26 Jul 2023
When you gaze skyward to behold the mesmerising dance of the aurora borealis performed against a vast, inky sky, something inside you changes forever. In an experience that is both awe-inspiring and humbling, Canada's subarctic region of Churchill, Manitoba, offers the perfect vantage point, due to its ideal position directly under the aurora oval.
This celestial spectacle can be viewed 300 days per year in Churchill, and while prime viewing takes place in February and March, the aurora is often visible as early as late August, when the warmer temperatures, clear skies, and early nightfall lends itself to these heart-stopping light displays.
Read on for seven ways to view the northern lights in Churchill.
1. Nights Under Lights
Embark on a Nights Under Lights adventure in a boreal forest directly under the aurora oval with Nanuk Operations. Snuggle up in a luxurious dome-ceiling yurt with a hot drink, and step outside with your camera when the incredible lightshow begins. Meet your Kiwi guide, Caleb, who arrived in Churchill 14 years ago and never left. He will take you on an unforgettable nighttime snowshoeing trek through the trees by flashlight to view the aurora.
2. Northern Lights and Winter Nights
Join a Northern Lights and Winter Nights adventure with Frontiers North Adventures, where you can take in this night-sky phenomenon from the comfort of a Tundra Buggy amid a wintry Narnia-style landscape. Visit Dan's Diner, a pop-up dining hall hidden in the wilderness where guests enjoy a multi-course, world-class meal inspired by the land. Enjoy Indigenous cultural presentations and head outdoors to enjoy a nightcap at a glittering ice bar under the brilliant northern lights.
3. Igloos and glass domes
Visit the Churchill Northern Studies Centre, where you can learn how to build your own igloo – and sleep in it! Take advantage of the 360-degree glass aurora dome and observation deck that offer ideal vantage points to marvel at the glowing ribbons of light as they cascade across the pitch-black sky.
4. Aurora Pod and Aurora Dome
Embark on an extraordinary journey with Natural Habitat Adventures for access to the cosy Aurora Pod®, specially designed for 360-degree views of the sky via innovative glass construction and cushioned seats. Retreat to the Aurora Domes, where you can unwind in the lounge or ascend to one of two Plexiglass-topped viewing domes to see the lights.
5. Dog-sledding and aurora adventures
You'll hear Wapusk Adventures long before you see it thanks to the dozens of sled dogs who make their home at this idyllic sanctuary tucked away in the woodland near Churchill. Visit with these spirited canines, marvel at the lights and retreat from the cold inside a fire-warmed tipi.
6. For independent travellers
Discover Churchill offers small group and one-on-one photography tours, led by expert guide, Alex DiVries. A multi-night, guided tour with Discover Churchill takes you deep into the boreal forest to a tipi, for incredible opportunities to capture the northern lights. Alternatively, Beyond Boreal Expeditions is a female-owned, Indigenous tour company that takes guests around Churchill on night-only excursions to photograph the lights from owner Tiffany Spence's favourite locations.
7. Southern Manitoba
For travellers staying in and around Winnipeg in southern manitoba, Riding Mountain National Park is known for its regular aurora activity in the depths of winter. Book a stay at a hotel in Wasagaming, Elkhorn Resort or a winterized Parks Canada oTENTik and watch the night sky light up. Alternatively, try your luck near Winnipeg at Birds Hill Provincial Park where the aurora is visible when the condition is right. We recommending downloading an aurora forecasting app for the best chance of witnessing this special natural phenomenon.
GETTING THERE
Air Canada offers daily direct flights to Vancouver from Sydney and direct flights between Brisbane and Vancouver four times per week. Direct flights from Sydney to Vancouver are also available on Qantas. Daily connecting flights are available from Vancouver to Winnipeg, in addition to the VIA Rail train service.
