New Zealand’s information to stargazing

New Zealand’s status as top-of-the-line locations on the planet to view the night time sky is properly established. From sleeping beneath the celebrities in a glass pod on the Lindis, a billion-star eating expertise at Mt Cook dinner Lakeside retreat, experiencing a Wanaka starset on a non-public lake cruise, to a starlight soak at Atarangi lodge, hosted by Moana Skies. These stargazing experiences usually are not solely reminiscence makers, however will provoke deeper thought of our place within the universe, all whereas coated in luxurious consolation.

NZ is globally famend for darkish sky reserves and sanctuaries in each the South and North islands. Every of the stargazing areas and experiences we can be mentioning has its personal allure and sweetness, topped with luxurious options. The next is your information to the most effective of New Zealand’s stargazing experiences.

Moana Skies Kaikōura

One of many most interesting stargazing spots is Kaikōura, which is now top-of-the-line areas in New Zealand’s largest darkish sky sanctuary. In an remoted nook of the South Island, the place it’s troublesome to detect any gentle air pollution, the just lately gazetted Kaikōura Darkish Sky Sanctuary is a perfect location to stargaze and shoot astrophotos.

Moana Skies is a luxurious high-end tour operator providing a number of extraordinary stargazing experiences. Their non-public tour is a wholly particular person stargazing expertise, the place visitors are taught to function telescopes by an knowledgeable information. Think about your self surrounded by the sky’s radiant stars, constellations, and different heavenly delights when night time approaches. The expertise can’t be averted by somebody desirous to take pleasure in sluggish luxurious journey.

The Aoraki Mackenzie darkish sky reserve

Aoraki Mackenzie Darkish Sky Reserve surrounds the gorgeous Lake Tekapo, stated to be one of many world’s largest darkish sky reserves. The Aoraki Mackenzie Darkish Sky Reserve has a number of the darkest and clearest night time skies on the planet, so, in case you are an evening sky lover, that is the right vacation spot to witness the splendour of the celebrities.

Aoraki Mackenzie Darkish Sky Reserve provides good viewing circumstances all 12 months spherical with its excessive altitude, arid local weather, and minimal gentle air pollution. Tekapo Star Gazing supplies an unique stargazing and sizzling pool expertise the place you possibly can chill out beneath the celebrities. This expertise isn’t solely an opportunity to chill out beneath the night time sky, however you possibly can even make use of the state-of-the-art telescopes supplied to view planets, galaxies and capturing stars; an indulgent alternative that isn’t to be missed!

Lake Tekapo: Silver River Stargazing

Being Tekapo’s highest-rated small-group stargazing exercise, Silver River Stargazing is extra intimate in nature. What makes Silver River fairly particular is that their guides are really obsessed with opening up the universe to you, and their dedication to sustaining small group excursions is unwavering, so that each stargazer can take advantage of the unimaginable expertise. Expertise a non-public tour, on non-public land, hosted by enthusiastic knowledgeable guides who unveil the wonders of the Southern Hemisphere sky, and watch the night time sky come alive on this journey beneath a number of the finest skies on planet earth.

Moana Skies & Ata Rangi Lodge starlight soak

A starlight soak is essentially the most lavish technique to relish the skies above, and defines a brand new strategy to stargazing.  This starlight soak is a very luxurious stargazing expertise, hosted by the breathtaking Ata Rangi Lodge, organised by Moana Skies. Image sipping on a glass of wine or wealthy sizzling chocolate and enjoyable in a wonderfully heated spa beneath a number of the cleanest skies on Earth. Your private Moana Skies information will flip the night time sky into your individual private planetarium.

For individuals who assume luxurious and journey go hand in hand, that is stargazing. It’s the final non-public indulgence for {couples} or small teams in search of one thing very particular as a result of it’s relaxed, romantically charged, and easily unforgettable. This expertise definitely speaks for itself: mild spa waters, crisp mountain air, and the starry Milky Means unite to create a rare expertise.

Mount Cook dinner: Pukaki Observatory at Mt Cook dinner Lakeside Retreat

With their Billion Star Eating expertise, Mt Cook dinner Lakeside Retreat supplies one thing really distinctive for these in search of the last word luxurious stargazing expertise. This isn’t stargazing; it’s an all-senses affair that begins with a effective eating expertise, the place artistic and contemporary delicacies paves the best way for an evening to be savoured.

Skilled guides will introduce you to the night time sky and the fantastic expertise that awaits you whereas having fun with a welcome drink of their wine cellar earlier than your arrival on the stars. With its rollaway roof and precision 9-inch reflector telescope, the observatory itself is a murals.

There’s a gorgeous view of the universe throughout the confines of the partitions of the observatory because the roof opens up. Star clusters twinkling, the mysterious nebula, and distant planets are all seen in beautiful element. You’ll be able to even see the Aurora Australis tinting the southern sky in ethereal greens and purples on these enchanted nights when the environment is excellent.

