Aurora australis Tasmania: Best spots to photograph and how to see the Southern Lights

Tasmanians are likely to see more and brighter Auroras in the night sky this year than during the next decade, with local photographers excited for the months ahead. EXPLAINER >>

South Hobart photographer Paul Hoelen captured this stunning shot of the Aurora Australis on the evening of March 19, 2025. Picture: Paul Hoelen Photography

Tasmanians are likely to see more and brighter Auroras in the night sky this year than during the next decade, with local photographers excited for the months ahead.

According to NASA, we’re experiencing a “solar maximum” which is the peak of the Sun’s 11-year solar cycle, where the Sun “can unleash immense explosions of light, energy, and solar radiation — all of which create conditions known as space weather”.

Seven-time Tassie landscape photographer of the year Paul Hoelen has joined forces with three other award-winning local snappers to hold a series of workshops teaching southern lights-chasers how to take that winning shot.

Photographer Paul Hoelen. Picture: Linda Higginson

Hoelen captured Wednesday night’s Aurora show, saying the science of predicting Auroras was “very complex” and factors like cloud cover and moon placement played a big part in how bright or visible one may be.

“Overall this year is a solar maximum so the likelihood is higher than it will be in the future,” Hoelen said.

“In March we’re also in an equinox, meaning the tilt of the earth exacerbates the likelihood of geomagnetic disturbance for them to be more visible and accessible for us.

“But we’ve had at least eight auroras in the last five to six weeks, which is almost unheard of, I can’t remember in the last 25 years we’ve had that happen.”

South Hobart photographer Paul Hoelen captured this stunning shot of the Aurora Australis on the evening of March 19, 2025. Picture: Paul Hoelen Photography

Some of the most popular and easily accessible locations to capture an Aurora includes South Arm, Clifton Beach, Goats Beach, Howden and Tinderbox.

“Bruny Island is personally my favourite,” Hoelen said. “It’s one of the greatest places in the world to photograph Auroras because it has lower light pollution and a lot of vantage points pointing south, so it’s a brilliant place to shoot.”

Michael Slater captured this beautiful photo of the Aurora Australis from Ross, central Tasmania, on March 19, 2025. Picture: Michael Slater

The Aurora Australis captured on the evening of March 19, 2025 from Dove Lake, Cradle Mountain. Picture: CC Chen

The long-time professional photographer was looking forward to sharing his tips and tricks with the public and encouraging anyone with an interest to start shooting.

“People think you need to spend a lot of money to capture professional-looking images but over time you realise it’s more about your perspective and eye rather than having the best camera,” he said.

The Aurora Exhibition and workshops by Paul Hoelen, Luke Tscharke, Andrew Phipps and Benjamin Alldridge will be held August 8-17 at the Social Gallery in Salamanca, coinciding with the Beaker Street Festival.

Originally published as Aurora australis Tasmania: Best spots to photograph and how to see the Southern Lights