Martin,
Wow, Adelaide to Fairbanks--how nice! What do you mean -20C? It might be quite a bit colder! Lol, just trying to scare you (or prepare you.)
I really hope you get to see them. I lived in northern Saskatchewan (Canada) for two years during an auroral peak and it was fantastic. (Although, they did tend to "ruin" many an observing session because they throw off so much light; and at times, the sky almost looked like the sun was coming up.) There are so many different types of aurorae, and as Peter said, different colours as well. I would love to see the Aurorae Australis some day. Or, anything in the southern hemisphere.
Good idea to buy a telescope in S.F.. At 64 degrees latitude, the norhern stuff will be high in the sky and the moon will be out of your way for a few days. And at least you'll have a good number of hours of darkness--unlike July in Fairbanks.
Hope you have a really good trip!
: Auroral Forms