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Southern lights · New Zealand

Southern lights in Stewart Island / Rakiura

The best months to see the southern lights in Stewart Island / Rakiura are Mar to Sept. At 46.9°S, you usually need Kp 5 or more for a good show from a dark spot, and in June the sky is dark enough for about 13 hours a night.

Rakiura means "land of the glowing skies" in Māori, and in January 2019 Stewart Island became a Dark Sky Sanctuary, with 85 per cent of the island protected as national park. It is about as far south as you can stay in New Zealand, but the island's own guidance is frank: aurora is not guaranteed, it generally needs Kp 4 or more to be seen from the settled areas, and cloud often gets in the way.

Tonight
Checking…
Kp for a good show
Kp 5+
Season
Mar to Sept
Clearest months
Mar, Aug, Sep

A notification when NOAA forecasts a storm of Kp 5 or more. Two a day at most.

Kp index now
–
Loading NOAA data…

NOAA OVATION aurora forecast
Your best bets right now

    Live data: NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center OVATION forecast and planetary K-index, refreshed every 10 minutes. Cloud is not included, so check a local forecast before you head out.

    When to go

    Darkness, and the clear nights

    Tourism New Zealand: the best time is March to September, when nights are darkest. Stewart Island Promotion: winter darkness runs roughly 7 pm to 6:30 am.

    There is no official climate normal for Stewart Island itself; at Invercargill, across Foveaux Strait, NIWA's 1981-2010 normals show 11 to 15 wet days a month, with the most in May and June. NIWA notes that lower winter sunshine reflects the low sun rather than extra cloud, so a clear winter night is about as likely as any other.

    Hours dark enough to see the auroraAverage wet days (1 mm or more), Invercargill Aero, NIWA 1981-2010 (nearest official normal)
    Jan6h
    Feb7h
    Mar9h
    Apr11h
    May12h
    Jun13h
    Jul13h
    Aug12h
    Sep10h
    Oct8h
    Nov6h
    Dec5h
    Darkness: hours a night with the sun at least 12° below the horizon, worked out for this latitude in mid-month. Weather: official climate normals, see sources.
    Where to watch

    The best spots around Stewart Island / Rakiura

    1. Observation RockOne of four sites near the township with a viewing platform for night-sky watching.
    2. Ackers Point LighthouseA lighthouse headland that Stewart Island Promotion lists among its viewing-platform sites.
    3. Lee BayThe Lee Bay car park is another of the island's viewing-platform sites, away from the township's lights.
    4. Horseshoe Bay and Butterfield BeachBeaches near the township that Stewart Island Promotion lists as good dark-sky spots; respect the privacy of nearby homes.
    Plan the trip

    Getting there, and where to stay

    Fly to Invercargill (IVC), which Air New Zealand serves nonstop from Auckland and Christchurch, then take Stewart Island Flights' 20-minute hop to Oban, scheduled 365 days a year. Alternatively, drive 30 minutes to Bluff for the one-hour Stewart Island Experience ferry. From Canada, the US and the UK, connect through Auckland.

    • Stewart Island LodgeA six-room bed and breakfast on a sunny hillside five minutes' walk from Oban, with a deck and balcony looking out over the ocean and free ferry and flight transfers.
    Know before you go
    • Adjust expectations: Stewart Island Promotion says aurora activity is not guaranteed and some is forecast during daylight hours.
    • A camera captures far more colour than the eye; use a tripod or a steady hand for phone night modes.
    • Use AuroraSee or SpaceWeatherLive to check conditions (Tourism New Zealand), and look for Kp 4 or more.
    • Keep outdoor lights warm-coloured or shielded, and contribute sky readings to the Globe at Night project with a dark-sky meter app.
    Questions

    Quick answers

    Can you see the southern lights in Stewart Island / Rakiura tonight?

    It depends on the Kp index, darkness and cloud. In Stewart Island / Rakiura you usually need Kp 5 or more. The live map at the top of this page shows NOAA's current aurora forecast and Kp, refreshed every 10 minutes; check a local cloud forecast too.

    Can you see the southern lights on Stewart Island?

    Yes, but not on demand. Stewart Island Promotion says aurora generally needs to reach Kp 4 or more to be seen from populated areas, and cloud often blocks it.

    What does Rakiura mean?

    Tourism New Zealand translates Rakiura as "land of the glowing skies".

    When is the best time to visit Stewart Island for the aurora?

    Winter. Tourism New Zealand recommends March to September, and in midwinter the sky is dark from about 7 pm to 6:30 am.

    Is Stewart Island a Dark Sky Sanctuary?

    Yes. It was accredited by Dark Sky International on 3 January 2019, and sky-quality readings since 2017 have ranged from 21.51 to 21.93.

    How do you get to Stewart Island?

    Fly 20 minutes from Invercargill with Stewart Island Flights, or take the one-hour ferry from Bluff.

    More places for the southern lights:Southern TasmaniaLake TekapoAll places on the live map →
    Sources

    Checked 19 October 2026. Partner links are labelled; we may earn a commission, and it never affects what we recommend.