Night Sky Experience

Stargazing in one of the world’s best dark sky reserves

We provide scheduled Night Sky Experience tours on Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday nights from February to November. No tours are available in December and January due to the late summer sunset.

For other days (Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday), we arrange special tours with a minimum requirement of four guests. To book a special tour with fewer than four people, you'll need to cover the additional cost. However, we'll make efforts to pair you with other guests for that night, in which case, you'll only pay the individual rate.

Kick back and relax in our purpose-built, wheelchair accessible Night Sky Arena, located directly behind Lakestone. Snuggle up under warm woolen blankets on a reclining chair (no sore necks) and enjoy complimentary hot mulled wine, chocolate, tea, or coffee as you embark on a guided tour of the Milky Way and beyond.

Some features you may get to see with your naked eye:

  • More stars than most people have ever seen in their lives
  • The mind-blowing glow of billions of stars
  • Shooting stars
  • Satellites passing overhead
  • Planets
  • The Southern Cross
  • The Milky Way
  • Constellations
  • Other galaxies
  • No airplanes overhead at night here
  • Craters on the moon, the rings of Saturn and/or Jupiter and up to 4 moons orbiting Jupiter using a powerful telescope depending on the time of the year.

 

Your guide will point out all the highlights of the southern sky with a special high powered laser pointer, teach you how to navigate using the stars and share interesting stories and facts.

The best times to visit

When the moon is full or near full, it floods the night sky with reflected sunlight and makes the fainter stars impossible to see with the naked eye. You’ll have the best experience in winter during the new moon

Cost

NZ$95 per person

Cancellations

Tours will be confirmed around 8 pm on the night. If cancelled due to cloud cover there will be no charge/full refund. 

If the tour has been booked in advance and is cancelled on the day by the guest or if it is a no show there will be a full charge/no refund.

Staying with us for three to four nights will give you the best chance at an uninterrupted view of the stars.

Below is a schedule of tour times and the best time to see the stars (obviously it still depends on the weather on the night)

***** = Excellent 
****  = OK - most faint stars are still visible
***    = Faint stars are hard to see, ideally visit Lakestone at another time to see the stars
**     = Only the brightest stars are visible, ideally visit Lakestone at another time to see the stars
*      = The worst time to see the night sky, ideally visit Lakestone at another time to see the stars

 

