Northern lights in Tasmania tonight
Tasmania, Australia · 54° magnetic latitude · Kp 5 threshold
Kp 6 is at the threshold for Tasmania. Aurora may be visible from a dark site if cloud cover permits.
7-day outlook for Tasmania
Based on CME arrival predictions from NASA DONKI. Arrival times ±6 hours.
auroratonight.space
What Kp is needed here?
Tasmania 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 Tasmania 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 Tasmania
Light pollution is the biggest obstacle after cloud cover. These sites give you the best dark southern horizon within reach.
Cockle Creek (South West National Park)
Get directions ↗The southernmost point reachable by road in Australia. The road ends at Cockle Creek in the South West National Park, where the beach faces south across Recherche Bay toward Antarctica. No artificial light for many kilometres in any direction. On a clear night this is one of the darkest road-accessible positions in the country, and aurora australis is photographed here regularly during G1-G2 events.
South Arm Peninsula
Get directions ↗A narrow peninsula 30 km south-east of Hobart facing south across Frederick Henry Bay and Storm Bay toward the open Southern Ocean. The tip at Calverts Hill and the east-shore beaches give south-facing positions with minimal light pollution. The most accessible dark sky position from the city and frequently used by Hobart aurora photographers.
Bruny Island south coast
Get directions ↗The southern end of Bruny Island gives some of the darkest skies within reach of Hobart. The south-facing beaches around Adventure Bay look out over a wide stretch of open Southern Ocean. Take the ferry from Kettering, a 15 minute crossing, then drive south. The Labillardiere Peninsula at the island tip faces directly south.
Best time to see the aurora australis in Tasmania
At 54°S magnetic latitude, Tasmania 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.
Up to 8 locations
How often does the aurora appear in Tasmania?
Average nights per month the Kp reached Tasmania's threshold of 5+, from 15 years of geomagnetic data (2010–2024).
Counts the Kp 5+ 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 Tasmania
Best window
The August to October window averages 4 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-wide aurora hub - all locations with current Kp status.
Read →Aurora Australis Hobart Tonight
Hobart - southern Tasmania, Australia's lowest aurora threshold.
Read →Aurora Australis Launceston
Launceston - northern Tasmania, Kp 5-6.
Read →Aurora Australis Cradle Mountain
Cradle Mountain - highland dark sky with Dove Lake foreground.
Read →Aurora Australis
Southern lights guide with live Kp forecast.
Read →Aurora photographs from Tasmania
Real photos sourced from Wikimedia Commons.
Aurora over Tasmania
Aurora over Tasmania
Aurora over Tasmania
Aurora over Tasmania
Aurora over Tasmania
Aurora over TasmaniaPlanning your aurora trip
In-depth guides to help you plan a trip to see the northern lights.
Travel GuideAustraliaAurora Australis in Australia - Where to See It
Tasmania leads for aurora australis in Australia - Cradle Mountain, Hobart, and the south coast. What Kp is needed and when to go.
Travel GuideAll destinationsHow to Plan a Northern Lights Trip
Destination, timing, accommodation, app setup, and how to read a space weather forecast.
PlanningAll destinationsBest Time to See the Northern Lights
Month-by-month breakdown of aurora probability, darkness windows, and weather patterns.
