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 Most Loved 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 8-inch 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 telescopes

  • Binoculars for closer looks

  • Take home a lasting memory: a digital photo of you under the stars.

  • 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.

WHAT OUR GUESTS ARE SAYING ABOUT US

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Went on a stargazing tour with Luca at 10pm.
He started right off passionately about light pollution and went on explaining different star constellations, stars themselves and galaxies, as well as nebulas. And all this very visible through his telescope. He even provided blankets and warm tea during the chilly night.
Would book again!”

— Written 27 February 2025

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“My friends and I loved the stargazing tour! We learned a lot of new things and you can really tell that Luca is passionate about this topic. I enjoyed this tour so much that I joined their new daytime Cosmic Quest Tour a week later. You could see the sun through their special telescope and take your own photos with your phone trough the telescope as well. This tour is great for children too, as it is very interactive!”

— Written 21 February 2025

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Stargazing with Luca is one of the best things you can do in New Zealand. As my friend and I did already the planetarium projection at Lucas place and saw how passionate this man is and how much we can learn from him, we decided that we want to come back for stargazing. Best decision, because we had an absolutely amazing night and were so lucky with the completely clear sky. Luca taught us so many things and took a lot of time to answer our questions understandably. The view on the moon, planets and stars through his telescope was just incredible. For warm up there was hot tea and blankets. All in all a perfect night for us.”

— Written 4 February 2025

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“This tour is a must for anyone curious about the stars or the night sky. Luca has an amazing knowledge of the southern sky and makes the experience most impressive. We were lucky that during our tour, not only did we get to see some incredible stars but the Aurora Australis put on quite a show as well. It was remarkable how much we were able to see and learn due to this tour being so well organised. Thank you Luca and Akaroa Stargazing for a night we'll never forget.”

— Written 12 October 2024

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