Aurora australis Sydney tonight

The Royal National Park south of Sydney faces the Tasman Sea with undeveloped coastline. Garie Beach and Era campsite give south-facing ocean access at only 60 km from the CBD via the Princes Highway and Sir Bertram Stevens Drive. The cliffs and beaches face south-southeast across the Tasman. The park interior is Bortle 3-4 but the coastal clifftop positions reduce the northern light dome considerably. At 34.2°S geographic (~43°S magnetic), this is the best accessible position south of Sydney for coast-facing aurora photography. Drive to Garie Beach, park at the road end, and face south along the coast.

The Blue Mountains plateau at 1000 m gives Bortle 3 sky above the valley haze that often hangs over the Sydney Basin. The elevated plateau faces south across the Kanangra-Boyd wilderness. Mount York near Mount Victoria and the Bell area give the darkest accessible positions. At 33.5°S geographic the latitude is lower than the coast, but the altitude reduces effective horizon depth. The ridge above Hartley Vale faces south across the Great Dividing Range. About 110 km from Sydney via the Great Western Highway. Practical for overnight stays when a G4-G5 storm is forecast.

The Southern Highlands at 800 m sit south of Sydney with Bortle 3 sky and south-facing ridge positions above the escarpment. Fitzroy Falls in Morton National Park faces south across the Shoalhaven River gorge country. The plateau road along the escarpment gives positions facing south with minimal light domes. At 34.6°S geographic (~45°S magnetic), this is marginally farther south than the Royal National Park coast. About 130 km from Sydney via the Hume Highway and Moss Vale. A practical overnight destination during major storm events.