Aurora admirers across the country have shared amazing photos of the Aurora Australis they captured on Monday night.

The beams of light, also known as the Southern Lights, appeared during the evening with the sky changing colour across a range of soft mauves, pinks and greens.

South Canterbury photographer Bev Bell who lives on a Fairlie sheep station with husband Murray took to the road to make the half hour trip through Burkes Pass to Tekapo to capture the night sky.

"I got a ping late [Monday] afternoon and rang Murray and said I want to go as soon as possible," says Bev, who also plans to spend the next few days photographing the autumn scenery the region is renowned for.

"We had tea and shot away.."

Aurora Australis - the Southern Lights - as seen from Tekapo. Photo: Bev Bell/SimplyInspired Photography.

On arriving at Tekapo Bev discovered a large group of star gazers and aurora enthusiasts also gathering at the Church of the Good Shepherd, braving the chilly air to view and photograph the night sky.

The two primary gases in the Earth's atmosphere are nitrogen and oxygen, and these elements give off different colours during an aurora display.

The green we see in the aurora is characteristic of oxygen, while hints of purple, blue or pink are caused by nitrogen.

The lights were also seen around New Zealand, including Wellington, Tauranga, Hawke's Bay and through Canterbury and Twizel.

Aurora Australis - the Southern Lights - as seen from Maungatapu in Tauranga. Photo: John van den Broek/Vandi Photography.

Tauranga photographer John van den Broek captured the Southern Lights from his home in Maungatatpu, looking towards Tauranga city.

"It was after sunset, closer to 8pm," says John.

Wellington South. Photo: Bruce Mackay.

Lake Ellesmore. Photo: Natalie Crowther.

Aurora captured from Lake Ruataniwha in Twizel. Photo: Meghan Maloney Photography.

Breaker Bay, Wellington. Photo:Jonathan Usher.

New Zealand's southernmost city, Invercargill, is among the most popular tourist destinations to see the aurora australis. Since the aurora originates near the South Pole, Invercargill offers visitors some of the best chances to catch one of nature's most famous phenomena.

The Southern Lights appear over Australia, New Zealand, Chile, Argentina and Antarctica, producing rainbow skies and bright, shifting ribbons of light. These light displays are rare, and only visible from remote locations.