Guided Tours

Stargazing Experience at Mt. John Observatory

Highlights

Gaze at the cosmos on a 2-hour stargazing tour with expert astronomers and round-trip transfers from Mt. John Observatory.
Enjoy hassle-free round-trip transfers between Dark Sky Project Base and Mt. John Observatory while winding through rugged alpine landscapes.
You can use high-powered 16-inch telescopes to look at Jupiter and Saturn and pick out stars with the naked eye using hand-held laser pointers.
Listen to your astronomy guide share the secrets and facts behind constellations, planets, and deep-space phenomena.
Fun fact: Mt. John Observatory houses the MOA Telescope, New Zealand’s largest optical telescope used for detecting planets outside our solar system.

Inclusions

2-hour stargazing experience at Mt. John Observatory
Expert astronomy guide
Round-trip transfers from Mt. John Observatory

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.

Your experience

A guided tour of the cosmos

Begin your celestial adventure by arriving at the Dark Sky Project Base, where you'll be given an Extreme Cold Weather (ECW) jacket to keep you warm in the crisp alpine air. Then, settle in for a 15-minute scenic bus ride to Mt. John Observatory. Over the next two hours, expert astronomy guides will share fascinating insights about stars, solar systems, and constellations.

See the Milky Way and spot constellations

Watch the Magellanic Clouds glow in the inky darkness, visible to the naked eye with the help of pinpoint laser guidance. Then, peer through powerful 16-inch telescopes to get a clear view of the Milky Way or constellations in the Southern Sky. Finally, bid farewell to the night sky and your guides before heading to your next destination—or back to your accommodation, carrying with you the magic of the cosmos.

Know before you go

What’s not allowed

Guests are prohibited from using any white lights, including but not limited to LCD screens, illuminated mobile phones, flashlights, torches, and light-up shoes to avoid light pollution.
Drugs and alcohol are not allowed on this experience.
Flash photography is a no-go inside the venue.
This experience is restricted for guests under the age of 10 years.

Accessibility

This experience is not accessible by wheelchair.

Additional Information

Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times.
This tour includes a comfortable bus journey to and from Mt. John Observatory.
The venue will provide an extreme cold weather (ECW) jacket to keep you warm on the mountain’s peak.

My tickets

Your voucher will be emailed to you instantly.
Please arrive at the meeting point 20 mins before the scheduled time of your tour to avoid any delays.
Display the voucher on your mobile phone with a valid photo ID at the meeting point.