Te Waipounamu / South Island

Southern Lights, Explained: What They Are and Where to See Them

"I learned that the farther south you go on New Zealand’s South Island, the better your chances of seeing the southern lights; ideal spots have unobstructed views to the south because the aurora will appear low on the horizon, and popular bases like Dunedin and Queenstown can work if you get well away from city lights." - Stefanie Waldek Stefanie Waldek Stefanie Waldek is a space, travel, and design journalist with expertise in aviation, meteorology, and polar regions. She was a former editor at Architectural Digest, TripAdvisor, and ArtNews. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines