Melbourne & Tasmania Aurora Trip

Trip Map

Melbourne CBD

Great Ocean Road

Hobart

Bruny Island

Tasman Peninsula

Aurora Spots

Route Overview

Day 1-4: Arrive Melbourne → Fly to Hobart → Bruny Island → South Arm → Tasman Peninsula

Day 5-8: Fly to Melbourne → Great Ocean Road → Melbourne CBD

Day 9: Departure

Flights

International — Booked (Wing On #6102687688)

Leg	Flight	Date	Route	Time	Status
Outbound	HX035 (HK Airlines)	Jul 17→18	HKG → MEL	22:55 → 10:30+1	Booked
Return	CX104 (Cathay Pacific)	Jul 26	MEL → HKG	14:25 → 21:45	Booked

Passengers: LIAO/ZICHENG + LI/WING FONG · Total: HK$23,732 (fare + tax + insurance)

Domestic — Booked (Jetstar + Virgin Australia)

Leg	Flight	Date	Time	Duration	Ref	Status
MEL → HOB	JQ707 (Jetstar)	Jul 18	14:35 → 15:50	1h 15m	FVI4KB	Booked
LST → MEL	VA1373 (Virgin Australia)	Jul 22	16:45 → 17:50	1h 05m	JGMSIR	Booked

Passengers: Zicheng Liao + Wing Fong Li · Jetstar: AUD$244.57 (Starter Plus, 20kg each) · Virgin Australia: AUD$327.45 (Lite + seat + 1 checked bag each)

💡 Return departs from Launceston (LST), not Hobart — plan the drive HOB→LST (~2.5h) on Jul 22 morning, or relocate to Launceston the night before.

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Click any day to expand/collapse

Day 1 Sat Jul 18

ArrivalAurora Night 1 — BEST

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10:30 Arrive Melbourne Airport (MEL)
11:30 Clear customs, collect luggage
12:30 SkyBus to domestic terminal (~15 min)
14:35 JQ707 MEL → HOB (1h 15m)
15:50 Arrive Hobart, pick up rental car
16:00 Check in hotel, freshen up
16:30 Explore Salamanca Place
17:30 Early dinner at Franklin or Mawson's Lakeside

Aurora Hunt #1 — Mount Wellington — BEST NIGHT

After dinner: Drive up Mt Wellington. Moon 17.5%, sets 21:37. Dark sky from 22:00! Best aurora night of the trip.

⚠️Mt Wellington road can be icy. Check conditions before night drive. Bring warm clothes — summit temps -5°C.

Day 2 Sun Jul 19

Bruny IslandAurora Night 2 — EXCELLENT

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07:30 Drive to Kettering
08:15 Bruny Island Ferry (20 min)
09:00 The Neck Lookout (350 steps)
10:30 Get Shucked Oysters — fresh oysters!
11:30 Bruny Island Cheese Company
12:30 Lunch at Driftwood Cafe
14:00 Adventure Bay — wildlife
15:30 Cape Bruny Lighthouse
17:00 Check into Bruny Island accommodation (STAY OVERNIGHT)
18:00 Dinner on the island

Aurora Hunt #2 — Cape Bruny — EXCELLENT

Moon 26.5%, sets ~22:30. Dark from 23:00. Zero light pollution, 270° ocean horizon. Step outside your accommodation to view!

⚠️MUST stay overnight on Bruny — do NOT take the evening ferry back.

Day 3 Mon Jul 20

Bruny → South ArmAurora Night 3

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08:00 Breakfast on Bruny
09:00 Morning walk / Get Shucked if missed yesterday
10:30 Ferry back to Kettering
11:00 Drive to South Arm Peninsula
11:30 Opossum Bay, Clifton Beach
12:30 Lunch in South Arm
14:00 Explore coastal walks
16:00 Return to Hobart (BEFORE sunset at 17:00!)
17:30 Rest at hotel
18:30 Dinner at Templo or Monogram

Aurora Hunt #3 — South Arm

Drive back to South Arm after dinner (20 min from CBD). Moon 36.2%, sets 22:46. Dark from 23:00. Safe — only 20-30 min drive on main roads.

