Northern lights in Westport tonight
West Coast, South Island, New Zealand · 51° magnetic latitude · Kp 5–6 threshold
Kp 1 is well below the Kp 5–6 threshold needed for aurora to be visible from Westport.
7-day outlook for Westport
Based on CME arrival predictions from NASA DONKI. Arrival times ±6 hours.
auroratonight.space
What Kp is needed here?
Westport sits at a magnetic latitude of approximately 51°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 5–6 before the auroral oval expands far enough north to be visible from here.
At Kp 5–6, visibility is possible from Westport 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 Westport
Light pollution is the biggest obstacle after cloud cover. These sites give you the best dark southern horizon within reach.
Cape Foulwind, Westport
Get directions ↗A rugged headland at the western end of the Westport coast, with a lighthouse and a fur seal colony on the rocks below. The cape faces northwest and southwest over the Tasman Sea. At night the cape is dark and exposed, with Westport's modest light dome to the east and open ocean in all other directions. Bortle Class 2-3 conditions from the headland. Aurora australis appears to the south and south-southwest from Cape Foulwind - not directly south due to the cape's western orientation, but the large south-facing sector of open Tasman Sea makes Kp 5-6 events detectable. The lighthouse area car park is accessible at night. The walkway down to the seal colony is rough in darkness - stay on the main track.
Punakaiki, Paparoa National Park
Get directions ↗The Pancake Rocks and Blowholes at Punakaiki sit on a southwest-facing headland inside Paparoa National Park. The rock platforms face southwest over the Tasman Sea. At night the national park is dark and the ocean horizon to the west and south-southwest is fully open. Bortle Class 2 conditions from the rock platforms. At Kp 5-6, aurora australis appears to the south and south-southwest above the sea. The Paparoa region is one of the most visually striking coastal positions on the West Coast - the Pancake Rocks and aurora overhead is a combination only available to those who make the overnight trip. The coast is dangerous in storms and rough weather - check conditions before walking to the rock platforms at night.
Charming Creek Walkway trailhead, Ngakawau
Get directions ↗The Ngakawau River mouth and Charming Creek Walkway trailhead north of Westport give a west-facing coastal and valley position. The beach at the river mouth faces northwest and south-southwest over the Tasman Sea. No settlement within 15 km to the north or south. Bortle Class 2-3 conditions. The Buller Gorge inland from Westport gives similar sky quality in a sheltered valley position. At Kp 5-6, aurora australis appears to the south-southwest from the coast positions. The Charming Creek area is less frequently visited than Cape Foulwind and gives slightly darker conditions.
Best time to see the aurora australis in Westport
At 51°S magnetic latitude, Westport 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 Westport?
Average nights per month the Kp reached Westport'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 Westport
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 New Zealand
New Zealand aurora hub with current Kp status.
Read →Aurora Australis Nelson
Nelson - Nelson Lakes NP, Kp 6, NZ's sunniest city.
Read →Aurora Australis Kaikōura
Kaikōura - Marlborough coast, Kp 5.
Read →Aurora Australis Christchurch
Christchurch - Lake Tekapo Dark Sky Reserve nearby, Kp 5.
Read →What Is the Kp Index?
How Kp 5-6 produces aurora australis at 51°S magnetic.
Read →Planning your aurora trip
In-depth guides to help you plan a trip to see the northern lights.
Travel GuideNew ZealandNew Zealand Aurora Australis Guide Best Locations
Lake Tekapo, Fiordland, Stewart Island, and Wanaka - where to see aurora australis in New Zealand and what Kp you need.
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.
