Aurora australis Te Anau tonight

The southern foreshore of Lake Te Anau faces south-southwest across the lake toward the Murchison and Stuart Mountains. At night, Te Anau township is small enough that the southern and western sky is largely unaffected by light pollution. Drive or walk south of the township to the boat ramp area or the lakeshore reserve. The lake surface provides a clear, open foreground with no obstructions to the south. Bortle Class 2 conditions from the southern foreshore - the mountains to the west and northwest create a dark silhouette rather than a glow. At Kp 3, aurora australis appears above the southern mountains reflected in the lake.

Lake Manapouri is the deepest lake in New Zealand and lies inside Fiordland National Park. The lake edge at Manapouri village (22 km south of Te Anau) gives Bortle Class 1-2 conditions with open southern sky across the lake toward the Cathedral Mountains. No significant settlement exists south of Manapouri, and the national park wilderness extends in all directions except east. The lake surface faces southwest toward the Wilmot Pass and Doubtful Sound. Aurora australis at Kp 3 appears above the southern and southwestern mountain skyline. Drive south from Te Anau on SH95, then east at Manapouri township to the lakefront.

The Eglinton Valley on the Milford Road gives one of the most accessible Bortle Class 1-2 dark sky positions in New Zealand on a sealed road. The flat valley floor between mountain ranges provides a wide southern horizon and excellent sky darkness. Mirror Lakes (60 km from Te Anau) reflect the sky when calm. The valley is sheltered enough to be clear when the coasts are clouded. Pull off at any of the river flats or the Mirror Lakes car park. Aurora australis appears to the south down the valley at Kp 3. This is the same dark sky corridor as Milford Sound but 60-70 km closer to Te Anau.