Tekapo Mount John Nighttime Stargazing Tour

For safety reasons, the minimum age to join the Mount John Observatory stargazing tour is 10 years old.

Due to the changing sunset times throughout the year, the time slots for stargazing will vary on different dates.

The meeting point is located at the Dark Sky Project ticket office by Lake Tekapo, with the specific address at 1 Motuariki Lane, Lake Tekapo, next to a local supermarket called Four Square.

Cancellations usually only occur during rain, strong winds, or dangerous icy/snowy road conditions in winter. You'll receive a full refund in such cases.

The stargazing tour will still proceed if it's only cloudy. When you check in at the Earth & Sky office, we'll inform you about the weather conditions. If there are significant clouds, you can choose whether to go up the mountain before departure. If you decide to join us, depending on cloud coverage, we'll first attempt stargazing with the naked eye and telescopes wherever possible when parts of the sky are clear, followed by a visit to our professional large-scale astronomical equipment. During cloudy conditions, you'll have the opportunity to visit one of New Zealand's larger telescopes (which we normally can't access on clear nights as researchers use them throughout the evening). We'll then use specialized software to showcase a virtual night sky, share astronomy knowledge and stories, and display stunning astrophotography and time-lapse animations. If the clouds suddenly clear while we're on the mountain, we'll immediately switch to outdoor stargazing. If you'd prefer to see a sky full of stars, we can help you reschedule for free to another available date. Alternatively, you may choose to cancel when checking in at the office (a small cancellation fee applies per booking).

At least one adult is required for every two children. For example: one adult can accompany a maximum of two children; two adults can accompany a maximum of four children.