Star Safari

For a one-of-a-kind experience showcasing incredible stargazing opportunities, head to South Wairarapa. Star Safari takes you on a guided tour of the universe, taking advantage of the area’s status as one of the world’s 23 Dark Sky Reserves. The Wairarapa reserve is particularly special as it is the closest to a metropolitan area in the world. Light interference measurements for South Wairarapa also indicate the sky is one of the darkest available on Earth. 

Local star enthusiasts Hari and Sam, an astrobiologist and an astrophysicist, run Star Safari. They take nightly tours from their observatory perched atop a hill just out of Carterton. During the intergalactic tour, they explain the wonders of the universe. Their language is clear, enthralling, and brings complex science to life. Tours are intimate and run in such a way that you get the sense you’re with a group of friends, rather than strangers. 

With two 16” telescopes and an elegant 8” refractor, the craters on the Moon are quickly revealed. Gaze through the eyepiece at Saturn’s rings, Jupiter’s moons, clusters and distant nebulae glowing millions of light-years away. To ward off the chill, enjoy a cup of hot chocolate in a charming building filled with space artefacts. 

Start times vary depending on the time of year. With two sessions a night, you can make it a there-and-back-again trip from Wellington. Alternatively, join the late tour and turn it into an overnight adventure. Either way, the 90-minute experience leaves you with a new appreciation for Aotearoa’s small corner of the universe. Telescope mastery and astrophotography courses are also available for those who catch the bug.