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.
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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
| Date | Time | Star Rating | Notes |
| 2024 November 03, Sunday | 10:00pm | ***** | |
| 2024 November 05, Tuesday | 10:00pm | ***** | |
| 2024 November 07, Thursday | 10:30pm | ***** | |
| 2024 November 10, Sunday | 10:30pm | *** | The moon is bright |
| 2024 November 12, Tuesday | 10:30pm | * | The moon is bright |
| 2024 November 14, Thursday | 10:30pm | * | The moon is bright |
| 2024 November 17, Sunday | 10:30pm | **** | The Milky Way is low on the horizon and harder to see |
| 2024 November 19, Tuesday | 10:30pm | **** | The Milky Way is low on the horizon and harder to see |
| 2024 November 21, Thursday | 10:30pm | **** | The Milky Way is low on the horizon and harder to see |
| 2024 November 24, Sunday | 10:30pm | **** | The Milky Way is low on the horizon and harder to see |
| 2024 November 26, Tuesday | 10:30pm | **** | The Milky Way is low on the horizon and harder to see |
| 2024 November 28, Thursday | 10:30pm | **** | The Milky Way is low on the horizon and harder to see |
| 2024 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. | |
| 2025 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. | |
| 2025 February 02, Sunday | 10:30pm | ***** | |
| 2025 February 04, Tuesday | 10:30pm | ***** | |
| 2025 February 06, Thursday | 10:30pm | *** | The moon is bright |
| 2025 February 09, Sunday | 10:30pm | * | The moon is bright |
| 2025 February 11, Tuesday | 10:30pm | * | The moon is bright |
| 2025 February 13, Thursday | 10:30pm | * | The moon is bright |
| 2025 February 16, Sunday | 10:30pm | *** | The moon is bright |
| 2025 February 18, Tuesday | 10:00pm | ***** | |
| 2025 February 20, Thursday | 10:00pm | ***** | |
| 2025 February 23, Sunday | 10:00pm | ***** | |
| 2025 February 25, Tuesday | 10:00pm | ***** | |
| 2025 February 27, Thursday | 10:00pm | ***** | |
| 2025 March 02, Sunday | 10:00pm | ***** | |
| 2025 March 04, Tuesday | 10:00pm | ***** | |
| 2025 March 06, Thursday | 9:30pm | *** | The moon is bright |
| 2025 March 09, Sunday | 9:30pm | * | The moon is bright |
| 2025 March 11, Tuesday | 9:30pm | * | The moon is bright |
| 2025 March 13, Thursday | 9:30pm | * | The moon is bright |
| 2025 March 16, Sunday | 9:30pm | * | The moon is bright |
| 2025 March 18, Tuesday | 9:30pm | *** | The moon is bright |
| 2025 March 20, Thursday | 9:00pm | ***** | |
| 2025 March 23, Sunday | 9:00pm | ***** | |
| 2025 March 25, Tuesday | 9:00pm | ***** | |
| 2025 March 27, Thursday | 9:00pm | ***** | |
| 2025 March 30, Sunday | 9:00pm | ***** | |
| 2025 April 01, Tuesday | 9:00pm | ***** | |
| 2025 April 03, Thursday | 9:00pm | ***** | |
| 2025 April 06, Sunday | 8:45pm | *** | The moon is bright |
| 2025 April 08, Tuesday | 8:45pm | * | The moon is bright |
| 2025 April 10, Thursday | 8:45pm | * | The moon is bright |
| 2025 April 13, Sunday | 8:45pm | * | The moon is bright |
| 2025 April 15, Tuesday | 8:45pm | * | The moon is bright |
| 2025 April 17, Thursday | 8:45pm | *** | The moon is bright |
| 2025 April 20, Sunday | 8:45pm | ***** | |
| 2025 April 22, Tuesday | 8:45pm | ***** | |
| 2025 April 24, Thursday | 8:45pm | ***** | |
| 2025 April 27, Sunday | 8:45pm | ***** | |
| 2025 April 29, Tuesday | 8:45pm | ***** | |
| 2025 May 01, Thursday | 8:45pm | ***** | |
| 2025 May 04, Sunday | 8:45pm | *** | The moon is bright |
| 2025 May 06, Tuesday | 8:45pm | *** | The moon is bright |
| 2025 May 08, Thursday | 8:45pm | * | The moon is bright |
| 2025 May 11, Sunday | 8:45pm | * | The moon is bright |
| 2025 May 13, Tuesday | 8:45pm | * | The moon is bright |
| 2025 May 15, Thursday | 8:45pm | * | The moon is bright |
| 2025 May 18, Sunday | 8:45pm | ***** | |
| 2025 May 20, Tuesday | 8:45pm | ***** | |
| 2025 May 22, Thursday | 8:45pm | ***** | |
| 2025 May 25, Sunday | 8:45pm | ***** | |
| 2025 May 27, Tuesday | 8:45pm | ***** | |
| 2025 May 29, Thursday | 8:45pm | ***** | |
| 2025 June 01, Sunday | 8:45pm | ***** | |
| 2025 June 03, Tuesday | 8:45pm | *** | The moon is bright |
