▲ Lake Tekapo is part of the International Dark Sky Reserve with minimal light pollution, making most nights throughout the year ideal for stargazing. Escape the city bustle and immerse yourself in the romance of the Milky Way, meteor showers, and auroras. The Chameleon Stargazing Site, located in a forest clearing near Lake Tekapo, offers unobstructed views of the pristine night sky where no trace of light pollution can be found.
▲ We offer a 90-minute stargazing experience including: * A 30-min stargazing guide, where your stargazing guide will introduce you to the stars and constellations in the night sky and share knowledge about them. * A 45-min telescope observation, where you can observe planets (during specific seasons) and many deep-sky objects such as star clusters and nebulae through our telescopes. * 15 minutes of private time, where you can take photos with family and friends under the starry sky, or gather around a fire pit to share stargazing stories from different cultures, or roast marshmallows.
▲ Within 90 minutes, you can use our powerful 9.25-inch telescope, the same size as the one Stephen Hawking had in his home. Additionally, we have our eVscope telescope. Our eVscope can capture stunning images of nebulae, star clusters, and more. We would be happy to send these photos directly to you as part of your experience!
▲ A bilingual Chinese and English guide will help you identify constellations unique to the Southern Hemisphere, such as the Southern Cross and Centaurus. They will also share interesting facts about nebulae and planets. With a laser pointer and real images, even children will understand instantly.
▲ Our stargazing group has only fourteen people, so you won't feel overwhelmed by crowds during the tour. Feel free to ask us any questions about the starry sky at any time. Our bilingual guide provides flexible explanations in both Chinese and English, suitable for all ages. You can interact and ask questions at any time, ensuring both children and adults can understand, learn about the starry sky, and experience the collision of Maori and celestial cultures.
▲ Want to take photos, roast marshmallows around the fire bowl, or simply gaze at the stars? Enjoy a group photo under the stars with family and friends. Our guide will professionally edit the photos and send you the digital copies for free. *Each family member gets one starry photo.
▲ We will provide you with outdoor furniture, pillows, mattresses, and blankets so you can comfortably enjoy the night sky. Lake Tekapo has low nighttime temperatures, and hot chocolate will keep you warm during the 90-minute journey. At the end of the tour, we will light a fire pit where you can roast marshmallows with your family and friends.
▲ If the weather is unsuitable for stargazing at the departure time that evening, we will cancel the stargazing activity and you will not be charged. Due to the changeable nature of the Lake Tekapo region, we will make a final confirmation on whether the stargazing tour can proceed 30 minutes before the departure time.
▲ Reference schedule for Chinese group stargazing in 2026 (actual times subject to ticket issuance). We recommend contacting customer support in advance to check availability. January 5 to January 31: 12:45 AM (00:45 the following day) February 1 to February 10: 12:30 AM (00:30 the following day) February 11 to February 28: 2:20 AM (02:20 the following day) March 1 to March 11: 9:45 PM, 11:45 PM March 12 to March 17: 9:30 PM, 11:30 PM
▲ Reference schedule for English group stargazing tours in 2026 (actual times subject to ticket issuance). We recommend contacting customer support in advance to check availability. January 5-9: 2:30 AM after midnight, January 11-28: 12:45 AM after midnight, February 1-13: 12:30 AM after midnight, February 22-28: 12:00 AM midnight, March 1-9: 9:45 AM, 11:45 AM, March 10-17: 9:30 AM, 11:30 AM
