Akaroa Stargazing

Akaroa Stargazing Stargaze. Learn. Be Amazed. Immerse yourself into the darkness of the Banks Peninsula and the wonders of the Southern Skies.

Time for a quick game!Luca’s been out testing some new gear under our Akaroa night sky, and these two deep-space targets...
14/09/2026

Time for a quick game!

Luca’s been out testing some new gear under our Akaroa night sky, and these two deep-space targets came out looking unbelievable!

Can you guess both of these nebulae shown in the pictures?

The FIRST person to comment with the correct names of BOTH deep-sky targets wins a FREE A4 astro print taken by Luca! 📸🎁

Here’s your hint: this gear testing is all leading up to a MASSIVE announcement we are dropping very soon. Something hugely exciting is coming to Akaroa Stargazing that South Island space fans are going to love! Keep your eyes on our socials.

For now, drop your best guesses in the comments below 👇

Stargazing... in the middle of the afternoon? ☀️Yes, really! We are the ONLY tour operator in NZ offering daily guided s...
08/09/2026

Stargazing... in the middle of the afternoon? ☀️

Yes, really! We are the ONLY tour operator in NZ offering daily guided safe solar observations. Using specialized solar hydrogen-alpha telescopes, our guides brings you up close with prominences and sunspots!

Tap the link below to book your daytime space adventure 👇
https://akaroastargazing.rezdy.com/693253/solar-explorer-sungazing-tour-in-akaroa

You don't need to drive to Tekapo to see the Milky Way.Did you know the closest dark sky experience to Christchurch is r...
07/09/2026

You don't need to drive to Tekapo to see the Milky Way.

Did you know the closest dark sky experience to Christchurch is right here in Akaroa? In just 90 minutes, swap city lights for dark skies and millions of stars.

Save this post for your next weekend road trip! ✨

Reviews like this mean the world to us! 💛☀️"Loved it. What a great experience to go solar gazing, I never knew such a th...
04/09/2026

Reviews like this mean the world to us! 💛☀️

"Loved it. What a great experience to go solar gazing, I never knew such a thing existed but delighted that we got to give it a go. Luca was a fantastic guide for our trip to the sun through the telescope. I would highly recommend it. Now I just need to organise a few peeps and book in a star gazing session."

Did you know that stargazing doesn't just happen at night? 🔭✨

We are proud to be the only tour operator in New Zealand offering daily guided, safe solar observations! Using our specialized solar telescopes, Luca takes you on an incredible journey to view solar flares, sunspots, and the dynamic surface of our nearest star—completely safely.

If you're looking for a unique daytime experience in Akaroa, come take a trip to the Sun with us! ☀️🕶️

Book your Solar Explorer session online via the link below 👇
https://akaroastargazing.rezdy.com/693253/solar-explorer-sungazing-tour-in-akaroa

Pretty crazy to realize it's almost Spring... just a week to go! What a winter we had. 🌸✨It’s been a bit quiet on our so...
25/08/2026

Pretty crazy to realize it's almost Spring... just a week to go! What a winter we had. 🌸✨

It’s been a bit quiet on our social media, but here’s a wee reminder: we are a family business, not a corporate with a full marketing team! We’ve actually been super busy running stargazing tours all around Banks Peninsula.

And when I say "we", I mean Luca! We farewelled both of our wonderful guides, Karoline and Gaspard, back in mid-July, so Luca has been doing what he does best: guiding our guests under the beauty of the Southern Skies, running solar tours, and hosting indoor planetarium sessions when the weather hasn't played ball. 🔭☀️

All of this while moving house (we did something really adult and bought a house! 🏡), packing online sales, and me balancing my daytime job while battling a nasty flu. So yes, Spring is definitely something we are looking forward to!

