By month
Northern lights in July
July is the deepest point of summer in the northern hemisphere and the most difficult month for aurora observation anywhere above the equator. The midnight sun covers everywhere above 65°N without interruption. Below that - across Scotland, southern Scandinavia, the Baltic states, northern Germany, and much of Canada - persistent astronomical twilight keeps skies bright throughout the short night. No geomagnetic activity, however extreme, can overcome the absence of darkness.
All northern hemisphere aurora locations are outside their season in July. The auroral oval still exists above the Arctic and activity continues in space - but the sky is too bright to register it visually from the ground at any northern latitude. Cameras set to long exposures sometimes capture faint colour in the twilight near the horizon, but this is not a reliable viewing experience.
July is, however, deep into the best part of the southern hemisphere aurora season. All tiers of southern location - Ushuaia and Punta Arenas in Patagonia, Stewart Island and Queenstown in New Zealand, Hobart and Cradle Mountain in Tasmania, and mid-latitude sites across South Africa and Victoria - are in good condition. Nights are at their longest across the southern winter. Aurora australis is regularly visible from clear, dark sites on any night with elevated Kp. The June through August window is the southern equivalent of October through February in the north.
Planning your trip in July
Weather
Deep winter in all southern aurora destinations. Ushuaia sees temperatures around -2°C to 5°C with strong westerly winds off the Beagle Channel. Queenstown is cold and can be snowy at altitude. July is one of the wetter months in Tasmania. Cradle Mountain regularly has frost and snow. Warmth and waterproofing matter more in July than at other times of year.
Darkness
No aurora darkness in the northern hemisphere. In the southern hemisphere, July sits at peak darkness. Ushuaia has around 15 hours of darkness per night. Stewart Island and Queenstown have 14 hours. Hobart has 13 hours. These are among the longest aurora-watching windows available anywhere on Earth.
Best regions
- Ushuaia and Tierra del Fuego — July is one of the most productive aurora australis months from Patagonia. Cold, often clear nights and long darkness make it reliable. Dedicated tour operators run night excursions. The Beagle Channel gives a clear southern view.
- Stewart Island, New Zealand — The southernmost inhabited point in New Zealand, under dark skies with minimal light pollution. Aurora australis is regularly visible without storm conditions from this location in July.
- Queenstown and surrounds — Ski season is in full operation, and the mountain infrastructure provides elevated dark sites. Arrowtown, the Crown Range, and Glenorchy offer darker skies than the town itself. Easy access from a major airport.
- South African Karoo — Sutherland and surrounding Karoo sites at mid-southern latitudes see aurora during strong Kp events. Dark, dry skies with some of the lowest light pollution on Earth. Less reliable than higher-latitude sites but accessible from Cape Town.
Crowds & cost
July is peak tourist season in Queenstown due to skiing, and prices are high. Ushuaia is quieter in July than its summer cruise months and more affordable. Hobart and Tasmania attract visitors but are not overwhelmed. Southern hemisphere aurora tourism is less commercialised than the Norwegian equivalent - dedicated tours are available but the scene is smaller.
Practical tip
Aurora australis is viewed on the southern horizon from all mid and high-latitude southern sites. Find elevated ground with an unobstructed view to the south and no artificial light to the south. The display often appears as a green arc along the horizon, expanding upward during strong events.
Current Kp level
Locations sorted by tonight's cloud cover within each group - clearest conditions first. Updated every 30 minutes.
No northern hemisphere locations this month
In July, persistent twilight or midnight sun prevents aurora observation at all northern latitudes. No storm level is strong enough to produce a visible display without astronomical darkness. The southern hemisphere locations below are your best option this month.
Southern hemisphere
Aurora australis locations visible in July. 23 in good condition.
Fiordland
Milford Sound, Doubtful Sound, Te Anau
58° magnetic lat
Lake Tekapo
Aoraki Mackenzie Dark Sky Reserve
56° magnetic lat
Stewart Island
Rakiura, NZ's southernmost inhabited island
59° magnetic lat
Ushuaia
World's southernmost city, Beagle Channel
55° magnetic lat
Dunedin
Otago Peninsula south coast
56° magnetic lat
Queenstown
Remarkables range, dark sky south of town
56° magnetic lat
Wānaka
Lone willow tree, Lake Wānaka
56° magnetic lat
Christchurch
Lake Tekapo Dark Sky Reserve nearby
55° magnetic lat
Cradle Mountain
Dove Lake, Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area
54° magnetic lat
El Calafate
Perito Moreno Glacier, Lake Argentino
50° magnetic lat
Hobart
Tasmania, Australia's lowest aurora threshold
54° magnetic lat
Launceston
Northern Tasmania, Ben Lomond alpine dark sky
52° magnetic lat
Tasmania
Australia's best aurora state - Hobart, Cradle Mountain, Launceston
54° magnetic lat
Falls Creek
Victorian Alps, Bogong High Plains at 1 600 m
50° magnetic lat
Kangaroo Island
Remarkable Rocks, south coast dark sky
42° magnetic lat
Mount Gambier
South Australia, Canunda NP south coast
51° magnetic lat
South Australia
Coorong, Limestone Coast, Fleurieu Peninsula south coast
49° magnetic lat
Victoria
Wilsons Promontory, Great Ocean Road, Victorian Alps
50° magnetic lat
Western Australia
Albany, Esperance, Fitzgerald River NP south coast
47° magnetic lat
Cape Town
Cape Point, southernmost accessible tip
42° magnetic lat
Melbourne
Point Nepean and Wilson's Promontory
48° magnetic lat
New South Wales
Eden south coast, Sapphire Coast, Kosciuszko
45° magnetic lat
Sutherland
Karoo, SAAO site, darkest skies in SA
43° magnetic lat
No locations match your search.
Common questions
Northern lights viewing in July.