Wanaka: Stargazing in Southern Alps

The Southern Alps are well-known for his or her extraordinarily darkish skies, and so they stage some spectacular gentle exhibits. Wanaka provides glorious stargazing the place you study stars, determine constellations, and if you happen to’re fortunate on the night time, see the Aurora Australis dancing throughout the horizon.

Wānaka is sufficiently far south to have the ability to {photograph} the Aurora Australis (southern lights) sometimes, and spring and autumn are the most effective instances for southern lights images. The realm provides glorious astrophotography classes and stargazing excursions that take full benefit of the clear night time sky of the Southern Alps.

Journey Wanaka’s non-public boat stargazing

Expertise the unblemished fantastic thing about Lake Wānaka and the starry night time from the sundeck of Journey Wanaka’s specifically designed, small, and comfortable boat. An individually tailor-made constitution expertise that isolates you from the crowds and onto the quiet water, the place the night time sky is mirrored precisely and in good, mirror-like circumstances. This isn’t your atypical stargazing journey.

Stargazing actually turns into a panoramic and memorable expertise while you’re floating serenely out on Lake Wānaka’s tranquil waters, bounded by the dramatic silhouettes of the Southern Alps, with nothing however the soothing lake water and a exceptional cover of stars above.

The Lindis: Luxurious stargazing in Central Otago

The Lindis provides a singular expertise in one in all New Zealand’s wildest and most distant landscapes, elevating stargazing to new heights. Below Lindi’s signature stargazing expertise, your private information will take you to a non-public location within the valley the place your stargazing expertise begins. The Lindis additionally supply essentially the most immersive stargazing expertise, sleeping beneath the celebrities in a glass pod, the place you possibly can cozy up with a beloved one and see the starry night time dance to you whilst you drift off to sleep in luxurious consolation.

With your individual telescope, you possibly can have a peek at some lovely planets and deep-sky objects. The Lindis could be very particular 12 months spherical, permitting you to take a seat beneath a number of the darkest skies on the planet.

GoodHeavens: Nice Barrier Island (Aotea)

With the title of an Worldwide Darkish Sky Sanctuary, Nice Barrier Island, solely 90 kilometres by aircraft or ferry from Auckland, is a prestigious website in astronomical historical past. You’ll land on Aotea, or the Nice Barrier Island, the place stars twinkle vivid. The fact that this island is almost completely free from gentle air pollution, with pristine environment that make it so extraordinary for stargazing. The picture beneath was taken by James Rua, highlighting the really magical expertise hosted by GoodHeavens.

Because the quantity one-rated stargazing tour enterprise on the island, Good Heavens, hosts intimate and comfortable stargazing excursions amongst the sand dunes, the place they’ll educate you tips on how to use constellations and stars for navigation, chat about Maori and European myths all whereas comfortably rugged up within the consolation of blankets and a sizzling drink.

Twinkle Darkish Sky Excursions: Stewart Island/Rakiura

Darkish Sky Worldwide accredited Stewart Island/Rakiura in 2019. This secluded sanctuary, positioned within the deep south of New Zealand, has a number of the optimum viewing circumstances for the Aurora Australis, or the enchanting southern lights.

The locals really do care to maintain the night time sky and atmosphere intact, and Rakiura Nationwide Park holds about 85% of Stewart Island. Since 2017, technical readings for sky high quality on Stewart Island have been 21.51 and 21.93 mac/arc sec2, so it is possible for you to to see stars like by no means earlier than.

Twinkle Darkish Sky Excursions provides an opportunity to see the small print of the moon’s craters and a number of the most enchanting spots in our photo voltaic system. Expertise a very memorable stargazing expertise with Twinkle Darkish Sky Excursions in some of the distant and pristine Darkish Sky sanctuaries in New Zealand.

Stargaze your approach via New Zealand with Aroha

Stargaze your approach via New Zealand with Aroha New Zealand Excursions. New Zealand darkish sky reserves are nice areas for reflecting on the place we match within the scheme of issues. There’s a character distinctive to every location and one thing particular that every one has to supply. Stewart Island supplies you with unbridled wilderness, however the Lindis is restraint and decadence. The Mackenzie Basin supplies you with alpine magnificence on a colossal scale, however Kaikōura comprises big mountain surroundings with an unimaginable coast.

For hundreds of years, the night time sky has mesmerised people, and these distinctive spots all through Aotearoa nonetheless have new generations of tourists and locals spellbound, so include a way of marvel and put together to be amazed. By your self beneath the celebrities on a distant island getaway or gazing up on the world’s largest darkish sky reserve, New Zealand night time skies will blow your thoughts concerning the universe.