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Escape the city lights and spend the evening gazing up at the illustrious night skies above Mt John Observatory, situated in the heart of an International Dark Sky Reserve. Expert astronomy guides will share their profound knowledge as you peek through sophisticated optical telescopes.
Become dazzled by a pristine starlit canopy above you during this premier stargazing experience in Tekapo. Situated in the heart of the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve, you'll discover Mt John Observatory, the world's southernmost research observatory. Expert astronomy guides will share their impressive knowledge about the iconic southern skies as you gaze through sophisticated 16 inch optical telescopes. Become enlightened with the mind-blowing research happening onsite and enter areas not open to the general public.
This experience is part of the Responsible range as it holds a Qualmark Enviro-Gold endorsement.
Children under seven years old are not permitted on this tour.
Once this experience has been confirmed, changes are at the discretion of the experience provider and arranged directly with them according to this policy:
Takapo has its own unique alpine micro-climate and can change without notice. Weather predictions are often inaccurate so please allow enough time in the region. The expert guides tailor content to what is visible on a given night. In the case of full cloud cover, they will offer an alternative option.
Warm clothing is essential for all our outdoor experiences regardless of the season. The Mackenzie region is an alpine environment which means it is cold at night, even during the summer months. An ECW (Extreme Cold Weather) jacket will be offered to guests on all outdoor experiences, however, it is the responsibility of guests to wear suitable clothing. The following is a minimum guide only: - Flat, warm and comfortable footwear suitable for walking on uneven terrain - Wind-proof jackets, thermals and full, warm pants - Hats and gloves Please note: glowing, flashing or light-up shoes or clothing is strictly prohibited due to light pollution issues.
This experience takes place at the University of Canterbury Mt John Observatory in Tekapo.
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