New Zealand Company Launches Flights To Let People See The Southern Lights

Many of us haven't been able to hop on a flight in months because of the coronavirus.

Well, if you're in New Zealand and have always wanted to see the Southern Lights then you're in luck.

Viva Expeditions has got their hands on a Boeing 787 and will be chartering flights from March 20 next year. The plan is to fly out from Christchurch and travel nearly to the Antarctic circle to give people the best chance at seeing the incredible and dazzling natural phenomenon.

The Southern Lights occur when the sun releases a huge burst of solar wind, also known as a coronal mass ejection, and when it eventually blows over Earth it interacts with our magnetic field, producing the epic green lights you've no doubt seen in photos.

People on New Zealand's South Island and in Australia's Tasmania can sometimes see the lights from the ground, however these flights hope to put you as close to the action as possible.

Viva Expeditions founder Rachel Williams said: "There are a lot of people out there wanting to get on a plane and go somewhere, do something exciting."

The flights have been timed to coincide with Autumnal equinox and the Russell McPherron effect, which allows Southern Lights gazers the best chance at witnessing one of Earth's most beautiful natural occurrences.

PA

The Dreamliner flight will take 10 hours and will include the usual inflight-meals as well as information from a team of astrophysicists.

Dr Ian Griffin will be one of the people who will impart some of his knowledge to flyers and hopes it will be an awesome opportunity for people who want to see the Lights.

"Flying into the Southern auroral zone is a wonderful experience. You never know quite what you are going to see," he said.

Now, to the important bit: price.

It's certainly not going to be a cheap affair, with tickets starting at NZ $1,195 (AU $1,099) for an Economy seat and going all the way up to NZ $6,995 (AU $6,434) for Business. There will be a full refund clause if coronavirus rears its ugly head again in New Zealand.

Topics: News, Interesting

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie is a Trending Journalist at LADbible. His first job was as a newsreader and journalist at the award winning Sydney radio station, Macquarie Radio. He was solely responsible for the content broadcast on multiple stations across Australia when the MH17, Germanwings and AirAsia disasters unfolded. Stewart has covered the conflict in Syria for LADbible, interviewing a doctor on the front line, and has contributed to the hugely successful UOKM8 campaign.

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