Hobart
Australian travellers wanting Southern Lights combined with Tasmania's extraordinary wilderness and culture
Hobart, Tasmania's capital, is Australia's southernmost city and an increasingly recognised Southern Lights destination. At 42.9°S, it sits at a latitude equivalent to northern Spain or the southern US, but on the geomagnetically favourable side of the planet. The Aurora Australis is visible from southern Tasmania during periods of high solar activity — typically 3-5 times per year — most reliably from June to August. The city is far more than just an aurora gateway: MONA (Museum of Old and New Art) is one of the world's most provocative art museums; the Tasmanian whisky scene has become internationally acclaimed; and the surrounding wilderness — Cradle Mountain, Southwest National Park — is extraordinary. Hobart is also the primary Australian departure point for Antarctic research vessels.