This season no, no, northern lights. Southern lights, here we come

You have heard of the Arctic Princess, here’s a little something about the demure Princess of the South – Aurora Australis. Streaking the skies pink, blue, green, yellow-green and red, New Zealand – owing to its dark and unpolluted skies – is one of the best places to catch her. Best time to catch them? Between March & September at midnight. Read up and bucket list all these places to see the Southern Lights in New Zealand.

And then, of course, head over there with us.

Meet the magical Northern Lights

Your perfect Northern Lights itinerary

https://pickyourtrail.com

♦ Stewart Island, South Island ♦

Welcome to the southernmost part of New Zealand – the Stewart island. Closest landmass to Antarctica, the Rakiura National Park – which makes up 80% of Stewart island – lends you the most spectacular views of the Southern Lights.

While watching the Southern lights..

Go Kiwi bird spotting on the secluded Ocean Beach, Little Glory Cove

Sign up for a two hour tour in and around Stewart island

Diving in krabi — Scuba dive at Patersons Islet to see the colourful marine life

Bite into some freshly made local fare at The Perfect Dinner

♦ Lake Tekapo ♦

Did you know the Lake Tekapo region was recognized as dark sky reserve by UNESCO? With its unpolluted skies to provide for hours of uninterrupted star gazing, it is a no-brainer that it is one of the best Southern Lights viewpoints.

While watching the Southern lights..

Head to the Church of Good Shepherd. #veryinstaworthy

At Mt. John Observatory, atop Mt John, watch the Southern Lights.

Inspect the lupin flowers at Lake Tekapo.

Take the Tekapo Trek at Te Kahui Kaupeka Conservation Park.

♦ Aoraki Mt. Cook National Park ♦

Southern Lights at Mt Cook National Park — **Image credit – alphacoders**

At the backpacker haven of Mt. Cook National Park, set camp and watch the Southern Lights take to the skies. The scenic glacial lakes and forest cover will make the experience that much more breathtaking. Our traveller Ajinkya can confirm!

While watching the Southern lights..

Take the Glencoe walk to catch the best sunrises and sunsets.

Paddle on your kayak along the ever-changing Mueller Glacier Lake

♦ The Catlins ♦

On the bottom-most part of South Island lie The Catlins. Known for its iconic “Nuggets” like rock formations, amongst the coastal caves here watch the Southern Lights paint the sky pink, green, yellow and red.

While watching the Southern lights..

Visit New Zealand’s oldest lighthouse at Nugget Point

On Waitapa beach, make one of the Cathedral caves your own.

Visit a Jurassic Era fossilized forest at Curio Bay

Tread quirky and visit the Teapot World.

♦ Mapourika Lake ♦

The Southern Lights. #NZMustDo [?Lake Mapourika, West Coast. ?: @mack_photography_nz]

A post shared by New Zealand (@purenewzealand) on Apr 26, 2017 at 2:30am PDT

A kettle lake that is a remnant of what is today called the Franz Josef glacier, watching the skies light up with Southern Lights is best followed up by a fishing expedition at dawn.