Stargazing Tours - Dark Sky Project Lake Tekapo
Q&As
Latest Questions about Stargazing Tours - Dark Sky Project (Lake Tekapo)
Do you have transport travel from Lake Tekapo to Wanaka?
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For the dark sky experience, what are the age limits
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For Dark Sky Project (Lake Tekapo) infants are not allowed on these tours. The minimum age for the Summit experience is 10 years old and 7 years old for the Dark Sky and Crater experience.
For Summit Experience in June, there are 2 slots: 6:30 pm and 8:30 pm. Which time is the better option for this experience?
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Either time would work well for the Dark Sky experience, as it is winter and will be dark well before 06.30 PM
If the weather is cloudy for the Dark Sky Experience (Tekapo) do we get a refund?
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If the tour is cancelled due to bad weather conditions you have the opportunity to join the Indoor Experience and you will receive a partial refund or you can reschedule to a different date.
Are there family packages for Dark Sky Project (Tekapo)
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Yes, we have a special for 2 adults & 2 kids as well as a special for 2 adults & 3 kids
Does the Dark Sky Project offer pick-ups/transport from Mount Cook Village
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No, you do need to self drive to the Dark Sky Project office in Tekapo
Do you offer the Manderin tour for the Dark Sky Project Star Gazing tour?
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Absolutely! They have Mandarin speaking staff which means you wont miss out on any of the fascinating information. However if you do require a guide who speaks other languages you should enquire ahead of time to avoid disappointment.
Hi
We are coming down to Tekapo on Friday. Do you think there will be any chance of seeing the Southern Lights on Friday or Saturday ? Which day would be best to book for the tour ? Thanks
For the Little Star tour what times do they start ?
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The Little Star tour in Tekapo operates during the winter months only and departs at approximately 5pm.
How do we get from Queenstown to The Dark Sky Project in Lake Tekapo?
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Tekapo is a good 3 hour drive from Queenstown and there are no return transfers offered as part of the Mt John star gazing tour unfortunately.
What's the difference between the Mt John Night Observatory Tour & Twilight Tour?
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Hi Szean, the Twilight Tour runs earlier than the Mt John Night Tour so you catch the last of the sunset as well as doing some star gazing. While you wait for the sun to go down you will get a tour of the observatory and the facilities there, watch a short film and have a hot drink and cake before star gazing.
Whats the difference between Tekapo Star Gazing tours and Mt John Observatory tours. Are they just different turn operators for the same star gazing ?
Hi there,
Is under 5's free on the Little Stars tour?
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Yes children under 5 years of age do travel for free on all the star gazing tours in Tekapo.
Hi Could you please clarify what a "Little Stars Tour" is? You have very good feedback but the cost is very expensive. I would love to bring my star gazing grandchildren hopefully this would be a way for them to experience it. Many thanks Joy priest
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The Little Star tour at Mt John in Tekapo is very similar to the standard night tour however it is a little shorter and is the first tour for the night so more suitable for kids.
what nights can you put your cameras
on the telescopes
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Hi Carolyn, each night there is a photographer up at the Mt John Observatory who can assist in having the correct settings on your camera to get the best pictures of the night sky. You won't actually put your camera on the telescope but you will be educated on how to get the best pictures of the night sky by using the correct settings.
My husband and I will be holidaying in your area late Dec 2014 to early Jan 2015. We would like to do the night observatory tour and want to know before we book accommodation if you will be open to do the tours in those days or will you be closed for the holiday break? Depending on your days of being open will be when we book our accommodation. Thanks very much.
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Hi Harsha. The Lake Tekapo star gazing tours operate every day of the year except Christmas day. The period over Christmas and New Years and the summer school holidays are the busiest time for bookings so we do recommend booking well in advance.
We will be visiting lake Tekapo for one night in December and would like to do the night observatory tour however with 3 children, youngest of whom is 8 yrs old I am worried it will be too late and they will get bored ... If I book the sunset tour will we still be able to view stars through the telescope once it gets dark?
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Hi Anna,
You will be able to star gaze for the last 20 minutes of the sunset tour. It will not be a dark sky, but you will be able to see bright objects.
The later tour finishes as 12:30am - so it is quite late.
Kind regards
Nigel Hobbs
My family will be staying at Tekapo 2,3,4 Jan. Can I buy vouchers for two adults and one child for them as a Christmas gift?
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Hi Joyce. Yes you certainly can buy an open dated gift voucher for the Tekapo Star Gazing. To do this simply go to the Star Gazing page on our website and click on the Book Now button at the top or bottom of the page. Then check the box at the top of the page where it says "I want this to be an open dated Gift Voucher". You then write a message, click the green tick and then choose the options you want. Add this to your Basket, go to the Check out page and pay and we will then email you back with a Gift Voucher.
Hi
We are going to Tekapo this weekend and have a voucher to use for start gazing which we would like to do on 1 September (night tour). What is the cancellation policy is we book now - the only reason we would cancel is if the weather wasn't very good.
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Hi Katherine, if you book the Tekapo Star Gazing with your voucher for this weekend and Earth & Sky cancel the tour becuase of poor weather then your voucher will be refunded the money.
Hi can we just drive up and ssee the observeratery and have someting to eat in the cafe?What does your cafe serve for adults and kids.
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Hi Jo, yes you certainly can drive up to the Mt John Observatory during the day and have something at the cafe. The cafe serves muffins, scones, slices, cakes as well as an all day breakfast menu including bacon and eggs, toasted sandwiches and bagels etc.
Hi there,
I am from auckland, and plan for a 2 or 3 days trip to Lake Tekepo to see Aurora Australis, when is the best time to go there during the year? and should I fly to Tiramu or Christchurch, or Queenstown then drive to Tekepo?
Thanks a lot
Elva Chan
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Hi Elva, an Aurora Australis is extremely unpredictable and no one can ever be certain when it is going to happen. It depends on how active the sun is but it can occur any time of day or night for either a few seconds or last a few hours. Winter is generally a good time of year to see one but only because there are more dark hours.
Is the Dark Sky Project Star gazing tour suitable for someone in a wheelchair
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The Mt John Night tour is not ideal for wheelchair access however if you have a support person with you and have some mobility then you may be ok. The issue will be getting in and out of the van to get up to Mt John and there are a few steps to get up once you get there. If this doesn't sound like an issue then you should be fine.
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Unfortunately there is no transport provided with any of the Stargazing tours.
Comment by: Everything NZ (Kiani) on 13th Jan 24 at 10:35