Among New Zealand's main centres, Dunedin has the best views of the southern lights and could develop lucrative ‘‘night sky tourism'', Otago Museum director Dr Ian Griffin believes.
In a recent Twitter message, Dr Griffin, who is also an astronomer, referred to Dunedin as ‘‘NZ's Aurora Capital'', a remark he said was only partly tongue in cheek.
He also tweeted more of his favourite night sky photographs, including his top 10 night sky images taken in and around the city last year.
Dr Griffin, who lives on the Otago Peninsula, said many of his recent photographs had been taken at Hoopers Inlet and Waldronville, including several last month.
''We've got such brilliant locations round Dunedin,'' he said.
The aurora australis, or southern lights, could be seen from Dunedin on more than 40 nights of the year, and the city's ''great drives'' and ''beautiful views'' added to viewing pleasure, he said.
The area above the Mount John Observatory, near Lake Tekapo, as well as Twizel and Aoraki-Mt Cook Village, had gained Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve status, which was proving lucrative for tourism.
Dunedin could further diversify its tourism appeal by developing its own night-sky tourism.
Night sky enthusiasts need take only a short drive from the city centre to find attractive places with ''few people and few lights'' and great dark sky viewing, he said.
The city already had many easily accessible natural history attractions, including the only mainland Royal Albatross breeding colony, as well as yellow-eyed penguins.
There were ''very few places in the world'' where such a fine mix of natural attractions was available, and within easy reach of good city facilities, such as restaurants, he said.
