Hibiscus Coast beaches can glow bright blue at night.

The light comes from tiny plankton that flash when waves or splashes disturb the water.

Locals most often see it from late October to April on calm, dark nights around the new moon, usually a few hours after sunset.

A hot, dry day helps.

Light onshore winds and gentle tides can gather plankton along the shoreline.

After rain, run-off may feed blooms, but strong swell or wind can scatter them.

Stanmore Bay is the favourite. On glassy nights Arkles, Red Beach, north Orewa, Manly, Tindalls, and Matakatia also glow.

Auckland photographer Matthew Davison is one of the best at capturing the spectacle.

When he’s not taking spectacular photographs of bioluminescence at Stanmore Bay, he’s the driving force behind Extreme Pursuit.

Matthew has dedicated his life to exploring NZ’s wildest places.

See more of his terrific work, including his YouTube channel, here: https://extreme-pursuit.com/.

Coasties can expect patchy nights, with one bay lighting up while another stays quiet.

For the best chance, try a new-moon window, look for small breakers, and drag a foot through the shallows to check for sparks.

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