Southern Lights Are A Thing! Here's Your Guide To Witnessing The Aurora Australis

This is really as far south as you can go to witness the Southern Lights. South Georgia is laden with ice, nearly the entire year. There are no permanent residents for obvious reasons, but during the summer months the population goes up to 2000. It is accessible in March and there are a number of cruises, such as the Polar Crusies that will take you to the island. Though, you should be prepared to encounter very basic elements of civilisation on the island.

Situated on the southern tip of New Zealand, this is a relatively more practical option. With an extremely sparse population, its easy to find a spot with zero light interference, to view the Aurora Australis in all its glory. The island also houses the Rakiura National Park, where mostly all the accommodation options are found. Rakiura, in Maori translates to 'the land of the glowing skies'.

About 400 miles off the coast of Argentina in South America, this group of islands is home to a mere 2500 people, though it's also populated by elephant seals and penguins. These islands are so perfect for viewing the lights that a permanent monitoring system of the Aurora Australis was installed here in 2010.

Ushuaia is the world’s southernmost city to capture the Southern Lights. It is also one of the easiest destinations to get to on this list as it has its own airport. Because it is so further south, the city is frequented with cloud covers and bad weather in general, making it a little difficult to view the lights. So keep a few days in hand, when you plan a trip to this spot. Also, head out of the city to someplace remote, to avoid any light pollution. While you are here, make sure to hit up the End of The World museum.

While not the most feasible of options, Antarctica is the best place to see the Southern Lights. The lights put on their most incredible show here and during winters, a colourful sky is commonplace. But temperature drops to as low as -50 degrees Fahrenheit, and the conditions are in general dangerous. For the adventurers out there, companies like Hurtigruten offer trips in March. There are other ways to access the Antarctic during winters, but they are costly and also, risky.