Month-by-month viewing quality
| Month | Viewing | Why |
|---|---|---|
| January | No — midnight sun | Midsummer — no real darkness |
| February | Marginal | Short nights at the season edge |
| March | Good | Plenty of darkness; solid odds |
| April | Good | Plenty of darkness; solid odds |
| May | Peak | Long dark nights + peak activity |
| June | Peak | Long dark nights + peak activity |
| July | Peak | Long dark nights + peak activity |
| August | Good | Plenty of darkness; solid odds |
| September | Good | Plenty of darkness; solid odds |
| October | Marginal | Short nights at the season edge |
| November | No — midnight sun | Midsummer — no real darkness |
| December | No — midnight sun | Midsummer — no real darkness |
Why these months?
Two things decide your odds in Christchurch: darkness and activity. You need real darkness — so the bright summer months are out no matter how strong the aurora is. On top of that, geomagnetic storms run statistically stronger around the spring and autumn equinoxes (the Russell–McPherron effect), which is why June and July and May tend to edge out the dead of winter. Christchurch's season runs southern winter — march to september.
Christchurch is the easiest South Island city to fly into, and the hardest of our New Zealand sites to actually see the aurora from — it is the furthest from the southern oval and the brightest. Realistically this is a severe-storm destination.
Where to stand in Christchurch
Leave the city: Birdlings Flat and the southern side of Banks Peninsula give a dark, open southern horizon over the ocean.
Tours & stays to book
Northern lights tours from Christchurch
Viator · guided tours · from $70
Aurora chases & photo tours in Christchurch
GetYourGuide · guided tours · from $70
Cabins, lodges & glass igloos near Christchurch
Booking.com · lodging
Know when Christchurch is about to light up
Aurora odds swing night to night. Leave your email and we'll tell you when Christchurch hits its best window — time to book a tour for your dates.