DateStart TimeStar RatingNotes
2025 April 01, Tuesday9:30pm***** 
2025 April 03, Thursday9:30pm***** 
2025 April 06, Sunday9:30pm***The moon is bright
2025 April 08, Tuesday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2025 April 10, Thursday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2025 April 13, Sunday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2025 April 15, Tuesday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2025 April 17, Thursday9:30pm***The moon is bright
2025 April 20, Sunday9:30pm***** 
2025 April 22, Tuesday9:30pm***** 
2025 April 24, Thursday9:30pm***** 
2025 April 27, Sunday9:30pm***** 
2025 April 29, Tuesday9:30pm***** 
2025 May 01, Thursday9:30pm***** 
2025 May 04, Sunday9:30pm***The moon is bright
2025 May 06, Tuesday9:30pm***The moon is bright
2025 May 08, Thursday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2025 May 11, Sunday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2025 May 13, Tuesday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2025 May 15, Thursday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2025 May 18, Sunday9:30pm***** 
2025 May 20, Tuesday9:30pm***** 
2025 May 22, Thursday9:30pm***** 
2025 May 25, Sunday9:30pm***** 
2025 May 27, Tuesday9:30pm***** 
2025 May 29, Thursday9:30pm***** 
2025 June 01, Sunday9:30pm***** 
2025 June 03, Tuesday9:30pm***The moon is bright
2025 June 05, Thursday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2025 June 08, Sunday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2025 June 10, Tuesday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2025 June 12, Thursday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2025 June 15, Sunday9:30pm***** 
2025 June 17, Tuesday9:30pm***** 
2025 June 19, Thursday9:30pm***** 
2025 June 22, Sunday9:30pm***** 
2025 June 24, Tuesday9:30pm***** 
2025 June 26, Thursday9:30pm***** 
2025 June 29, Sunday9:30pm***** 
2025 July 01, Tuesday9:30pm***** 
2025 July 03, Thursday9:30pm***The moon is bright
2025 July 06, Sunday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2025 July 08, Tuesday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2025 July 10, Thursday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2025 July 13, Sunday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2025 July 15, Tuesday9:30pm***** 
2025 July 17, Thursday9:30pm***** 
2025 July 20, Sunday9:30pm***** 
2025 July 22, Tuesday9:30pm***** 
2025 July 24, Thursday9:30pm***** 
2025 July 27, Sunday9:30pm***** 
2025 July 29, Tuesday9:30pm***** 
2025 July 31, Thursday9:30pm***** 
2025 August 03, Sunday9:30pm***The moon is bright
2025 August 05, Tuesday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2025 August 07, Thursday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2025 August 10, Sunday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2025 August 12, Tuesday9:30pm***** 
2025 August 14, Thursday9:30pm***** 
2025 August 17, Sunday9:30pm***** 
2025 August 19, Tuesday9:30pm***** 
2025 August 21, Thursday9:30pm***** 
2025 August 24, Sunday9:30pm***** 
2025 August 26, Tuesday9:30pm***** 
2025 August 28, Thursday9:30pm***** 
2025 August 31, Sunday9:30pm***The moon is bright
2025 September 02, Tuesday9:30pm***The moon is bright
2025 September 04, Thursday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2025 September 07, Sunday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2025 September 09, Tuesday9:30pm***The moon is bright
2025 September 11, Thursday9:30pm***** 
2025 September 14, Sunday9:30pm***** 
2025 September 16, Tuesday9:30pm***** 
2025 September 18, Thursday9:30pm***** 
2025 September 21, Sunday9:30pm***** 
2025 September 23, Tuesday9:30pm***** 
2025 September 25, Thursday9:30pm***** 
2025 September 28, Sunday9:30pm***** 
2025 September 30, Tuesday9:30pm***The moon is bright
2025 October 02, Thursday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2025 October 05, Sunday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2025 October 07, Tuesday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2025 October 09, Thursday9:30pm***** 
2025 October 12, Sunday9:30pm***** 
2025 October 14, Tuesday9:30pm***** 
2025 October 16, Thursday9:30pm***** 
2025 October 19, Sunday9:30pm***** 
2025 October 21, Tuesday9:30pm***** 
2025 October 23, Thursday10:00pm***** 
2025 October 26, Sunday10:00pm***** 
2025 October 28, Tuesday10:00pm***** 
2025 October 30, Thursday10:00pm***The moon is bright
2025 November 02, Sunday10:00pm*The moon is bright
2025 November 04, Tuesday10:00pm*The moon is bright
2025 November 06, Thursday10:00pm****The Milky Way is low on the horizon and harder to see
2025 November 09, Sunday10:30pm****The Milky Way is low on the horizon and harder to see
2025 November 11, Tuesday10:30pm****The Milky Way is low on the horizon and harder to see
2025 November 13, Thursday10:30pm****The Milky Way is low on the horizon and harder to see
2025 November 16, Sunday10:30pm****The Milky Way is low on the horizon and harder to see
2025 November 18, Tuesday10:30pm****The Milky Way is low on the horizon and harder to see
2025 November 20, Thursday10:30pm****The Milky Way is low on the horizon and harder to see
