Look Up and Get Lost - Group Dark Sky Experience

Your Good Heavens’ group stargazing experience takes place in a beautiful location on pristine Aotea Great Barrier Island, only 90kms by ferry, 4.5 hrs from Central Auckland or by 1/2 hr by plane from Auckland Domestic airport.

Seaside stargazing 

During your stargazing experience, you will hear the waves lapping on the beach below while you look up and get lost in the stars. One of our passionate Good Heavens guides will illuminate you on this magical display, while you familiarise yourself with the night sky, and gain astronomical knowledge.

Comfortable and super dark

Lean back comfortably in a moon chair to look up and see the thousands of stars visible in a Dark Sky Sanctuary. The island’s sanctuary status means that our dark sky is certified magnificent. Plus, Aotea is warmer than many other New Zealand stargazing places, too.

Our guides are stellar, too

Our guides are local, experienced and they are enthusiastic and knowledgeable stargazers. They still get overwhelmed by the beauty of our night sky and they love sharing the excitement they feel when they look up and get lost in the stars. They are happy to tell you more about their island lives, too.

Facts and stories

Our guide will draw constellations and tell a range of multicultural stories and interesting astronomical facts. So enjoy a cup of hot chocolate or herbal tea, while you memorise* what’s in the sky in a light-hearted and fun way. Stargazing does not get more enjoyable than this! (*our guide will even send you a summary of the objects you observed).

Stargazing tools

Use our telescope to look at special stars and deep sky objects. Many of these are unique to the Southern Hemisphere. And they look truly dazzling in our super dark sky. A great opportunity to take a closer look at the Milky Way, or maybe a planet or our crescent moon. Spot a satellite, a meteor or a distant galaxy. Marvel at the stars with us. There is so much to see! For closer objects we use binoculars and to point out constellations, just follow the line of our laser pointers.

Moon Walks

If you are keen for our Moon to take centre stage during your group stargazing experience, then please book our Moon Walk Experience. Or if you have larger group or small children we recommend a Private Experience.

Treasured Island

Make the most of your time on our beautiful island, by adding on this activity after dark. There is so much to explore in the day time, too. Did you know that over 60% of Aotea is a conservation park with fantastic hiking options? Pristine beaches, natural thermal hot pools, quirky galleries are all part of the deal when you visit Aotea Great Barrier Island.

Top tips: 

• Our small groups of up to twelve participants ensure a personalised experience.
• There is a minimum of 4 participants for the experience to go ahead.
• For the purpose of your booking, a child is under 13 years old.
• An overnight stay on Aotea Great Barrier Island is required to come stargazing with us.
• Please do compare us to other stargazing sites in New Zealand. 
• We have won the Tripadvisor Traveller's choice award 5 years running.

We recommend staying on Aotea Great Barrier Island at least two nights. This will double your chances of a clear sky, and will give you time to enjoy more of what our beautiful island has to offer in the daytime, too.

Good Heavens offer packages, which include:

• At least 3 nights premium accommodation, 
• Return flights to the island, 
• 4WD rental car and of course, 
• Your stargazing experience! 

These packages start from around $1300 per person by double occupancy. Check our Package page for more info.