Southern Stargazing: 12 Days Under New Zealand's Dark Skies

Situated on the eastern coast of New Zealand’s South Island, the vibrant city of Christchurch is the largest city on the island. Dubbed the 'Garden City', it is known for its many lush green spaces and possesses a multicultural charm with an added dash of Victorian flair.

The city offers a fabulous array of activities, including punting down the Avon River, helicopter tours, hot air ballooning, whale and dolphin watching. Enjoy a stroll around the beautifully sculptured parks, visit the Christchurch Botanic Gardens and browse numerous art galleries. 

Idyllically situated on the southern shore of New Zealand just 75 kilometres from the city of Christchurch, Akaroa is a historic French and British settlement resting in the heart of an ancient volcano. The town is known for its picturesque harbour, colonial architecture, and French cuisine. Visitors can take a lovely harbour cruise to spot rare Hector’s dolphins, penguins and fur seals, or explore the waters by kayaking or going stand up paddleboarding.

The French and English heritage have remained strong in Akaroa which is highly evident in the wealth of well-maintained French and English buildings, and the abundance of French-focused restaurants and cafes. The award-winning Barry’s Bay Cheese has even continued with original methods of cheese-making for more than a century, which can be witnessed through their gallery window during milking season.

Twizel is set in the highlands of the Mackenzie district, amidst a magnificent setting of turquoise glacial lakes, sienna plains and rugged snow-capped mountains. Thrill-seekers and outdoor enthusiasts will be in their element here, with the region’s natural assets lending themselves to a wide array of adventure activities including trekking, mountain biking, and helicopter rides, to horse riding, canoeing, fly fishing, and SUPping. The town offers a fantastic ongoing market and enticing shops, cafes, and restaurants. Twizel is also the gateway to excursions through the popular Aoraki Mount Cook National Park, known for its spectacular scenery and multitude of hiking trails, and the wider UNESCO Dark Sky Reserve, renowned for the beauty of its star-studded skies. Make sure to play a game of mini-golf at the Twizel-themed miniature golf course, which features holes named after local farms.

Idyllically located on Lake Wakatipu, the mountain village of Glenorchy is a place of blissful tranquility, swoon-worthy natural landscapes, and middle earth magic! Glenorchy is the perfect laid-back counterpoint to nearby busy and bustling Queenstown.

Despite a fair amount of visitors, Glenorchy has managed to preserve its quaint, small village atmosphere while providing a petrol station, a grocery store, a post office and a few quirky pubs and cafes to travellers seeking some of New Zealand’s finest tramping, horse trekking, kayaking and jet boating in the astonishingly picturesque surrounding area. If you are seeking a quiet retreat off the beaten track, this rustic town might be just the destination for you.

Resting on the banks of the stunning Lake Manapouri, beneath the Mighty Cathedral Mountains, the township of Manapouri is known by many as merely a base for excursions into the exquisite glacier-carved wilderness of the surrounding Fiordland. Manapori itself has much to offer with the lake dotted with 33 pristine wooded islands which are best explored by kayak. The shoreline stretches across 157 km, and is characterised by lush rainforest, secluded beaches and hidden bays. If kayaking isn’t really your cup of tea, there is a wide range of boats available for hire as well as luxury cruises and even water taxis. However you choose to get around, you will undoubtedly revel in the seclusion and tranquil atmosphere of this remote little township and its extraordinary neighbouring lake.

Take a step back in time to a simpler, slower lifestyle; where birdsong and crashing waves are a constant reminder of the natural world around us. Stewart Island is a unique New Zealand treasure just waiting to be discovered!

So often overlooked, just 30km across the Foveaux Strait from Bluff, this tiny paradise represents the last piece of New Zealand’s third island is remote and untamed, the last piece of modern civilization before you hit Antarctica. The Island’s Maori name, Rakiura, means “glowing skies” which is a reference to the Southern Lights (Aurora Australis) which can sometimes be seen from the island, just one more reason to visit.

Stewart Island is also a bird watcher’s paradise, it teems with many of New Zealand’s native and endangered species – kiwi outnumber humans by 50 to 1. The Stewart Island Brown Kiwi – or Tokoeka – is active during the day and night, with numbers estimated at 20,000.

Nestled in picture postcard fashion on the shores of the Lake Wakatipu, and with a reputation as the adrenalin capital of the Southern Hemisphere, Queenstown is a sophisticated resort destination like no other.

The gateway to the Fiordland National Park, the town is surrounded by mountains, glaciers, fiords, backcountry fly fishing rivers, Lord of the Rings film scenes, deserted gold mining settlements and a host of exciting tour options.