2025 November 23, Sunday10:30pm****The Milky Way is low on the horizon and harder to see
2025 November 25, Tuesday10:30pm****The Milky Way is low on the horizon and harder to see
2025 November 27, Thursday10:30pm****The Milky Way is low on the horizon and harder to see
2025 November 30, Sunday10:30pm**The moon is bright and the Milky Way is low on the horizon and hard to see
2025 December *No tours will be run during December and January due to the late sunset surrounding the summer solstice and the position of the Milky Way.
2026 January *No tours will be run during December and January due to the late sunset surrounding the summer solstice and the position of the Milky Way.
2026  February 1, Sunday10:30pm*The moon is bright
2026  February 3, Tuesday10:30pm*The moon is bright
2026  February 5, Thursday10:30pm*The moon is bright
2026  February 8, Sunday10:30pm***** 
2026  February 10, Tuesday10:30pm***** 
2026  February 12, Thursday10:30pm***** 
2026  February 15, Sunday10:30pm***** 
2026  February 17, Tuesday10:00pm***** 
2026  February 19, Thursday10:00pm***** 
2026  February 22, Sunday10:00pm***** 
2026  February 24, Tuesday10:00pm**** 
2026  February 26, Thursday10:00pm*The moon is bright
2026  March 1, Sunday10:00pm*The moon is bright
2026  March 3, Tuesday10:00pm*The moon is bright
2026  March 5, Thursday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2026  March 8, Sunday9:30pm***The moon is bright
2026  March 10, Tuesday9:30pm***** 
2026  March 12, Thursday9:30pm***** 
2026  March 15, Sunday9:30pm***** 
2026  March 17, Tuesday9:30pm***** 
2026  March 19, Thursday9:30pm***** 
2026  March 22, Sunday9:30pm***** 
2026  March 24, Tuesday9:30pm***** 
2026  March 26, Thursday9:30pm***The moon is bright
2026  March 29, Sunday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2026  March 31, Tuesday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2026  April 2, Thursday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2026  April 5, Sunday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2026  April 7, Tuesday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2026  April 9, Thursday9:30pm***** 
2026  April 12, Sunday9:30pm***** 
2026  April 14, Tuesday9:30pm***** 
2026  April 16, Thursday9:30pm***** 
2026  April 19, Sunday9:30pm***** 
2026  April 21, Tuesday9:30pm***** 
2026  April 23, Thursday9:30pm***** 
2026  April 26, Sunday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2026  April 28, Tuesday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2026  April 30, Thursday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2026  May 3, Sunday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2026  May 5, Tuesday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2026  May 7, Thursday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2026  May 10, Sunday9:30pm***** 
2026  May 12, Tuesday9:30pm***** 
2026  May 14, Thursday9:30pm***** 
2026  May 17, Sunday9:30pm***** 
2026  May 19, Tuesday9:30pm***** 
2026  May 21, Thursday9:30pm***** 
2026  May 24, Sunday9:30pm***The moon is bright
2026  May 26, Tuesday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2026  May 28, Thursday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2026  May 31, Sunday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2026  June 2, Tuesday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2026  June 4, Thursday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2026  June 7, Sunday9:30pm***** 
2026  June 9, Tuesday9:30pm***** 
2026  June 11, Thursday9:30pm***** 
2026  June 14, Sunday9:30pm***** 
2026  June 16, Tuesday9:30pm***** 
2026  June 18, Thursday9:30pm***** 
2026  June 21, Sunday9:30pm**** 
2026  June 23, Tuesday9:30pm***The moon is bright
2026  June 25, Thursday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2026  June 28, Sunday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2026  June 30, Tuesday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2026  July 2, Thursday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2026  July 5, Sunday9:30pm***** 
2026  July 7, Tuesday9:30pm***** 
2026  July 9, Thursday9:30pm***** 
2026  July 12, Sunday9:30pm***** 
2026  July 14, Tuesday9:30pm***** 
2026  July 16, Thursday9:30pm***** 
2026  July 19, Sunday9:30pm***** 
2026  July 21, Tuesday9:30pm***The moon is bright
2026  July 23, Thursday9:30pm**The moon is bright
2026  July 26, Sunday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2026  July 28, Tuesday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2026  July 30, Thursday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2026  August 2, Sunday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2026  August 4, Tuesday9:30pm***** 
2026  August 6, Thursday9:30pm***** 
2026  August 9, Sunday9:30pm***** 
2026  August 11, Tuesday9:30pm***** 
2026  August 13, Thursday9:30pm***** 
2026  August 16, Sunday9:30pm***** 
2026  August 18, Tuesday9:30pm***** 
2026  August 20, Thursday9:30pm****The moon is bright
2026  August 23, Sunday9:30pm**The moon is bright
