Astronomy Bites

SUNGAZE. GRAZE. STARGAZE

Savour the flavours of Akaroa with a sunset grazing platter, then embark on a guided stargazing journey through the Southern Hemisphere's celestial wonders.

EXPERIENCE THE MAGIC

Join a unique and exclusive sungazing to stargazing experience in Akaroa.

Led by an expert astronomy guide, our tour reveals the Southern sky's hidden wonders.

SUNSET DELIGHTS

Embark on a slow and scenic experience to a stunning sunset viewing spot, witnessing breathtaking views of the sunset. As you gaze up at our Sun, indulge in local delights with our grazing platter, carefully crafted to showcase the best of Akaroa's flavours.

LASTING MEMORIES

Transition into the night sky with our state-of-the-art equipment, featuring safe solar observations through our solarscope and telescope viewing of stars, planets, and galaxies.

Capture memories with our smartphone adapter.

AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY FROM APRIL TO AUGUST.

PRICING

  • Child (5 - 15) $179

  • Adult (16+) $349

Please note that children under 5s join us for free!

DEPARTURE TIME

Departure times vary with sunset, see below schedule for estimated starting times.

  • April: 5:00PM

  • May-June: 4:00PM

  • July: 4:30PM

  • August: 5:00PM

MEETING POINT

Akaroa Heritage Park, 280 Long Bay Road, Akaroa 7583

Google Maps link

DURATION

3 hours

GROUP SIZE

Maximum 6 participants

INCLUDED

  • State-of-the-art solarscope and telescope

  • Binoculars for closer looks

  • Local grazing platter

  • 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

WHAT TO BRING

  • Comfortable shoes

  • Warm clothing

  • Water bottle

  • Camera and smartphone

Please refer to our Terms and Conditions for further details, including our cancellation policy.

Sunset over Akaroa harbour from Akaroa Heritage Park
Aurora Australis over Akaroa harbour from Akaroa Heritage Park
Clouds rolling over Takamatua Bay from Akaroa Heritage Park

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

BROWSE MORE TOURS

Book a Tour