Witness the beautiful skies over the Tekapo Springs with the Tekapo Springs Star Gazing experience. Sparkling stars, amazing views, and great company during a dip into the hot pools - it's an amazing experience for solo travellers, couples, families and groups/
After checking into the tour at the Tekapo Star Gazing office in Lake Tekapo Township, your guides will take you to the famed Mackenzie Dark Sky Reserve before embarking on either an outdoor 40-minute guided tour, or a thrilling indoor 40-minute guided tour. The outdoor tour includes the use of a Professional Celestron 9.25 Aperture and Sky Watch Esprit 120 telescope, whereas the indoor guide includes a high definition projector screen with amazing coloured Astro images and video.
For the inquisitive guests out there, the tour guides will point out the major features of the sky, and the cultural importance they've played in navigating the people from Aboriginal, European, Greek, Maori and Polynesian cultures.
The 2-hour tour is finished off with a relaxing dip in the hot pools. The lights are then turned off for complete darkness - giving stargazers the ultimate viewing opportunity of the constellations, stars, planets - and everything in between. The pools are lined with comfortable seating, and you will be given your very own buoyancy pillow, making it a relaxing experience. A guide will remain present at all times, willing to answer any of your cultural and scientific questions!
Tours depart nightly with a complimentary shuttle bus to and from the site.
Don't miss out on a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity in New Zealand.
Inclusions
- Step into the dark of Tekapo Springs and experience an unforgettable stargazing tour
- Shuttle bus that collects from the Tekapo Springs town office
- Time to relax in the hot pools and take in your surroundings
- You will either have an exciting indoor or outdoor experience. Night sky visibility will determine whether the outdoor or indoor guided tour is utilized
- Your chance to use some professional high definition telescopes
Extras
- You can purchase drinks and snacks at the Tekapo Springs café which will be open throughout the tour
Highlights
- See a unique side to Tekapo Springs for when the sun goes down and the stars light up
- Guided outdoor or indoor star gazing tour
- Star gazing tours will never be cancelled
- Once the star gazing tour comes to an end you will then have time to lie back on a buoyancy pillow and gaze up at the amazing sky
- Pool temperatures range from 28 degrees Celsius to 39 degrees Celsius
- The pools have benched seating so you can sit back, relax and soak
- Each pool covers forty square metres of surface area and is a metre deep at their deepest point
- The pools take advantage of the wonderful views
- The site is surrounded by mature Radiata and Douglas fir trees which shelter the area
- Over winter it is not uncommon to have snow on the ground around the Hot pools, adding to the winter experience
Time
- 8.45pm & 10pm (During Winter)
- 10.30pm & 11.45pm (During Summer)
- Check in commences 30 minutes prior to tour time
- Tours run for 2 hours, we recommend allowing 2.5 hours to include check-in & transport. Each tour will have a maximum of 30 people, minimum of 10 with 2 guides per tour
- Star gazing operators 7 days a week all year round
- Please note the above departure times are subject to change depending on weather conditions. You are required to call the tour operator to reconfirm your departure time (Their contact details will be printed on your voucher)
Additional Information
- After your guided tour and everyone is settled in the hot pools the lights will be turned out, and beautiful relaxing Astro music will play
- Whether you are planning on driving or jumping on the shuttle bus, everyone must meet at the new Tekapo Star Gazing office (located inside the Tekapo Information Centre)
Booking Information
- Confirmation in the form of a tour voucher will be received at time of booking
- Upon completion of purchase, please print the voucher and present on day of the experience
- Mobile Vouchers are accepted! - Vouchers can also be presented on your mobile device for this attraction
- For your information, complete Tour Operator Information including contact details is included on your tour voucher
