Northern lights in Stewart Island tonight
Rakiura, New Zealand · 59° magnetic latitude · Kp 3–4 threshold
Kp 1 is well below the Kp 3–4 threshold needed for aurora to be visible from Stewart Island.
7-day outlook for Stewart Island
Based on CME arrival predictions from NASA DONKI. Arrival times ±6 hours.
auroratonight.space
What Kp is needed here?
Stewart Island sits at a magnetic latitude of approximately 59°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 3–4 before the auroral oval expands far enough north to be visible from here.
At Kp 3–4, visibility is possible from Stewart Island 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 Stewart Island
Light pollution is the biggest obstacle after cloud cover. These sites give you the best dark southern horizon within reach.
Mason Bay (west coast)
Get directions ↗A remote west-coast beach accessible by water taxi or a 3-hour walk from Oban. Almost no light pollution in any direction and a completely open southern ocean horizon. The beach faces due south - the ideal direction for aurora australis. One of the darkest and most southerly accessible positions in New Zealand. Camping at Mason Bay hut puts you in position for a full night watch during a Kp 3-4 event.
Ackers Point Lighthouse
Get directions ↗A 40-minute walk east of Oban, the island's main settlement. The lighthouse headland faces southeast and gives partial southern sky. Less remote than Mason Bay but accessible without advance planning. The path is well-maintained and lit sections end before the point. Used by aurora photographers when the weather window is short and the boat to Mason Bay is not running.
Horseshoe Bay and south Oban shoreline
Get directions ↗The bay immediately south of Oban has an open southern horizon across Foveaux Strait toward Southland. Light from the village is minimal. The shoreline east of the wharf gives a south-facing view across the strait. A practical first-night position for visitors arriving by ferry from Bluff before committing to a walk to the west coast.
Best time to see the aurora australis in Stewart Island
Stewart Island's aurora australis season runs from April through August, centred on the southern winter when nights are longest and darkest. The equinox months of March and September bring a boost in geomagnetic activity. Summer months bring too much twilight for aurora to show at this latitude.
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.
October through February brings persistent twilight that washes out the aurora australis. Strong events during these months remain invisible because the sky never gets dark enough.
Other New Zealand aurora forecasts
Up to 8 locations
How often does the aurora appear in Stewart Island?
Average nights per month the Kp reached Stewart Island's threshold of 3+, from 15 years of geomagnetic data (2010–2024).
Counts the Kp 3+ 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 Stewart Island
Best window
The August to October window averages 38 aurora nights - the strongest consecutive stretch of the year.
How long to stay
For your best chance in March, plan at least 3 nights.
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 New Zealand
New Zealand aurora hub - all South Island locations.
Read →Aurora Australis
What aurora australis is and how it differs from the northern lights.
Read →Aurora Australis Queenstown
Queenstown - Remarkables dark sky, Kp 4-5 needed.
Read →What Is the Kp Index?
How Kp 3-4 translates to aurora visibility at 59°S.
Read →Northern Lights Viewing Tips
Dark site selection and camera settings - same principles apply to aurora australis.
Read →Aurora photographs from Stewart Island
Real photos sourced from Wikimedia Commons.
Aurora over Stewart Island 
Aurora over Stewart Island 
Aurora over Stewart Island 
Aurora over Stewart Island 
Aurora over Stewart Island 
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