Lake Tekapo attractions

- Be in awe of the night sky above you from the beautiful Lake Tekapo - Look through an extremely powerful 9-25 inch telescope to see the stars and get images from our eVscope 2 (a telescope and astrocamera-in-one) - Indulge in hot chocolate, blankets, and roasted marshmallows - Take your memories with you with complimentary photos taken during the tour - Hear stories from your guide and learn facts about the night sky

Guided tour to the stars and night sky, enhancing your experience with abundant opportunities for questions and answers. Immerse yourself in naked-eye observations and telescope views with our 14″ Meade telescope, exploring stars and constellations. Capture a personalized moment with an individual photograph of you and your party under the enchanting starry sky. Enjoy an intimate setting with our low guest-to-guide ratio, capped at ten people, ensuring a personalized stargazing experience. Travel hassle-free with a complimentary shuttle from our check-in office to our private stargazing location, bundled with warm winter jackets.

Our most popular astronomy experience at the world-renowned astronomical research centre. Prepare for an awe-inspiring evening of discovery. Immerse yourself in the stunning surrounds, pristine night skies and sophisticated viewing technologies as our expert guides share the science and stories of our Southern Skies. High atop Mount John’s 1,029 metre peak, you'll be at the heart of the Southern Hemisphere's largest International Dark Sky Reserve. Every night sky reveals something new. The incredible Milky Way. Far-off planets. Star clusters, solar systems, constellations. You might even glimpse a distant galaxy. Don't miss New Zealand's premier stargazing experience. Exclusive to Dark Sky Project, the Summit Experience at Mt John Observatory is in partnership with the University of Canterbury.

**For guaranteed snow landings all year round - please book our 45 Minute Ultimate Alpine Combo - Snow cannot be guaranteed during summer months on this product** A 25 minute flight including an alpine landing, that looks directly at Aoraki Mt Cook and down onto the valley. Explore the valleys and peaks of Aoraki Mt Cook National Park by sky in one of our state-of-the-art helicopters. Fly over the Tasman Terminal Lake and up the Tasman Valley before doing an alpine landing- on a mountain with beautiful views looking directly towards Aoraki Mt Cook and of the National Park. (10-15 minutes landed) Enjoy the comfort, safety, and performance of our AS350 Squirrel Helicopters. Sit back and relax as you watch the gorgeous scenery unfold beneath you. Be sure to take lots of photos to document this one-of-a-kind experience. Our pilots offer informative and interesting commentary throughout the flight to ensure you receive the best possible experience.

The ultimate stargazing experience. Enjoy maximum time under the stars whilst enhancing your knowledge of the Southern skies at our private observatory. Designed specifically with stargazing in mind, Cowan’s Observatory is the perfect introductory stargazing experience. Over 75 minutes, you'll explore the stars with both the naked eye and powerful telescopes. Every night offers a new spectacle. From the Milky Way to distant galaxies beyond, our guides use handheld lasers to show you the best of the evolving night sky. They'll help you discover the stars and planets, and understand what it all means. Nestled in a giant purpose-built crater to provide maximum wind protection and minimum light pollution, our expert astronomy guides will enhance your knowledge and understanding of our Southern Skies as you admire and ponder the possibilities through our powerful optical telescopes.

Join this 45-minute Helicopter scenic experience through Aoraki Mt Cook National Park for a helicopter tour like no other! Sit back, relax, and soak in the breathtaking views from the moment you’re airborne. Experience everything Mt Cook National Park has to offer. Glacier landing (10-15 minutes) on the Tasman Glacier, fly to the top of the Tasman Glacier Check in closes 45 minutes to the flight time

Get ready to embark on a journey 13.8 billion years in the making. A treat for the senses, the Dark Sky Experience brings science, Māori astronomy and fascinating multi-media installations together in a ‘Big Bang’ of awe and inspiration. Using incredible immersive visual displays, we explore the science based narrative of how living beings came to be, and delve into the depths of the Milky Way. Get up close with the impressive 125 year old recently restored Brashear telescope. Thought-provoking, educational and entertaining, this journey is sure to change your outlook in the best possible way. A world first – this indoor experience is a must on all itineraries whether you’re staying in Tekapo or just stopping by.

