Activities
Stargazing, aurora and the night sky at Tower Hill
Clear night skies far from light pollution. The Milky Way, the Magellanic Clouds and, if you're lucky, the occasional aurora.
Book a dark-sky night on the farm.
High on Tower Hill, at around 600 m, our camp areas sit under a dark southern sky. Bring a blanket, get comfy, let your eyes adjust and enjoy everything the Tasmanian night has to show you.
What you can do
- See the Milky Way. On a clear, moonless night the Milky Way stretches right across the sky. Its bright central core in Scorpius and Sagittarius passes almost overhead in the evenings through the cooler months.
- Find two other galaxies with no telescope. The Large and Small Magellanic Clouds are companion galaxies to our own. From Tasmania they never set, so on any clear, dark night you can look south and spot them, weather and moon permitting as two soft, misty patches.
- Learn the southern sky. The Southern Cross, the Pointers, Alpha and Beta Centauri, and the bright stars Canopus and Achernar are easy starting points. Alpha Centauri is the nearest star system to our Sun.
- Watch for the aurora australis. Tasmania is one of the best places in Australia to catch the southern lights. Sightings are never guaranteed, but on a strong night an open view to the south gives you a chance. At this latitude the aurora often looks like a pale grey or faint green glow to the eye, and a phone or camera on a long exposure usually picks up much more colour.
- Try night photography. Pop your camera on a tripod with a wide lens and a long exposure, and you'll capture far more than your eyes can.
Best seasons and times
- Milky Way core: best from about May to August, when it rides high through the evening on long, dark nights. From February to April it rises before dawn. Around December and January the core is mostly lost in the Sun's glare.
- Magellanic Clouds: visible on any clear, dark night. They sit highest in the evening from late spring through autumn and lower over winter.
- Aurora australis: the cooler months, roughly May to September, offer longer, darker nights, though displays can happen at any time of year. The Bureau of Meteorology suggests the best viewing is usually around 10 pm to 2 am.
- Moon phase matters most. Plan around the new moon. A bright moon washes out the Milky Way, the Magellanic Clouds and faint aurora alike. A thin crescent, or a moon that has already set, is ideal.
- Check before you look. Clear skies are essential. The Bureau of Meteorology's Space Weather Forecasting Centre issues free aurora outlooks, watches and alerts you can subscribe to.
What to bring
- Warm layers, a beanie, gloves and a warm sleeping bag. Nights at this elevation are cold, even in summer.
- A torch with a red light setting. Red light protects your night vision and your neighbours' too.
- A camp chair or ground mat and a blanket.
- Binoculars, if you have them. They are excellent for the Milky Way and the Magellanic Clouds.
- A tripod and camera, or a phone with a night mode, for photos.
- A star chart or sky app set to night mode.
- Snacks and a thermos of something hot.
Safety
- Stay in the camping area shown to you at induction. Don't wander off tracks in the dark: the ground is uneven and rocky in places.
- Keep a torch with you and let your group know where you are.
- Watch for wildlife on the tracks at night and drive slowly at dusk and after dark.
- Phone coverage is patchy, so plan how your group will stay in contact.
- Follow all Tasmania Fire Service fire restrictions and Total Fire Ban days.
Pairs with camping
Stargazing is at its best when there's no drive home afterwards. Camp with us and you can simply step out of your tent into the dark.
Aurora and astrophotography nights at Tower Hill
Set up your tripod, settle in and photograph the Milky Way, the Magellanic Clouds and, on a lucky night, the aurora australis.
Dusk at Tower Hill. Moonrise over the ranges before the sky goes dark.
What you can do
- Chase the aurora australis. Tasmania is one of the best places in Australia to see it. An aurora is possible but never guaranteed. At this latitude it often looks grey or faint green to the eye, while a camera on a long exposure picks up far more colour.
- Photograph the Milky Way core, which rides high through the evening from about May to August.
- Capture the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds, companion galaxies that never set from Tasmania.
Best seasons and times
- Aurora: the cooler months, roughly May to September, bring longer, darker nights, though displays can happen at any time of year.
- Plan around the new moon. Moonlight washes out faint aurora and the Milky Way.
- Subscribe to alerts. The Bureau of Meteorology's Space Weather Forecasting Centre issues free aurora outlooks, watches and alerts.
- Clear skies are essential, and the weather can change quickly.
What to bring
- Camera with manual settings, a wide, fast lens and a sturdy tripod.
- A remote shutter or timer, spare batteries and memory cards.
- A red-light torch, warm layers, gloves, a beanie and a thermos.
Safety
- Don't wander off tracks in the dark.
- Use red light only, to protect everyone's night vision.
- Stay on tracks and in areas shown to you at induction. Some areas may be closed on any given day.
- Phone coverage is patchy. Tell someone in your group your plan and expected return time.
- Weather on Tower Hill can change quickly. Carry a warm, waterproof layer.
Pairs with camping
Night photography is so much easier when your tent is just a few steps away.
Safety and getting here
Getting here: come in via Fingal and Mullens Rd. Please don't use the south end of Tower Hill Rd. Full arrival details are sent with your booking.
Book your stay to make a night of it. Good to know before you stay.
Activities may be restricted on days when hunting guests are on the farm. We'll let you know at induction.