Nature’s double light show stuns aurora chasers on Surf Coast

Aurora chasers who travelled to the Great Ocean Road have been treated to an unexpected natural spectacle as glowing blue bioluminescent waves complemented the southern lights they were hunting, creating a rare double light show.

A group of aurora australis chasers has been treated to two neon displays in the ocean below and the skies above after travelling to the Great Ocean Road in search of the elusive phenomenon.

Forecasts of a solar storm sent Arun Chandran, founder of the Facebook group aurora australis, and his friends to the Surf Coast in hot pursuit of the light show Tuesday.

Mr Chandran said thick cloud cover meant the aurora was only visible intermittently near Lorne.

“When the waves were crashing into the shore, the entire stretch of water would get illuminated … so we didn’t really mind not having the aurora, because if had we had aurora, we would not been able to see the bioluminescence,” he said.

Bioluminescent waves light up the shore at Teddy's Lookout, Lorne. Picture: Arun Chandran

The magical blue ocean glow, or bioluminescence, comes from microscopic dinoflagellates. These plankton emit light when disturbed by water movement.

Rare along Victorian shores, this phenomenon typically appears during warmer months and usually doesn’t stay long.

Braving the cold temperatures to see the aurora australis over Bells Beach Picture: Arun Chandran

Mr Chandran started aurora chasing three years ago, his hobby leading him to writing a book on the subject.

“It’s a very addictive … this whole beautiful storm is created in the sun so many million kilometres away,” he said.

“It is making that vast journey, and then a lot of things need to align for you to see it.”

Mr Chandran says the Geelong region is one of his favourites to see the aurora.

Since starting a community of aurora chasers online, he has been thanked numerous times by people who say they no longer need to travel to Finland to see the Northern lights.

Aurora australis over Breamlea, June 1. Picture: Arun Chandran

The current solar flare will last until June 9, if it’s cloud-free locals will be able to see the sky light up at night.

And it might be good to check out while you can, because of the sun’s 11 year cycle, the aurora australis will appear less frequently in years to come.

Originally published as Nature’s double light show stuns aurora chasers on Surf Coast