Travel Advice: Northern Lights

Chasing the Northern Lights: What to Know Before You Go

Standing under the Aurora Borealis is one of life’s great privileges — a moment when science, nature and wonder collide in an Arctic sky. But before you pack your snow boots and camera, there are a few less-glamorous realities worth preparing for.

At Walker Street Doctors, we help experienced travellers stay well before, during and after every adventure — including those that take you to the top of the world.

The Dream vs. the Reality

The Northern Lights are most often seen between October and March across Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland and northern Greenlandwhere daylight hours can shrink to just a few each day. The reward is extraordinary. The conditions, however, can be harsh.

• Extreme cold: Sub-zero temperatures are routine, with frostbite and hypothermia risks heightened by wind chill and long nights outdoors.
• Limited daylight: Sleep patterns, vitamin D levels and mood can be affected — especially if you’re prone to seasonal low mood or insomnia.
• Remoteness: Many viewing spots are several hours from hospitals or pharmacies, and travel delays due to snow or storms are common.
• Dietary changes: Arctic cuisine is rich, salty and sometimes under-cooked (think fish or reindeer). Traveler’s diarrhoea isn’t just for tropical destinations.
• Altitude and motion: Some travellers experience headaches, motion sickness or sinus issues on long drives through mountainous terrain.

How Walker Street Doctors Can Help

1. Personalised Pre-Travel Consultation
We’ll review your itinerary, medical history and vaccination record to ensure you’re covered for both Arctic and stop-over destinations.

2. Vaccinations & Preventive Care
Even Northern destinations can carry risks for influenza, COVID-19, hepatitis A, and tetanus/diphtheria. We’ll update your immunisations and provide documentation for travel.

3. Cold-Climate Health Planning
Our doctors can help you choose the right skin protection, frostbite prevention, and circulation management strategies — particularly important for travellers with diabetes, Raynaud’s, or vascular conditions.

4. Medication & First-Aid Kits
We tailor Walker Street travel kits with antibiotics, pain relief, altitude and motion sickness tablets, and medications for gastrointestinal upset.

5. Sleep, Jet Lag & Mental Health Support
We’ll guide you through safe melatonin use, blue-light management, and strategies to protect your mental wellbeingduring prolonged darkness.

6. Letters & Medical Documentation
From travel insurance forms to letters for carrying medication, we ensure your paperwork is smooth and compliant.

When to Book Your Travel Health Appointment

See us 4–6 weeks before departure, ideally earlier if you need vaccines or have chronic health conditions. Even if your trip is last-minute, our team can fast-track urgent travel consultations.

Your Adventure, Seamless and Safe

Travel shouldn’t be about worrying what could go wrong. It should be about awe, discovery, and stories that last a lifetime.

Whether you’re chasing the Northern Lights or crossing continents, Walker Street Doctors will help you travel well, travel safely, and return home ready for your next adventure.

Walker Street Doctors — North Sydney’s trusted Travel Health Experts
Yellow Fever Accredited Practitioners
Travel kits, vaccinations, and personalised health advice for all destinations
Book your pre-travel consultation 4–6 weeks before you fly