Night Awe

Your #1 Journey into the Southern Skies

Join Akaroa's most popular evening tour for an unforgettable 90-minute immersion into the Milky Way, distant galaxies, and celestial wonders from our pristine dark sky location at Akaroa Heritage Park.

Why Night Awe is Akaroa's Must-Do Stargazing Tour

  • Night sky filled with countless stars and the Milky Way galaxy, with a bright orange moon setting over mountains on the horizon and a silhouette of trees and hills in the foreground.

    PRISTINE DARK SKIES

    Escape city lights at our exceptional location in Akaroa Heritage Park, only a short drive from Akaroa township, offering unparalleled views of the Milky Way, distant nebulae, and celestial objects in stunning clarity.

  • A man with curly red hair and glasses stands outdoors against a cloudy sky, wearing a black jacket.

    GUIDED BY LUCA

    Our passionate guide, Luca, brings the universe to life with captivating storytelling, fascinating scientific insights, and a sprinkle of Māori mythology, making complex concepts easy and enjoyable for all.

  • Group of six people standing on grass under a starry night sky with clouds and some visible planets or stars in the background.

    INTIMATE & COMFORTABLE

    Enjoy a truly personal experience with small group sizes (max 10 participants). Relax in comfy outdoor chairs, wrapped in warm blankets, with a delicious hot drink in hand as you gaze at the stars.

  • A telescope set up outdoors at night, pointed towards a star-filled sky, capturing the Milky Way galaxy.

    EXPLORE WITH POWERFUL TELESCOPES

    Peer through the incredible details of planets, star clusters, and galaxies using our powerful 10-inch Dobsonian telescope. For live, vibrant views and stunning astrophotography of deep-sky objects, we also utilize the innovative ZWO Seestar S50 smart telescope.

  • A person with a backpack and wide-brim hat looking through a telescope at the night sky, which is filled with stars and the Milky Way, with pinkish aurora near the horizon.

    LASTING MEMORIES

    Receive a complimentary digital souvenir photo of you under the stars, along with the incredible celestial images captured by our Seestar S50, delivered to your inbox the following day!

Check availability and book

PRICING

  • Child (5 - 15) $59

  • Adult (16+) $99

  • Senior (65+) $89

  • Student $79

  • Family (2 adults + 2 children) $279

Children under 5s join us for free!

DEPARTURE TIME

Departure times vary with sunset, see below schedule for estimated starting times.

  • December-January: 10:30PM, 12:30AM

  • February: 10:00PM, 12:00AM

  • March: 9:30PM, 11:30PM

  • April-August: 7:30PM, 9:30PM

  • September: 8:00PM, 10:00PM

  • October: 9:30PM, 11:30PM

  • November: 10:00PM, 12:00AM

MEETING POINT

Akaroa Heritage Park, 280 Long Bay Road, Akaroa 7583

Google Maps link

DURATION

90 minutes

GROUP SIZE

Maximum 10 participants

INCLUDED

  • State-of-the-art 10-inch Dobsonian telescope

  • ZWO Seestar S50 smart telescope

  • High-resolution Deep-Sky images captured by the Seestar S50 (shared at the end of the tour)

  • Digital souvenir photo of you under the stars (shared the following day or so)

  • Hot drink to keep you warm and cozy

  • Comfortable outdoor seating area to relax and gaze

  • Blankets for snuggling up

NOT INCLUDED

  • Transfers, pick-ups, & drop-offs

  • Food

WHAT TO BRING

  • Comfortable shoes

  • Warm clothing

  • Camera and smartphone

Please refer to our Terms and Conditions for further details, including our cancellation policy.

Leaving in Awe: What Our Stargazers Say

  • ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

    “A Magical Night Under the Stars – Aurora and All!

    Absolutely magical experience with Akaroa Stargazing! The night sky was incredible, and we were lucky enough to see the Aurora Australis dancing above the harbour; an unforgettable sight. Our guide was passionate and knowledgeable, pointing out constellations and celestial wonders while capturing stunning photos of the night (and us!) that we’ll treasure forever. Highly recommend for anyone visiting Akaroa, a must-do! 🌌💫”

    — Stacey L.

    Reviewed on TripAdvisor - June 2025

  • ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

    “A MUST-DO if you visit Akaroa!

    Not a “normal” tourist thing — this is a unique experience that we will remember for years! Luca is fun, relaxed and knowledgeable. A MUST-DO if you visit Akaroa!”

    — Emma K.

    Reviewed on TripAdvisor - December 2024

  • ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

    “I attended this tour I believe on a Monday night and it was great. Luca was fantastic! He is incredibly knowledgeable, passionate and it radiates through. I'm not even particularly into space, but I found it so interesting and I'd do it again. Consider me a convert. A colleague prebooked and maintained communication about the clarity of the sky (as we were 1.5hrs away) and I understood the communication was very good. I recommend this tour.”

    — Natalie

    Reviewed on Google - November 2024

  • ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

    “What an amazing experience I learnt so much from Luca I'm from Christchurch and I could not believe such a small trip over to Akaroa to see the incredible stars amazing attraction and so educational thank you Luca for an amazing night”

    — Stevie V.

    Reviewed on Google - May 2025

Read more reviews

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