Mid-July. The days were short, frosty and there was no decent foot on that night. I was pretty keen on an early one, snugged with a book under the duvet when a mate Kyle texted about a possible aurora australis sighting. He nerds out on space weather forecasts, which had been talking of a strong solar storm. And reports from the south coast suggested the lights might be visible as far north as Perth.
Now, I used to live in Canada—Whistler, BC, to be precise. That was pre-children, pre-wife, pre-responsibility, and when a group of other Aussies made a plan to set their clocks super early and hike up the local hill to see the Northern Lights, I said I was 100% in. However, being the rubber-armed single bloke in his mid-twenties also accepted a night on the town with my roommate. I never heard the alarm clock go off. I never saw the aurora borealis.
The same would not occur this time.
Can you see the aurora australis in Perth?
Yes, but it’s rare. Also known as the Southern Lights, the aurora australis is usually visible in places much closer to the South Pole. Perth sits at a latitude of around 32 degrees south, which means we’re pretty far from the action. But during strong geomagnetic storms, the aurora can reach higher latitudes, making it possible—though still unpredictable—to see it from Western Australia.
The key is to find a dark sky away from light pollution. The Perth Hills, thanks to its elevation and clear horizons, is one of the best spots to try if you’re nearby Perth. Other solid locations include the beaches far, far south of the city (from Margaret River onwards), where you can get an uninterrupted view of the southern horizon.
A cold night in the Perth Hills
Armed with my DSLR, a tripod and several layers of clothing, I watched my car headlights pierce through mist as I drove up to Mundaring to meet Kyle. My wife and I had been contemplating moving up there—I’m also a frequenter to the Perth Hills trails—so I considered it an R&D trip… hopefully with the biggest reward sitting in the sky.
The air was crisp, and the stars were sharp against the black sky. I set up my camera, adjusted the exposure, and waited.
For an hour, nothing. Just the hum of crickets and the occasional rustle of wind in the trees. Then, faint at first, a soft green glow appeared on the horizon. It wasn’t the vivid curtains of colour you see in pics from Tasmania (or that I would’ve seen in British Columbia), but it was real. The longer I watched, the stronger it became, shifting and flickering like ghostly waves in the sky.
Aurora australis vs aurora borealis
If you’ve heard of the aurora borealis—the northern lights—you might be wondering why it’s called the aurora australis down here.
It’s simple: borealis refers to the north, while australis means “of the south”. Both are caused by charged particles from the sun interacting with the Earth’s magnetic field, but the southern lights are less well-known simply because fewer people live in the places where they are visible.
When and where can you see the aurora australis in Perth?
Your best chance is during the winter months (May to August), when the nights are longer and the skies tend to be clearer. Geomagnetic storms are unpredictable, but solar activity cycles mean that auroras become more frequent during periods of high solar activity.
Look south, as low on the horizon as possible, and get away from the artificial city lights. The Perth Hills, Serpentine Dam and beaches as far down as Albany and Esperance can offer great vantage points.
Checking the aurora forecast
If you want to try your luck, check space weather forecasts before heading out. Websites like the Bureau of Meteorology’s Space Weather Services (SWS) or apps like Aurora Forecast can give you real-time updates on geomagnetic activity. A Kp index of 6 or higher increases your chances of seeing something from Perth.
There’s also a great Facebook page called Aurora Australis Western Australia, with a tonne of information and frequent updates about upcoming Southern Light sightings in Perth.
Watching the aurora australis from Perth is a rare experience, but not impossible. You need patience, a bit of luck and a dark, open sky.
One of the best things of that night, as I stood in the cold watching the sky shift and glow, wasn’t just about the aurora itself. It was about the chase, the anticipation, the exploration. Not to mention the magic of witnessing something extraordinary in a place where few would expect to see it. Okay, and it was about making up for that night I’d spent drinking cocktails and caesars instead of seeing the Northern Lights. This time, adventure called and I answered.
If you ever get the chance in WA, pack a camera, grab a warm drink and head out. You might just get lucky.