Day 4 Tue Jul 21

Tasman PeninsulaAurora Night 4

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07:30 Drive to Tasman Peninsula
09:00 Tessellated Pavement
09:45 Devils Kitchen + Tasman's Arch
10:30 Eaglehawk Neck
11:30 Port Arthur Historic Site (allow 2 hrs)
13:30 Lunch at Port Arthur
15:00 Cape Raoul Lookout — cliff-top views
16:00 Drive back to Hobart (arrive before dark!)
18:30 Farewell dinner at Stillwater

Aurora Hunt #4 — Mount Wellington or South Arm

Moon 46.2%, sets 23:54. Dark from 00:30. Late but possible if you're willing to stay up.

⚠️Do NOT go to Fortescue Bay — 14km unsealed dirt road, 99% of rental car insurance doesn't cover it.

Day 5 Wed Jul 22

Drive to LauncestonFly to Melbourne

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08:00 Breakfast, check out from Hobart hotel
09:00 Drive HOB → LST via Midland Hwy (~2.5h)
10:00 Optional stop: Richmond village (30 min detour)
11:30 Arrive Launceston, explore Cataract Gorge
12:30 Lunch in Launceston
14:00 Return rental car at LST Airport
16:45 VA1373 LST → MEL (1h 05m)
17:50 Arrive Melbourne Tullamarine T3
18:30 Pick up Melbourne rental car, check in hotel
19:30 Dinner at Chin Chin or Supernormal

Day 6 Thu Jul 23

Great Ocean Road

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06:30 Depart Melbourne (EARLY — maximize winter daylight!)
08:30 Torquay — Bells Beach lookout
09:30 Aireys Inlet — Split Point Lighthouse
10:30 Lorne — coffee stop, Erskine Falls
12:00 Lunch in Apollo Bay
13:30 Great Otway National Park — rainforest walks
15:30 Twelve Apostles — arrive with 1.5h before sunset for golden hour light!
16:30 Loch Ard Gorge + London Arch
17:15 Sunset at Twelve Apostles area
18:00 Stay in Port Campbell

Day 7 Fri Jul 24

GOR Return

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08:00 Breakfast in Port Campbell
08:30 Drive back via inland route
10:30 Optional: Angelsea — wild kangaroos on golf course
12:30 Return to Melbourne
13:00 Lunch at Lygon Street (Little Italy)
14:30 Royal Botanic Gardens
15:30 Brighton Beach Boxes — colorful bathing boxes (2h before sunset, full daylight!)
17:00 Free time / shopping in CBD
18:30 Dinner in Chinatown

Day 8 Sat Jul 25

Melbourne CBD

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09:00 Queen Victoria Market (Saturday! open mornings)
11:00 Federation Square + laneways + street art
12:30 Lunch at Hardware Lane
14:00 Southbank Promenade / NGV
15:30 Shrine of Remembrance or Melbourne Museum
17:00 Sunset from Eureka Skydeck (optional)
18:30 Farewell dinner at Hardware Societe or Tiny's Bar
20:00 Pack, early sleep

Day 9 Sun Jul 26

Departure

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09:00 Breakfast, check out
10:00 Drive to airport, return rental car
11:25 Arrive at MEL for check-in
14:25 CX104 departs MEL → HKG
21:45 Arrive HKG

Aurora Hunting Plan

Why July 2026?

July is deep winter in southern Australia — the longest, darkest nights. Solar Cycle 25 is still active. Tasmania at ~43°S is one of the best accessible locations for aurora australis.

The trip is structured Tasmania-first to capture the best aurora window. Days 1-4 in Tasmania coincide with a waxing crescent moon that sets early evening, creating 6-8 hours of dark sky each night. 4 dedicated aurora nights (Jul 18-21), with the best conditions early in the window.

Moon Phase & Dark Sky Windows

Date	Location	Moon Phase	Illumination	Moonset (AEST)	Dark Window	Aurora Quality
Jul 18	Mt Wellington	Waxing Crescent	17.5%	21:37	22:00+	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ BEST
Jul 19	Bruny Island	Waxing Crescent	26.5%	~22:30	23:00+	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ EXCELLENT
Jul 20	South Arm	Waxing Crescent	36.2%	22:46	23:00+	⭐⭐⭐⭐ GOOD
Jul 21	Hobart area	First Quarter	46.2%	23:54	00:30+	⭐⭐⭐ MARGINAL

🌌Moon data verified with Skyfield astronomical ephemeris. Key insight: waxing crescent moon sets early evening, creating 6-8 hours of dark sky. The Tasmania-first routing captures the best aurora window.

