[English, Japanese, Mandarin Guide] Dark Sky Project Lake Tekapo Summit Stargazing Experience | New Zealand
- Stargaze at New Zealand’s only professional research observatory on Mount John
- Explore the cosmos in the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve
- Use high-powered telescopes, including a 16” telescope in a private dome
- Experience expert guided commentary, with lasers pointing out key celestial sights
- Stay comfortable with provided extreme cold weather jackets and transport to and from Mount John
Seleccionar plan
Sightseeing Tours
| Tour Type | Shared tour |
| Transportation method | Get there on your own |
| Tour types | Guided tour |
| Meal arrangement | Arrange yourself |
| Sightseeing type | Star gazing |
Product Info
— What You Can Expect —
Embark on a two-hour celestial adventure atop Mount John at 1,029 meters, within the world’s largest International Dark Sky Reserve.
Guests begin with naked-eye observations guided by handheld lasers, before transitioning to high-powered telescopes, including a private 16” telescope in an observatory dome. Experience breathtaking views of the Milky Way, distant galaxies, and planets. Comfort is ensured with transport to and from Mount John, along with extreme cold weather jackets provided by expert guides, who share captivating stories of the Southern night sky.
The guides take you deep into the cosmos, sharing with you what it all means, and why it matters. You’ll never see it the same away again!
The summit experience offers the ultimate way to enjoy the night sky in Lake Takapō, the premier destination
Marvel at the Milky Way and the cosmos while stargazing in the heart of the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve
Purchase Notice
- For departures around midnight, please ensure to check the date and time on the voucher before departure. For example, if the departure is on January 2nd at 12:15 AM, this is 15 minutes past midnight on January 2nd, and the supplier may request guests to check in 20 minutes prior to departure, which would be at 11:55 PM on January 1st as check-in time
- For this experience guests will need to be confident walking 100 metres on a gravel incline, and able to climb a couple of steps in the dark
- 5 minutes prior to tour departure any guests who have not checked in will be considered “no shows” and their tickets will be released to the public for sale with no refund
- As the slots sold out fast kindly fill out alternative time slots and refer to voucher for final confirmation
- For best experience, please avoid any clothing with lights or bright flashes
- For safety reasons, you are not permitted to drive up Mt John or to Cowan's Observatory in the evening
- For more FAQs, please refer to here
- To minimize light pollution, guests are prohibited from using, or bringing, any white lights, including but not limited to LCD screens, flash photography, illuminated mobile phones, flashlights, torches, light up shoes etc
- Detailed T&C can be refereed here
— What to Wear —
- Summer (November - March):thermal wear, long pants, socks, sneakers, jersey, jacket and hat
- Winter (April - October): thermal wear, warm long pants, woollen socks, hiking boots or sturdy footwear that covers the ankle, jersey, snow jacket, gloves, scarf and hat
Reminders
Please arrive at the designated location 20 minute(s) before the scheduled departure time, as the tour will depart on time
Guests are not eligible for refunds or other compensation if they are late for check-in and miss their experience departure. Guests who wish to rebook their experience must pay the full cost of the new booking. All experiences are subject to availability
5 minutes prior to tour departure any guests who have not checked in will be considered “no shows” and their tickets will be released to the public for sale
Dark Sky Project is unable to guarantee full clarity, ideal skies, or visibility of certain objects on its outdoor experiences. Both of our stargazing tours, the Summit Experience and the Crater Experience are weather-dependent. In the event, that guide determines no stargazing is possible due to inclement weather conditions, customers are offered refund or open ticket options
Dark Sky Project reserves the right to refuse guests participation in tours should they not meet the health and safety, or operational requirements set out below. In such circumstances guests are not eligible for a refund
All children must be actively supervised by a parent or guardian to ensure minimal disruption to other guests. A minimum ratio of 1 adult to two children is required. The Summit Experience is restricted to children 10 years and over. The Crater Experience is restricted to children 5 years and over
Cancellation Policy
- Cancellations 3 day(s) (inclusive) before the selected date are allowed. Unused orders can be canceled for free
- Cancellation is not allowed between 0–2 days from the selected date. Orders cannot be canceled or modified, and refunds will not be granted.
- Due to time zone differences, the confirmed cancellation date is based on the supplier’s local time. Please allow 2–5 business days to process your cancellation request, after which the cancellation fee will be charged according to the product’s cancellation policy. Once your refund request is confirmed, KKday will initiate the refund to your original payment method within 15 days. The actual refund timing depends on your card-issuing bank’s policy.
