Nā te pō, ko te ao, ko te ao mārama

From the darkest depths of the night we become enlightened 

At Dark Sky Project, formerly Earth & Sky, we connect manuhiri (visitors) to our night skies, igniting a lifelong passion for dark sky preservation and what lies above. 

We're proud to be regarded as leaders in astro-tourism and stargazing experiences.

 

Red light spilling from observatory dome with snowy mountains and milky way

THE SUMMIT EXPERIENCE

Premier guided stargazing tour at the summit of Mount John.

Our exclusive mountaintop stargazing tour held at the summit of Mount John – home to a world-renowned astronomical research centre, the University of Canterbury Mt John Observatory.

Evening/Outdoors  

2 Hours tour 

Stargazing using 9 ¼ - 16” telescopes  

 

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 The image shows a person looking through a telescope under a clear, star-filled night sky. The Milky Way galaxy is vividly visible, stretching across the sky with its bright cosmic clouds. The person is standing in an open field, illuminated by a soft re

THE CRATER EXPERIENCE 

Stargazing from Cowan's Private Observatory 

The perfect introductory stargazing experience. Enhance your knowledge of our Southern skies and ponder the possibilities during an evening of discovery. 

Evening/Outdoors

75 minutes tour   

Stargazing with telescopes / Indoors in case of bad weather

 

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THE DARK SKY EXPERIENCE  

Indoor guided astronomy experience at Dark Sky Project Base. 

An indoor, daytime all-weather astronomy experience. The Dark Sky Experience combines Māori astronomy, storytelling and science with fascinating multimedia installations. 

Daytime/Indoors 

45 minutes tour  

Family friendly experience 

 

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The image shows three silhouetted figures seated outdoors at night, gazing up at a stunning star-filled sky. The Milky Way is prominently visible, stretching across the sky with bright clusters of stars and cosmic dust. The silhouettes add a sense of scal

VIRTUAL STARGAZING EXPERIENCE  

Discover the night sky at any time of day with our indoor stargazing experience. 

Our daytime astronomy experience takes you on a journey into the night sky using captivating virtual reality technology, you truly feel like you are amongst the stars.

Daytime/Indoors 

45 minutes tour  

Family friendly experience 

 

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Couple at a table enjoying dinner at Dark Sky Diner

THE ULTIMATE IN LAKEFRONT DINING.

- The Dark Sky Diner. 

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Person reaching up to the night sky with milky way in the sky

OUR NIGHT SKY SHOULD BE ACCESSIBLE TO ALL.

- Our Purpose.

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Crescent moon rising from behind mountain range at night

AORAKI MACKENZIE INTERNATIONAL DARK SKY RESERVE.

- The largest gold status Dark Sky Reserve in the world.

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Night sky filled with stars with open hatch on observatory

STARGAZING FROM A PURPOSE BUILT CRATER.

  - At Cowan's Private Observatory. 

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Church of the Good Shepherd with the milky way in the sky

THE WORLD'S LARGEST GOLD STANDARD DARK SKY RESERVE.

- Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve.

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Presenter infront of screen illustrating the big bang theory

EMBARK ON A JOURNEY 13.8 BILLION YEARS IN THE MAKING.

- The Dark Sky Experience. 

 

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Silhouette of three people from behind looking at the milky way

OUR PREMIER MOUNTAINTOP STARGAZING EXPERIENCE.

- Stargazing from the summit of Mount John. 

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