Starry starry night

Imagine relaxing in a hot tub, chilled glass of wine in hand, gazing up at millions of stars in the night sky.
New Zealand is one of the world’s top stargazing destinations, especially the South Island with its dark clear skies and unique celestial displays.

Aoraki Mount Cook

An international dark sky reserve, this is a great place to escape to and relax while stargazing. There’s plenty to do in the area during the day, while saving the night for the millions of stars on show.
The largest reserve of this kind anywhere on earth, it has virtually no light pollution at all. Visit Big Sky Stargazing at the foot of Mount Cook to learn about all the constellations, planets, and galaxies you can spot.

Lake Tekapo

Part of the South Island’s International Dark Sky Reserve, Lake Tekapo provides a dramatic backdrop for the glittering spectacle of our night sky.
Join a Dark Sky Project tour at the Mount John Observatory, a world-class research centre, or book a personalised stargazing session with the likes of Alpha Crux. During winter, Lake Tekapo is one of the spots to stargaze in comfort.

Queenstown

New Zealand’s adventure capital is also one of the country’s top stargazing spots. Examine the heavens through a telescope on one of Skyline Stargazing’s daily tours (dinner included), or for something more adventurous try a spot of night skiing.
Watch the stars sparkle in the sky as you glide down the snowy slopes, before heading off to relax in comfort in Queenstown.

Southern Lights

New Zealand is close to the South Pole which makes it a great viewing platform from which to see the Southern Lights (Aurora Australis).
Remote areas around Dunedin, Tekapo, and Queenstown are ideal winter destinations from which to watch this celestial display shimmer across the sky in sparkling hues of purple, green, yellow, and blue.
Head south to view.