2026  August 25, Tuesday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2026  August 27, Thursday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2026  August 30, Sunday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2026  September 1, Tuesday9:30pm***** 
2026  September 3, Thursday9:30pm***** 
2026  September 6, Sunday9:30pm***** 
2026  September 8, Tuesday9:30pm***** 
2026  September 10, Thursday9:30pm***** 
2026  September 13, Sunday9:30pm***** 
2026  September 15, Tuesday9:30pm***** 
2026  September 17, Thursday9:30pm***** 
2026  September 20, Sunday9:30pm***The moon is bright
2026  September 22, Tuesday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2026  September 24, Thursday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2026  September 27, Sunday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2026  September 29, Tuesday9:30pm***** 
2026  October 1, Thursday9:30pm***** 
2026  October 4, Sunday9:30pm***** 
2026  October 6, Tuesday9:30pm***** 
2026  October 8, Thursday9:30pm***** 
2026  October 11, Sunday9:30pm***** 
2026  October 13, Tuesday9:30pm***** 
2026  October 15, Thursday9:30pm***** 
2026  October 18, Sunday9:30pm***** 
2026  October 20, Tuesday9:30pm***The moon is bright
2026  October 22, Thursday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2026  October 25, Sunday10:00pm*The moon is bright
2026  October 27, Tuesday10:00pm**** 
2026  October 29, Thursday10:00pm***** 
2026  November 1, Sunday10:00pm****The Milky Way is low on the horizon and harder to see
2026  November 3, Tuesday10:00pm****The Milky Way is low on the horizon and harder to see
2026  November 5, Thursday10:00pm****The Milky Way is low on the horizon and harder to see
2026  November 8, Sunday10:00pm****The Milky Way is low on the horizon and harder to see
2026  November 10, Tuesday10:30pm****The Milky Way is low on the horizon and harder to see
2026  November 12, Thursday10:30pm****The Milky Way is low on the horizon and harder to see
2026  November 15, Sunday10:30pm****The Milky Way is low on the horizon and harder to see
2026  November 17, Tuesday10:30pm****The Milky Way is low on the horizon and harder to see
2026  November 19, Thursday10:30pm**The moon is bright and the Milky Way is low on the horizon and hard to see
2026  November 22, Sunday10:30pm*The moon is bright and the Milky Way is low on the horizon and hard to see
2026  November 24, Tuesday10:30pm*The moon is bright and the Milky Way is low on the horizon and hard to see
2026  November 26, Thursday10:30pm*The moon is bright and the Milky Way is low on the horizon and hard to see
2026  November 29, Sunday10:30pm****The Milky Way is low on the horizon and harder to see
2026 December *No tours will be run during December and January due to the late sunset surrounding the summer solstice and the position of the Milky Way.
2027 January *No tours will be run during December and January due to the late sunset surrounding the summer solstice and the position of the Milky Way.
2027  February 2, Tuesday10:30pm***** 
2027  February 4, Thursday10:30pm***** 
2027  February 7, Sunday10:30pm***** 
2027  February 9, Tuesday10:30pm***** 
2027  February 11, Thursday10:30pm***** 
2027  February 14, Sunday10:30pm**** 
2027  February 16, Tuesday10:30pm*The moon is bright
2027  February 18, Thursday10:00pm*The moon is bright
2027  February 21, Sunday10:00pm*The moon is bright
2027  February 23, Tuesday10:00pm*The moon is bright
2027  February 25, Thursday10:00pm****The moon is bright
2027  February 28, Sunday10:00pm***** 
2027  March 2, Tuesday10:00pm***** 
2027  March 4, Thursday10:00pm***** 
2027  March 7, Sunday9:30pm***** 
2027  March 9, Tuesday9:30pm***** 
2027  March 11, Thursday9:30pm***** 
2027  March 14, Sunday9:30pm***** 
2027  March 16, Tuesday9:30pm***The moon is bright
2027  March 18, Thursday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2027  March 21, Sunday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2027  March 23, Tuesday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2027  March 25, Thursday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2027  March 28, Sunday9:30pm***** 
2027  March 30, Tuesday9:30pm***** 
2027  April 1, Thursday9:30pm***** 
2027  April 4, Sunday9:30pm***** 
2027  April 6, Tuesday9:30pm***** 
2027  April 8, Thursday9:30pm***** 
2027  April 11, Sunday9:30pm***** 
2027  April 13, Tuesday9:30pm***** 
2027  April 15, Thursday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2027  April 18, Sunday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2027  April 20, Tuesday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2027  April 22, Thursday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2027  April 25, Sunday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2027  April 27, Tuesday9:30pm**** 
2027  April 29, Thursday9:30pm***** 
2027  May 2, Sunday9:30pm***** 
2027  May 4, Tuesday9:30pm***** 
2027  May 6, Thursday9:30pm***** 
2027  May 9, Sunday9:30pm***** 
2027  May 11, Tuesday9:30pm***** 
2027  May 13, Thursday9:30pm***The moon is bright
