enough. The boat ramp and foreshore south of town face south-southwest across dark water. Strahan township generates minimal light - most of it faces north and east, leaving the southern horizon relatively unaffected. Bortle Class 1-2 conditions on the harbour's southern shore. A practical viewing position without leaving town.

The wilderness national park east and south of Strahan. The Lyell Highway passes through the northern edge. River gorges, ancient Huon pine forests, and complete absence of artificial light define this area. Bortle Class 1 conditions across most of the park. Accessible viewpoints along the Lyell Highway give south-facing positions above the treeline. Lake Burbury (40 km east on the Lyell Highway) gives open lake-surface sky with wilderness surrounds. This is genuine wilderness - carry emergency supplies and tell someone your plan. No phone reception in the gorges. The Kp 3-4 threshold combined with Bortle Class 1 sky gives some of the best aurora australis conditions achievable from a road-accessible position in mainland/island Australia.