AND CHECK OUT

wairarapa dark sky reserve

Look up! Our Wairarapa skies are filled with epic action and stars galore.

Wairarapa is an official Dark Sky Reserve status meaning our night sky is among the best places in the world to view the never-ending star filled skies above. We’re pretty lucky to have a Dark Sky Reserve right on our doorstep and only an hour’s drive from Wellington.

Currently the Reserve covers Carterton and South Wairarapa districts, and it is aiming to expand to Masterton. This will protect dark skies in unspoilt locations across the region. Viewing the night sky from special places like Castlepoint will be preserved for future generations. Watch this space! 

We can all spot the Southern Cross and the Pot but there’s much more to see! Experts at local dark sky tours, can guide you through the sky with telescopes to help make sense of what’s up above. 

Our 16" telescopes are big and have top of the range optics.
We love looking at the stars night after night.
Bring your 15 and younger for free.
Big telescopes see more. Our two 16" - Princess Leia and Darth Vader are manual because we know our night sky. We hunt planets, stars, deep sky objects and galaxies.
Learn astrophotography, we provide introductory (or advanced) lessons on photographing the night sky. Here is a quick photo of the Eta Carinae nebula with a Canon Ra, taken through our LX 200 telescope.
We are stargazing from a stunning place on top of a hill on Ponatahi Road, 10 minutes from Martinborough. In this photo, you can see the Ponatahi Valley.
The skyscape at Star Safari is fabulous with the Milky-Way arching horizon to horizon.
We look forward to seeing you at Star Safari
Our 16" telescopes are big and have top of the range optics. We love looking at the stars night after night. Bring your 15 and younger for free. Big telescopes see more. Our two 16" - Princess Leia and Darth Vader are manual because we know our night sky. We hunt planets, stars, deep sky objects and galaxies. Learn astrophotography, we provide introductory (or advanced) lessons on photographing the night sky. Here is a quick photo of the Eta Carinae nebula with a Canon Ra, taken through our LX 200 telescope. We are stargazing from a stunning place on top of a hill on Ponatahi Road, 10 minutes from Martinborough. In this photo, you can see the Ponatahi Valley. The skyscape at Star Safari is fabulous with the Milky-Way arching horizon to horizon. We look forward to seeing you at Star Safari

Star Safari

Star Safari

Did you know that the Wairarapa International Dark Sky Reserve has one of the darkest and clearest skies in New Zealand? Only 102km from the Wellington Airport, you get a personal astrobiologist and an astrophysicist to show you the Universe.
VIEW MORE
Feel like you're in heaven at Star Safari.
Aurora Australis? We can see it too.
Learn the night sky. We'll show you how.
We see and photograph really amazing things like this supernova (SN 2024ggi).
Our Moon Garden is a fabulous backdrop for your starry pictures. And we will tell you what's in them too.
We have window seats to see the centre of the galaxy.
The sky changes every month so the best time to visit is now.
Have children? Bring them for free.
Feel like you're in heaven at Star Safari. Aurora Australis? We can see it too. Learn the night sky. We'll show you how. We see and photograph really amazing things like this supernova (SN 2024ggi). Our Moon Garden is a fabulous backdrop for your starry pictures. And we will tell you what's in them too. We have window seats to see the centre of the galaxy. The sky changes every month so the best time to visit is now. Have children? Bring them for free.

Private Star Safari

Private Star Safari

Looking for something different? Get an exclusive Star Safari—just for you and your special ones. Enjoy an evening of space and astronomy with Hari and Sam. When stars are visible, we stargaze. When they are not, we entertain you with e-astronomy.
VIEW MORE
Equinox sunset
The Milky Way setting over Stonehenge Aotearoa
Tour at analemma
Weddings at Stonehenge Aotearoa
Henge and Milky Way
Eclipse concert
Henge panorama
Equinox sunset The Milky Way setting over Stonehenge Aotearoa Tour at analemma Weddings at Stonehenge Aotearoa Henge and Milky Way Eclipse concert Henge panorama

Stonehenge Aotearoa

Stonehenge Aotearoa

Take a tour into the past and discover the secrets of lost civilizations. Stonehenge Aotearoa is a window into the past where visitors can rediscover the knowledge of their ancestors.
VIEW MORE
Under The Stars - Private Mobile Stargazing Tours
Get a closer look at some of our beautiful southern hemisphere objects through our large telescope.
Stargazing group at Martinborough Golf Course. A popular venue for those who don't have suitable accommodation or won't stay the night within Wairarapa.
We come to you.
Get a closer look at some of our beautiful southern hemisphere objects through our large telescope. Stargazing group at Martinborough Golf Course. A popular venue for those who don't have suitable accommodation or won't stay the night within Wairarapa. We come to you.

Under The Stars - Private Mobile Stargazing Tours

Under The Stars - Private Mobile Stargazing Tours

We come to you at your home or holiday accommodation with everything you need for a wonder filled experience of the night sky in Wairarapa Dark Sky Reserve.
VIEW MORE