2027  May 16, Sunday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2027  May 18, Tuesday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2027  May 20, Thursday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2027  May 23, Sunday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2027  May 25, Tuesday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2027  May 27, Thursday9:30pm***** 
2027  May 30, Sunday9:30pm***** 
2027  June 1, Tuesday9:30pm***** 
2027  June 3, Thursday9:30pm***** 
2027  June 6, Sunday9:30pm***** 
2027  June 8, Tuesday9:30pm***** 
2027  June 10, Thursday9:30pm***** 
2027  June 13, Sunday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2027  June 15, Tuesday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2027  June 17, Thursday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2027  June 20, Sunday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2027  June 22, Tuesday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2027  June 24, Thursday9:30pm*** 
2027  June 27, Sunday9:30pm***** 
2027  June 29, Tuesday9:30pm***** 
2027  July 1, Thursday9:30pm***** 
2027  July 4, Sunday9:30pm***** 
2027  July 6, Tuesday9:30pm***** 
2027  July 8, Thursday9:30pm***** 
2027  July 11, Sunday9:30pm***The moon is bright
2027  July 13, Tuesday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2027  July 15, Thursday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2027  July 18, Sunday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2027  July 20, Tuesday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2027  July 22, Thursday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2027  July 25, Sunday9:30pm***** 
2027  July 27, Tuesday9:30pm***** 
2027  July 29, Thursday9:30pm***** 
2027  August 1, Sunday9:30pm***** 
2027  August 3, Tuesday9:30pm***** 
2027  August 5, Thursday9:30pm***** 
2027  August 8, Sunday9:30pm***** 
2027  August 10, Tuesday9:30pm***The moon is bright
2027  August 12, Thursday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2027  August 15, Sunday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2027  August 17, Tuesday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2027  August 19, Thursday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2027  August 22, Sunday9:30pm***** 
2027  August 24, Tuesday9:30pm***** 
2027  August 26, Thursday9:30pm***** 
2027  August 29, Sunday9:30pm***** 
2027  August 31, Tuesday9:30pm***** 
2027  September 2, Thursday9:30pm***** 
2027  September 5, Sunday9:30pm***** 
2027  September 7, Tuesday9:30pm***** 
2027  September 9, Thursday9:30pm**The moon is bright
2027  September 12, Sunday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2027  September 14, Tuesday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2027  September 16, Thursday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2027  September 19, Sunday9:30pm**** 
2027  September 21, Tuesday9:30pm***** 
2027  September 23, Thursday9:30pm***** 
2027  September 26, Sunday9:30pm***** 
2027  September 28, Tuesday9:30pm***** 
2027  September 30, Thursday9:30pm***** 
2027  October 3, Sunday9:30pm***** 
2027  October 5, Tuesday9:30pm***** 
2027  October 7, Thursday9:30pm**** 
2027  October 10, Sunday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2027  October 12, Tuesday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2027  October 14, Thursday9:30pm*The moon is bright
2027  October 17, Sunday9:30pm***The moon is bright
2027  October 19, Tuesday9:30pm***** 
2027  October 21, Thursday9:30pm***** 
2027  October 24, Sunday9:30pm***** 
2027  October 26, Tuesday10:00pm***** 
2027  October 28, Thursday10:00pm***** 
2027  October 31, Sunday10:00pm***** 
2027  November 2, Tuesday10:00pm****The Milky Way is low on the horizon and harder to see
2027  November 4, Thursday10:00pm****The Milky Way is low on the horizon and harder to see
2027  November 7, Sunday10:00pm**The moon is bright and the Milky Way is low on the horizon and hard to see
2027  November 9, Tuesday10:00pm*The moon is bright and the Milky Way is low on the horizon and hard to see
2027  November 11, Thursday10:30pm*The moon is bright and the Milky Way is low on the horizon and hard to see
2027  November 14, Sunday10:30pm*The moon is bright and the Milky Way is low on the horizon and hard to see
2027  November 16, Tuesday10:30pm****The Milky Way is low on the horizon and harder to see
2027  November 18, Thursday10:30pm****The Milky Way is low on the horizon and harder to see
2027  November 21, Sunday10:30pm****The Milky Way is low on the horizon and harder to see
2027  November 23, Tuesday10:30pm****The Milky Way is low on the horizon and harder to see
2027  November 25, Thursday10:30pm****The Milky Way is low on the horizon and harder to see
2027  November 28, Sunday10:30pm****The Milky Way is low on the horizon and harder to see
2027  November 30, Tuesday10:30pm****The Milky Way is low on the horizon and harder to see
2027 December  No tours will be run during December and January due to the late sunset surrounding the summer solstice and the position of the Milky Way.
2028 January  No tours will be run during December and January due to the late sunset surrounding the summer solstice and the position of the Milky Way.