Top Aurora Spots — Tasmania

1. Cape Bruny Lighthouse

Southernmost tip of Bruny Island. Zero light pollution, 270° ocean horizon. Used Day 2 — stay overnight on the island.

5/5

2. Mount Wellington / kunanyi

1,271m above Hobart. Elevated, dark, panoramic southern views. Used Day 1 & 4.

4/5

3. South Arm Peninsula

30 min from Hobart. Multiple dark spots along the shore. Used Day 3 — safe short drive on main roads.

4/5

4. Cape Otway (GOR backup)

Great Ocean Road backup. Only viable if Kp ≥ 5 on GOR days (Jul 23-24).

3/5

Forecast Apps

Aurora Australis Forecast

Australian-focused. Real-time Kp, Bz, solar wind. Push notifications. Must-have.

NOAA SWPC

Official US space weather. OVATION model shows predicted aurora oval.

Windy.com

Cloud cover forecasts critical — aurora is useless under clouds.

FB: Aurora Australis Tasmania

Facebook group with real-time reports from local chasers.

Photography Settings

Shutter

15–30s

Aperture

f/2.0

ISO

2000–5000

Budget Breakdown

Item	Est. Cost (HKD)	Notes
International Flights	$23,732	Paid — Wing On
Domestic Flights (MEL→HOB + LST→MEL)	$572.02	JQ707 $244.57 + VA1373 $327.45 (2 pax)
Melbourne Hotel (3 nights)	$2,800–4,200	~AUD$150-230/night
Hobart Hotel (4 nights)	$2,800–4,200	~AUD$150-230/night
Car Rental Melbourne (3 days)	$1,200–1,800	~AUD$60-90/day
Car Rental Tasmania (4 days, one-way)	$1,400–2,100	HOB pick up → LST drop off; one-way fee may apply
Fuel	$600–900	Great Ocean Rd + Tasmania
Food (9 days × 2 people)	$4,500–6,500	~AUD$50-70/person/day
Activities & Entry Fees	$800–1,500	Port Arthur, MONA, ferries
Bruny Island Ferry	$150–200	Return for car + 2 passengers
Travel Insurance	$400–600	Included in flight booking?
Remaining (excl. intl flights)	$16,150–24,800
TOTAL (all-in)	$39,882–48,532	Within HK$50k budget

✅All domestic flights fully paid. Total: AUD$572.02 for 2 passengers both legs.

Accommodation

Melbourne (3 nights: Jul 18-21)

Option	Location	Price/Night (AUD)	Why
QT Melbourne	CBD, Russell St	$220-260	Boutique, stylish
Vibe Hotel	CBD, Franklin St	$180-230	Modern, good value
Ibis Melbourne Central	CBD	$160-200	Budget-friendly
Adina Apartment Hotel	Flinders St	$180-230	Kitchen = save on food

💡Recommend Adina Apartment Hotel — kitchen saves significantly on food costs.

Hobart (4 nights: Jul 21-25)

Option	Location	Price/Night (AUD)	Why
Hotel Grand Chancellor	Davey St, CBD	$190-250	Largest, Derwent views
Vu Hotel	Salamanca	$180-230	Boutique, near market
Adina Apartment Hotel	Hobart CBD	$190-240	Kitchen, modern
Travelodge Hobart	CBD	$150-190	Budget option

⚠️Check if Dark MOFO festival overlaps — can double accommodation prices.

Pre-Trip Checklist

1/15 completed

International flights booked (Wing On #6102687688)
Domestic flights booked — JQ707 MEL→HOB Jul 18 + VA1373 LST→MEL Jul 22
Book Melbourne accommodation (2 nights, Jul 22-24)
Book Hobart accommodation (4 nights, Jul 18-22)
Book rental car Melbourne (pick up Jul 22, return Jul 26)
Book Tasmania rental car — HOB pick up Jul 18, LST drop off Jul 22 (one-way)
Apply for Australia ETA (subclass 601) — both passengers
Download aurora forecast apps
Join "Aurora Australis Tasmania" Facebook group
Pack warm gear (thermals, down jacket, beanie, gloves)
Prepare camera gear (tripod, extra batteries, memory cards)
Check travel insurance coverage
Notify bank of Australia travel
Get AUD cash (~$200-300)