The aurora australis has put on a colourful show over parts of southern Victoria and Tasmania overnight.

Hundreds of photographers took advantage of clear skies to capture the display and uploaded their photos onto Facebook groups where aurora hunters share their knowledge with others.

The Australian Bureau of Meteorology said the phenomenon is caused when electrically charged electrons and protons accelerate down the Earth's magnetic field lines and collide with neutral atoms in the upper atmosphere - usually about 100 kilometres above the Earth.

Take a look at some of the images from social media.

The aurora at Point Danger, near Torquay, Victoria. ( Facebook: James Collier )

A view of the aurora at Eagles Nest, near Cape Paterson, Victoria. ( Facebook: Lee Roy )

The view of the aurora australis at Mount Baw Baw, in Victoria. ( Facebook: Russell Paliew )

The aurora by cliffs off Calverts Beach, Tasmania. ( Twitter: @lovethywalrus )

The aurora at Calverts Beach, Tasmania. ( Twitter: @lovethywalrus )

Phillip Island, Victoria, lit up with aurora australis. ( Supplied: Maria Bastin )

Aurora australis at Calverts Beach, Tasmania. ( Twitter: @lovethywalrus )

Southern lights over Hobart, Tasmania. ( Twitter: @SussanSays )