Southern lights in Hobart

Tonight’s aurora forecast for Hobart, where to watch, and when the sky is usually clear.

The night of Monday 2 November, Hobart time (GMT+11)

Stay in tonight

Cloud cover is likely to hide the view tonight.

  • CloudCloudyAverage cloud cover 85% after dark
  • AuroraWeak activityKp 2.3 forecast at its highest
  • DarknessDark from 9:00 PMUntil 5:00 AM
  • MoonRises around 3:00 AM43% lit · brighter after

High confidence · Forecast data up to date · What this means

Forecast details
  • Cloud forecast updated 2:31 AM
  • Aurora forecast issued 11:30 PM on Monday
  • Recalculated by Little Aurora 3:45 AM
  • This page made 3:48 AM

Hobart time. The sources’ times say how fresh the forecast is; the page’s own time doesn’t. What these mean

Where to watch near Hobart

Calverts Beach

Coast

Tonight: stay in

South Arm Peninsula beach with a good south-facing view, away from city light.

Getting there
34 min drive
Darkness
Very dark: far from town lights

Directions in Maps · Public sources, not yet visited

Clifton Beach

Coast

Tonight: stay in

Beach near the South Arm Peninsula with a good south-facing view, popular with stargazers.

Getting there
38 min drive
Darkness
Very dark: far from town lights

Directions in Maps · Public sources, not yet visited

Goat Bluff

Coast

Tonight: stay in

Headland lookout on the South Arm Peninsula with wide southern views, away from Hobart's lights.

Getting there
34 min drive
Darkness
Very dark: far from town lights
Parking
Campervans can park at the Goat Bluff lookout car park.
Safety
The ground around the bluff is rugged: wear sturdy footwear, bring a torch and arrive before full dark.

Directions in Maps · Public sources, not yet visited

Howrah Beach

Coast

Tonight: stay in

Eastern-shore suburban beach recommended for its south-facing view.

Getting there
13 min drive
Darkness
Some glow: town glow on the horizon

Directions in Maps · Public sources, not yet visited

kunanyi / Mount Wellington

Hill

Tonight: stay in

1,271 m summit above Hobart; its open plateau sits above much of the city's light with views south to the sea.

Getting there
30 min drive
Darkness
Dark: little light nearby
In winter
Pinnacle Road closes to cars in snow and ice, sometimes ahead of forecast weather, and can reopen in stages; check the council's road status page.
Good to know
When the road is closed, walkers may pass the gate on foot; watch for snow-clearing work.
Safety
The summit is exposed to strong winds and is often colder and cloudier than the coast. Ice can linger in shaded parts of Pinnacle Road after snow has melted.

Directions in Maps · Public sources, not yet visited

Mount Nelson Signal Station

Hill

Tonight: stay in

Hilltop lookout ten minutes from town with wide views over the Derwent; a little closer to city light.

Getting there
10 min drive
Darkness
Some glow: town glow on the horizon
Parking
Motorhomes can park just before the lookout; no overnight stays.

Directions in Maps · Public sources, not yet visited

Seven Mile Beach

Coast

Tonight: stay in

Long beach near Hobart Airport, sheltered from city light, with an unobstructed view of the southern sky.

Getting there
20 min drive
Darkness
Dark: little light nearby
Parking
Plenty of space to park, according to a motorhome guide.

Directions in Maps · Public sources, not yet visited

Times are typical, from the centre of Hobart by road or path rather than in a straight line, and winter conditions can make them longer. Walking times don’t mean a route is lit or safe on foot in winter; check each spot’s notes.

Clear dark nights by month

  • 40% Jan
  • 43% Feb
  • 43% Mar
  • 46% Apr
  • 44% May
  • 43% Jun
  • 43% Jul
  • 47% Aug
  • 47% Sep
  • 42% Oct
  • 36% Nov
  • 36% Dec

The share of nights with at least two dark hours under 30% cloud cover, averaged by month over 1996–2025. It describes cloud, not aurora: a clear night still needs activity. A dash means no record for that month, usually because it doesn’t get dark. About this record

Questions

When is the best time to see the southern lights in Hobart?

In the dark months. Over 1996–2025, a clear spell after dark was likeliest in August and September, on about 47% of nights. That record is about cloud only: on any one night, the cloud and the activity forecast matter more than the season, so check on the day.

Where can you see the southern lights near Hobart?

This page lists 7 viewing spots near Hobart; the darkest is Calverts Beach (34 min drive). Each has how to get there, parking, winter access and safety notes. Little Aurora picks the best one each night from cloud and darkness.

Aurora data from NOAA and GFZ. Cloud forecasts from MET Norway (CC BY 4.0). Places and travel times from OpenStreetMap contributors. Usual cloud from Copernicus ERA5 and weather-station records from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet, SMHI and the Icelandic Met Office. Forecasts are never guaranteed; conditions can change quickly. How the forecast works