incredible night sky

The ultimate in stellar relaxation, Tekapo Star Gazing is the only guided hot pools and star gazing experience in New Zealand. The tour operates from the renowned facilities of Tekapo Springs, combining the stunning Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve with our soul-warming hot pools.

A 1.5-hour experience, the tour includes a guided tour of the southern night sky with a unique combination of astronomy and stories passed down from the ancestors of the first people of Aotearoa, followed by exclusive use of our 38°C hot pool. In clear weather, we explore the planets, galaxies and stars using telescopes.

If the weather isn’t suitable for outdoor stargazing you will experience a customised indoor virtual reality tour with individual headsets, showcasing the Lake Tekapo night skies! This unique experience features stunning 360-degree images of the stars, custom-drawn artwork to bring the constellations to life with a fusion of science and storytelling. This indoor tour is also followed by exclusive use of our hot pool.

relax & soak

Enjoy exclusive use of our 37.5-38.5℃ hot pool and let the real world melt away as you lie back with the help of a floating hammock to ensure easy sky viewing. While soothing music plays, feel like you’re floating among the stars as you explore the wonders of the night skies. Your guide is poolside during this unique star gazing experience, to tell stories, impart interesting scientific information and answer your questions.

A pool wheelchair is available on request. Start times for our star gazing experiences are seasonal to ensure the darkest skies.

*Please note that none of our soak in the stars stargazing tours allow children under the age of 12 to be on our tour.

Discover Tā Mātou Mōhiotanga Māori

Our Māori Knowledge

Our celestial journey deepens with timeless Māori legends woven into the starlight. As you explore the southern skies, we share sacred tales such as the Creation Story of Ranginui and Papatūānuku, and the legendary fishing voyage where Māui and his brothers lifted Te Ika-a-Māui (the North Island) from the ocean using Te Matau-o-Māui (Māui’s magical fishhook).

We also introduce Te Kapo, the taniwha guardian of Te Wai Pounamu (the South Island), watching over these waters with ancestral strength. As night settles, we honour Matariki, the Pleiades—the seven sisters—and recount the haunting myth of Tawhitiamatea, atua o te hau (god of the wind), who tore out his eyes, planting them in the chest of Ranginui to birth the Matariki cluster.

These stories are more than myths—they’re navigational guides. Our experts point out how Māori voyagers used these stars to cross the vast Pacific generations ago, demonstrating a sophisticated knowledge of the heavens intertwined with whakapapa (genealogy) and whenua (land).

New VR Experience

Step into the stars with our brand-new, state-of-the-art Virtual Reality tour — an immersive indoor alternative when cloudy skies hide the view. Created by the talented team at Evans Taylor Digital, this interactive journey brings the night sky to life like never before!

The VR experience is our alternative for the telescope viewing part of the stargazing tour, in case of cloudy weather.

NIGHTLY TOURS

Star Gazing Tours are operated from the Tekapo Springs facilities. Please note that check in for the tour is at Tekapo Springs Reception, 300 Lakeside Drive, Lake Tekapo.

Tours run 7 evenings a week from October until April, and 5 evenings a week (Thursday – Monday) from May until September, however night sky visibility and weather conditions will determine if the indoor or outdoor experience is utilised. Sometimes the guided portion of the stargazing tour is both indoors and outdoors. The hot pools portion takes place regardless of weather.

Feedback

  • Recommended trip

    Although the sky was not really clear that night but there was a planetarium & stars presentation to us which is funny. Following by a nice hit spring treat at a winter nightthat was really really comfortable & amazing.


    Chandelier7818, Macau, China

  • A Must Do Adventure

    It was -5 and the sky was slightly cloudy with no chance of snow. It was an awesome way to learn about our planets, see planets through massive telescopes and revel in the fact we are just dust in the scheme of things. The guides were terrific and incredibly knowledgeable. Expensive outing but it’s done. I can tick it off the bucket list.


    Denise R, Dunedin, New Zealand

  • Amazing experience even in the Winter

    We were all hesitant about going to Tekapo Springs at 10:30 pm and standing outside in the cold for 40 minutes then to strip down to our bathers and get wet. But in the end we were all glad we did it and feel better for the experience. The moon was 75% full so the sky lacked the true darkness we desired but the talk and telscopes was certainly well informative. Really enjoyed seeing Saturn and the Moon through the telescopes. Then the time for the hot pool. The walk on icy rubber mats was a challenge as it was -2 C outside, but the hot springs was a delight. The water hammock were fjn but in the end we all submerged our entire bodies into the water since parts were exposed to the air when using the hammocks. We saw at least 4 shooting stars and a lovely clear night sky.


    KenV-NZ

  • Perfect combo

    Perfect amount of timing with both the star gazing & the hot pools. My partner & I did this experience as a way of killing two birds with one stone per say & also to experience the hot pools at night. Great knowledge shared about the stars, galaxies & NZ history. A real eye opener.


    Marlyn L

  • You 100% need to do this!!

    We had such a good experience doing the stargazing. It was easy to book into and there is transport from their office in town to the lake springs building. Our guide Dan was very knowledgable and his love for everything to do with the sky/space really showed through in how passionately he spoke of it. Dan tried very hard to answer any questions and was happy to explain everything. He didn’t enjoy chatting/small talk very much though. It was freezing out looking at through the telescope but once we were put in the hot pools it was amazing. Looking up at the brilliant night sky whilst floating in warm water is something everyone should experience in their life. Rug up with beanies and gloves when you set out for the tour and you will have a great night.


    Georgia P, Melbourne, Australia

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    OUR TOUR

    45 min

    First Half

    Enjoy an introduction to the night sky with your star gazing guide, complemented by looking through high-powered telescopes pointed at some of the most interesting features of the southern skies. Marvel at Tekapo’s amazing night skies with our unique combination of astronomy and storytelling.

    If the weather isn’t suitable for outdoor stargazing, an alternative VR(Virtual Reality) including headsets, indoor tour will be provided. The indoor experience uses stunning 360 degrees images of the stars and an incredible time lapse including the Aurora Australis (Southern lights)

    *Please note children under 6 years are not allowed at any part of the tour.

    45 min

    second half

    Relax in a hot pool* and let the real world melt away while listening to soothing music. Our floating hammocks ensure ultimate relaxation and easy sky viewing and you’ll feel like you’re floating among the stars. Guides are poolside during this unique star gazing experience to answer any questions.

    *Temperature varies between 37.5 and 38.5 degrees.
    **Please note children under 6 years are not allowed at any part of the tour.

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    From Thursday 7th August, our Early Stars For Early Birds Telescope Only Tours operate again!Book Now