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Where to stand
Stand on the lake shore by the village, near the footbridge over the river outlet and the Church of the Good Shepherd, away from lamps. Look south and south-west over the low plain of the Mackenzie Basin. On camera the aurora often looks red or pink, even when the eye sees only a grey glow.
View towards the pole
The low plain of the Mackenzie Basin to the south, Mt John to the north-west
Sky darkness (Bortle scale): 3
Rules and safety
The Church of the Good Shepherd grounds are private and the gates close at dusk; do not enter after closing or climb the fence. Use a red light and do not point headlights at other observers. Night access to Mt John is only possible on a guided tour.
About the spot
Takapō, or Lake Tekapo, is a village on a glacial lake in the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve, created in 2012. Lighting here has been limited by rules since 1981, so the sky is very dark. The geomagnetic latitude is about 47.5° S, so the southern lights appear here only in strong storms, low in the southern sky.
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