| 2025 June 05, Thursday | 8:45pm | * | The moon is bright |
| 2025 June 08, Sunday | 8:45pm | * | The moon is bright |
| 2025 June 10, Tuesday | 8:45pm | * | The moon is bright |
| 2025 June 12, Thursday | 8:45pm | * | The moon is bright |
| 2025 June 15, Sunday | 8:45pm | ***** | |
| 2025 June 17, Tuesday | 8:45pm | ***** | |
| 2025 June 19, Thursday | 8:45pm | ***** | |
| 2025 June 22, Sunday | 8:45pm | ***** | |
| 2025 June 24, Tuesday | 8:45pm | ***** | |
| 2025 June 26, Thursday | 8:45pm | ***** | |
| 2025 June 29, Sunday | 8:45pm | ***** | |
| 2025 July 01, Tuesday | 8:45pm | ***** | |
| 2025 July 03, Thursday | 8:45pm | *** | The moon is bright |
| 2025 July 06, Sunday | 8:45pm | * | The moon is bright |
| 2025 July 08, Tuesday | 8:45pm | * | The moon is bright |
| 2025 July 10, Thursday | 8:45pm | * | The moon is bright |
| 2025 July 13, Sunday | 8:45pm | * | The moon is bright |
| 2025 July 15, Tuesday | 8:45pm | ***** | |
| 2025 July 17, Thursday | 8:45pm | ***** | |
| 2025 July 20, Sunday | 8:45pm | ***** | |
| 2025 July 22, Tuesday | 8:45pm | ***** | |
| 2025 July 24, Thursday | 8:45pm | ***** | |
| 2025 July 27, Sunday | 8:45pm | ***** | |
| 2025 July 29, Tuesday | 8:45pm | ***** | |
| 2025 July 31, Thursday | 8:45pm | ***** | |
| 2025 August 03, Sunday | 8:45pm | *** | The moon is bright |
| 2025 August 05, Tuesday | 8:45pm | * | The moon is bright |
| 2025 August 07, Thursday | 8:45pm | * | The moon is bright |
| 2025 August 10, Sunday | 8:45pm | * | The moon is bright |
| 2025 August 12, Tuesday | 8:45pm | ***** | |
| 2025 August 14, Thursday | 8:45pm | ***** | |
| 2025 August 17, Sunday | 8:45pm | ***** | |
| 2025 August 19, Tuesday | 8:45pm | ***** | |
| 2025 August 21, Thursday | 8:45pm | ***** | |
| 2025 August 24, Sunday | 8:45pm | ***** | |
| 2025 August 26, Tuesday | 8:45pm | ***** | |
| 2025 August 28, Thursday | 8:45pm | ***** | |
| 2025 August 31, Sunday | 8:45pm | *** | The moon is bright |
| 2025 September 02, Tuesday | 8:45pm | *** | The moon is bright |
| 2025 September 04, Thursday | 8:45pm | * | The moon is bright |
| 2025 September 07, Sunday | 8:45pm | * | The moon is bright |
| 2025 September 09, Tuesday | 8:45pm | *** | The moon is bright |
| 2025 September 11, Thursday | 8:45pm | ***** | |
| 2025 September 14, Sunday | 8:45pm | ***** | |
| 2025 September 16, Tuesday | 8:45pm | ***** | |
| 2025 September 18, Thursday | 8:45pm | ***** | |
| 2025 September 21, Sunday | 8:45pm | ***** | |
| 2025 September 23, Tuesday | 8:45pm | ***** | |
| 2025 September 25, Thursday | 8:45pm | ***** | |
| 2025 September 28, Sunday | 9:00pm | ***** | |
| 2025 September 30, Tuesday | 9:00pm | *** | The moon is bright |
| 2025 October 02, Thursday | 9:00pm | * | The moon is bright |
| 2025 October 05, Sunday | 9:30pm | * | The moon is bright |
| 2025 October 07, Tuesday | 9:30pm | * | The moon is bright |
| 2025 October 09, Thursday | 9:30pm | ***** | |
| 2025 October 12, Sunday | 9:30pm | ***** | |
| 2025 October 14, Tuesday | 9:30pm | ***** | |
| 2025 October 16, Thursday | 9:30pm | ***** | |
| 2025 October 19, Sunday | 9:30pm | ***** | |
| 2025 October 21, Tuesday | 9:30pm | ***** | |
| 2025 October 23, Thursday | 10:00pm | ***** | |
| 2025 October 26, Sunday | 10:00pm | ***** | |
| 2025 October 28, Tuesday | 10:00pm | ***** | |
| 2025 October 30, Thursday | 10:00pm | *** | The moon is bright |
| 2025 November 02, Sunday | 10:00pm | * | The moon is bright |
| 2025 November 04, Tuesday | 10:00pm | * | The moon is bright |
| 2025 November 06, Thursday | 10:00pm | ***** | |
| 2025 November 09, Sunday | 10:30pm | ***** | |
| 2025 November 11, Tuesday | 10:30pm | ***** | |
| 2025 November 13, Thursday | 10:30pm | ***** | |
| 2025 November 16, Sunday | 10:30pm | ***** | |
| 2025 November 18, Tuesday | 10:30pm | ***** | |
| 2025 November 20, Thursday | 10:30pm | ***** | |
| 2025 November 23, Sunday | 10:30pm | ***** | |
| 2025 November 25, Tuesday | 10:30pm | ***** | |
| 2025 November 27, Thursday | 10:30pm | ***** | |
| 2025 November 30, Sunday | 10:30pm | ** | The moon is bright |
| 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. |
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