Best nighttime travel experiences around the world

Where are the best places for stargazing in the world?

Imagine settling into a safari-style lodge in the middle of the Serengeti and listening to the sounds of nocturnal animals, while sitting under the bright canopy of stars in the African sky. That's one of the highlights of a Kenya and Tanzania Safari.

Or perhaps you'd prefer watching the stars from a boat in Ha Long Bay in Vietnam and see this UNESCO World Heritage site softly lit with the golden lights of other boats, as part of the South East Asia Loop.

For a truly magical experience, New Zealand’s Aoraki Mackenzie Dark Sky Reserve is a phenomenal destination for night sky tours. The Dark Sky Project offers a blend of Māori and modern astronomy under some of Earth’s clearest skies.

You can also explore your own backyard. Victoria offers some of Australia’s best stargazing spots including Wilsons Prom, the Grampians, and Leon Mow Dark Sky Site near Bendigo.

At Uluru, the Tali Wiru and Sounds of Silence Dinner connect visitors to Anangu night sky stories, while an hour from Perth, Gingin’s Gravity Discovery Centre artfully combines science and Noongar sky lore. 

Where are the best places to see the Northern Lights? 

The Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis, is a magical and rare night sky phenomenon that's best experienced first-hand. The auroral oval - the zone around the North Pole - affords the highest chance of seeing nature’s finest night show.

Tromsø in Northern Norway, Northern Sweden, Finland, Iceland, and Yellowknife in Canada offer frequent sightings between late September and March, when the crisp, clear nights improve visibility. Svalbard, in the high Arctic, is the only place where you can see auroras in the daytime, thanks to 80-plus days of polar nights.  

Where are the best places to see the Southern Lights? 

Closer to home, Southern Victoria and Tasmania offer rare but magical glimpses of the Southern Lights - Aurora Australis. In 2025, the combination of the September equinox and the solar maximum (when solar storms and Earth’s geomagnetic activity are stronger and more frequent) gives skywatchers one of the best chances to see auroras in over a decade. In Victoria, head to Rickett’s Point, Portsea, Queenscliff, and Cape Schnack; or visit Tasmania, where Bruny Island, South Arm Peninsula, and Fortesque Bay are favoured spots. 

Where are the best places in the world to see bioluminescence?

Forests flickering with fireflies, caves sparkling with glow worms, and luminous blue water alive with microscopic organisms: these are some of wonderful nocturnal experiences you can seek out around the world.

Best places to see fireflies

The Kinabatangan River in Borneo is well known for its abundant birds and wildlife, but at night it's the fireflies that steal the show, with the nocturnal beetles creating their bioluminescent displays to attract a mate. Add a firefly cruise to your itinerary, or enjoy a guided walk as part of the Real Borneo tour, and discover the nocturnal birds, insects and other wildlife that come alive after sunset.

For firefly displays further afield, visit Malaysia’s Kampung Kuantan Fireflies Park, Nanacamilpa in Mexico, or the Great Smoky Mountains in the United States. Firefly viewing is also a traditional Japanese summer activity. Hotel Chinzanso is one of the few places in Tokyo where you can witness the fireflies darting about against a backdrop of city skyscrapers between mid-May and mid-June. “Firefly Nebuta Evening” is held on weekend evenings from June to July in Seichi Park theme park, which is 25 minutes from Tokyo by train. 

Fireflies are also found in Australia in late spring or early summer in wet, woodland areas such as the Blue Mountains and Queensland’s Bunya Mountains. 

Best places to see the sea sparkle

If you're after one of the most dazzling bioluminescence experiences in the world, then head to Puerto Rico’s Mosquito Bay, which is on the southern shore of the island of Vieques. You can join a glass kayak tour and watch the water glow with every stroke of your paddle, thanks to the dinoflagellates that emit light when disturbed. 

The Bay of Islands in New Zealand is another dazzling spot, with cruises and kayaking the best way to see  bioluminescence during summer.

Closer to home, from late spring to early autumn, Gippsland Lakes captivates visitors with its sparkling blue water, as does Jervis Bay in New South Wales.

Best glowworm experiences

One of the world’s most famous glowworm experience is Waitomo Caves in Aotearoa New Zealand. Here you choose between black water rafting, a serene boat trip, and an exhilarating 5-hour Abyss Tour.

Witness nature’s sparkle in our caves, too. Meet Australia’s largest colony of glowworms at Springbrook National Park, close to RACV Royal Pines Resort Gold Coast. There’s also Glow Worm Tunnel in the Blue Mountains, and sightings in damp sheltered areas of Victoria’s Great Otway National Park.  