Enjoy a 2-hour stargazing experience with an experienced guide. We keep the tour to a maximum of 10pax adults for best experience. Learn about the night sky, see constellations, and use a 16 telescope to see planets and stars. Snack on a platter of nibbles and sip on a hot drink while you stargaze. Get picked up from your accommodation in Lake Tekapo and be driven to a private stargazing site out in the farm with zero light pollution. Sit back in a comfortable moon chair and wrap yourself in a warm blanket. Use a modern 16” telescope to see the night sky for deep sky objects. Take a photo of you and your friends & family under the stars! *Please note: we can only cater snack platters provided we are given 48 hours notice before the tour. We can cater non-allergen, vegetarian, dairy-free, gluten-free, and dairy-free and gluten-free platters. **Pickups are only offered to accommodation locations within Lake Tekapo township

Embark on an exhilarating adventure as you explore the majestic peaks and awe-inspiring valleys surrounding Aoraki / Mount Cook. Fly over the lower Tasman Glacier and soar above the Liebig mountain range, taking in the towering peaks of the Southern Alps. Make an alpine landing to take in the breathtaking panoramic views.

The Tasman Glacier is Aotearoa New Zealand's longest glacier measuring at 27km long and as wide as 4km in places, so this is an experience of a lifetime to explore the ever changing ice formations that carved this wonderful landscape in the Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park. Your journey will begin with a scenic helicopter flight to the Tasman Glacier, landing 1200m above sea level. A two hour hike with professional and experienced guides amongst epic glacial ice formations, gentle undulating terrain below the highest peaks of the Southern Alps. The snow-clad giants tower above vast icefalls that flow down the mountain sides. On the return flight, pass the Hochstetter Icefall as your adventure nears its end.

The ultimate in stellar relaxation, Tekapo Star Gazing is the only guided stargazing and hot pools tour in New Zealand! It combines the stunning Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve with the soul-warming hot pools of Tekapo Springs. A 1.5-hour experience, the first half of the tour begins with an introduction to the night sky using high-powered telescopes and a fascinating combination of astronomy and storytelling. The second half is spent floating in our 37.5-38.5 degree hot pool on inflatable hammocks, gazing up at the night sky as our guides continue to entertain with cultural and scientific stories of the sky. The tour includes complimentary towels, robes and hot drinks.

Aoraki/Mount Cook ‘the cloud piercer’, our highest peak dominates the Southern Alps mountain range that divides New Zealand’s South Island into east and west. The Mt Cook National Park’s towering mountains, vast glaciers and remote snowfields inspired Sir Edmund Hillary, before his quest of Mt Everest. This flight takes you past the Hochstetter Icefall on Aoraki/Mt Cook and the upper Tasman Glacier before a thrilling alpine landing in the snow. You’ll fly home through the remote Burnett Mountains with the expansive and arid Mackenzie Basin below you.

This iconic experience includes a visit within New Zealand's largest wine cave. Informative and fun, this is a must-do activity to gain a true understanding of Central Otago wine. Your Cellar Door host will also take you to the region's first vines, originally planted by our founder and wine pioneer Alan Brady in 1983. This tour lasts 30 minutes and includes three delicious wine tastings of our current releases.

At 3724 metres, Aoraki Mt Cook is New Zealand’s highest peak. Located in the heart of the ruggedly beautiful Mackenzie District, it was first summited in 1894 by Tom Fyfe, Jack Clarke, and George Graham and remains a popular ascent to this day. However, as a sacred ancestor for local Ngā Tahu iwi, Aoraki is more than just a mountain. He and his brothers’ story is arguably one of the South Island’s most important Māori legends, speaking to the dramatic formation of Kā Tiritiri o te Moana (Southern Alps) which have since become home to one of Aotearoa’s most beautiful National Parks. So why not join us as we travel to see Aotearoa New Zealand’s tallest and most famous mountain. You will be driven in comfort by our modern, comfortable Mercedes Sprinter (or similar) packed with the extras to make the trip that bit easier. Led by our fun, knowledgeable, and passionate tour guides, this journey is one you will never forget!

Educational and entertaining, the experience highlights the science behind our night sky. Using state-of-the-art space rendering technology explore and learn about the secrets of the night sky Ever wondered what it would be like to stand inside the rings of Saturn? Or how to find the stars of the Southern Cross? This 45-minute tour will reveal the universe through the unparalleled lens of science and technology. Presented by our knowledgeable astronomy guides and captivating virtual renditions of the universe, you truly feel like you are amongst the stars. Explore the sky with your very own astronomer, learn about the southern hemisphere constellations and objects, and come out with a renewed understanding and appreciation of our place within the universe.