Where are the best after-dark destinations to see wildlife?

When the sun goes does, a lot of wildlife comes out, with close to 70 per cent of the world’s mammals being nocturnal. Guided tours are the go when it comes to wildlife sightings and safety, with destinations such as Tanzania, New Zealand, Borneo and Hawai'i all worthy of consideration.

The Luxury Tanzania Safari includes three nights camping in the Seronera Valley in Central Serengeti, which has year-round game viewing, with large populations of resident big cats and an annual wildebeest migration. Alternatively, the ultimate African journey includes luxurious safari accommodation over three nights in Kruger National Park, where you have the chance to see the spotted hyena, greater kudu and more than 300 bird species.

Some birds only come out at night, including the elusive kiwi in New Zealand. Stay overnight on Kāpiti Island, north of Wellington, for your best odds to see one in the wild.

In Borneo, the rainforest comes alive with frogs, insects, and nocturnal birds. On a guided night tour, catch the eyes of mammals like the western tarsier, clouded leopard, and flying lemurs. After dusk in Costa Rica offers a similar cacophony of nature-by-night sounds, with jaguars coveted to spot. 

For a surreal underwater ballet in the beams of torches, snorkellers and divers in Kona, Hawai’i, revel in the sensation of manta rays swooping and gliding overhead. 

Where are the best after-dark destinations for ghost tours?

Tap into the shadowy side of a city on a ghost tour. York in England is considered Europe's most haunted and magical city. With links to the Harry Potter movies and ancient folklore, it captivates those fascinated by witches and wizards.

In fact, the International Ghost Research Foundation has declared York the most haunted city in Europe, with more than 500 reported hauntings within its ancient walls. 

For a spine-tingling adventure in Scotland, sign up for a night tour of Edinburgh's famous Blair Street Underground Vaults. Located beneath the city's South Bridge in the Old Town, the vaults were built in the 1780s for commercial use but became home to criminals, and body snatchers. 

Across the Atlantic, there's another hotspot for hauntings. New Orleans may be famous for its jazz festival, but it has a dark side, with tours of The French Quarter and St Louis Cemetery on offer.

In Australia, you can sign up for ghostly encounters in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and the Gold Coast. Step into the shadows of Manly's Quarantine Station or The Rocks in Sydney, or find out what's so eerie about some of Melbourne's old homesteads. 

RACV Members can save on Australian ghost tours

Where are the best after-dark destinations for glamping?

Camping under the stars offers unmatched stillness and space, often with wildlife viewing or cultural storytelling. 

In Namibia, deluxe tented camps near the vibrant red-orange Sossusvlei dunes provide million-star views at Desert Hills Glamping Camp. Oryx, giraffe, wildebeest, and zebras are common sightings here.  

Moroccan overnight safaris include camel rides, Berber-style camps, and traditional cuisine and music under the desert night sky.

In Western Australia’s rugged Pilbara National Park, the 100 per cent Aboriginal-owned Karijini Eco Retreat connects you in inspiring ways, while Longitude 131˚  offers elevated stays in high-end tents overlooking Uluru. 

Where are the best night markets and Christmas markets?

Big cities come with big thrills after dusk. Around the world, night markets offer a feast for the senses; the wafting aromas of tasty street food and live music accompany the bustle of vendors vying for your attention. Bangkok’s Chatuchak Market is the world’s largest night market, or visit Marrakech’s Jemaa el-Fna; it’s a hive of activity with over 100 delicious food stalls. 

Experience Europe’s Yuletide traditions at Christmas markets across Germany, Austria, and beyond, where fairy lights, aromas of gingerbread and mulled wine, and the chance of a white Christmas appeal to travellers worldwide.  

Festivals illuminate cities in new and exciting ways, with Vivid Sydney a local stand-out. Berlin’s exciting open-air festival scene includes the Festival of Lights and Long Night of the Museums. In Lyon, France, Fête des Luminaires sees the city transform with light installations and projections. 

Leaping from fringe to forefront, night tours offer new insights, cultural depth, and after-dark magic. Consider adding noctourism experiences to your itineraries for a fresh lens on any destination

_{The information provided is general advice only. Before making any decisions please consider your own circumstances and the Product Disclosure Statement and Target Market Determinations. For copies, visit racv.com.au. Royal Automobile Club of Victoria (RACV) Ltd AR 001243563 is an authorised representative of the issuer and receives commission for each policy sold or renewed. RACV Travel Insurance Issued by Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co., Ltd ABN 80 000  438 291 AFSL 246 548. Terms & conditions apply, refer to the PDS.}