Our wee star Eros also turned 4! We had an amazing custom birthday cake from the very talented Bowbear... and a cancelled birthday party due to illness. But the cake was so good it almost made up for it! 🎂🎈

It's pretty crazy to think we started Akaroa Stargazing 4.5 years ago. What's even crazier is that we are actually making a living out of Luca's passion. Thank you all for being part of this journey with us! ❤️

✨ Year-Round Casual Astronomy Guide Wanted in Akaroa! ✨Love the universe and observing the night sky? Akaroa Stargazing ...
24/08/2026

✨ Year-Round Casual Astronomy Guide Wanted in Akaroa! ✨

Love the universe and observing the night sky? Akaroa Stargazing is looking for an enthusiastic, casual guide to join our small, family-run team! 🔭

This is a year-round position with flexible hours—perfect whether you’re in your final year of school with a big passion for science, a local retiree who loves stargazing, or anyone in between who wants to turn their cosmic passion into pay!

What we offer:
⭐ Year-round flexibility: Evening stargazing & daytime tours (sungazing/virtual) that fit around your lifestyle or study.
⭐ Full training: We provide practical coaching on night sky navigation and operating equipment.
⭐ A stunning location: Work outdoors under the dark skies of Akaroa!

What we’re looking for:
⭐ Strong Astronomy Knowledge is a MUST (a deep understanding of stars, astrophysics, and celestial phenomena).
⭐ Full Driver's Licence & reliable transport.
⭐ Friendly communication skills to inspire awe in our guests!

📍 Located in Akaroa (90 mins from Christchurch)

📧 Drop us a line at [email protected] or call 021 0243 0328 to chat!

Kia renarena te taukaea aroha, strengthening the threads that connect us.Ngā mihi Bonnie Garner for organising a success...
17/07/2026

Kia renarena te taukaea aroha, strengthening the threads that connect us.

Ngā mihi Bonnie Garner for organising a successful school holiday fun day for our whānau and community.

With taonga pūoro workshops, face painting, star gazing (āe, the sun is still a star), and pizza making there was something for everyone.

Nothing beats a perfectly dark, moonless winter night in Akaroa! ✨These shots were taken on Wednesday evening. The sky w...
17/07/2026

Nothing beats a perfectly dark, moonless winter night in Akaroa! ✨

These shots were taken on Wednesday evening. The sky was completely dark, clear, and absolutely packed with stars. Looking up at the core of our galaxy on a night like this never gets old!

Winter stargazing really is next level. The air is crisper, the skies are darker, and the view is just breathtaking.

Swipe through to see the jaw-dropping views you missed, and let us know: What’s the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen in the night sky? 👇✨

Mānawatia a Matariki! Happy Matariki everyone! ✨🕊We hope you all had a fantastic Friday. It certainly started well for u...
10/07/2026

Mānawatia a Matariki! Happy Matariki everyone! ✨🕊

We hope you all had a fantastic Friday. It certainly started well for us, watching France win her place in the semi-finals of the FIFA World Cup! 🥳

Luca is incredibly excited to head to Okains Bay tomorrow morning to watch the rise of Matariki. This is our very first collaboration with the Okains Bay Maori and Colonial Museum, and it is officially fully booked! Woop woop! 🙌

For those who managed to grab a spot, here is the programme for tomorrow:
- 6:00am – Meet at Okains Bay Museum to travel by private car to the top of Seftons Road
- 6:30am to 7:30am – Viewing of Matariki, with hot chocolate and muffins
- 8:00am to 9:00am – Breakfast at Okains Bay Museum
- 9:00am to 9:30am – Illustrated talk by Luca
- From 10:00am – Follow the museum Matariki trail to discover how taonga Māori on display connects to each Matariki star

Now, a 6:00am start is very early for Luca, but he promises he's excited! 🥱🤣 Eros and I will be holding down the fort at the shop tomorrow afternoon while Luca takes a much-deserved snooze.

Matariki is always such a busy time of year for us, but we're still managing to find moments to slow down. After his nap, we will all be heading over to the Madeira Hotel Akaroa to watch the All Blacks vs Italy!

If you want to join us for a stargazing tour tomorrow night, we have a few final spaces available on our 7:30pm departure. We've also just added a last-minute 8:30pm departure (couldn't do it any earlier because of the rugby, obviously!).

Spaces won't last, so get in quick to lock yours in! ✨

📸: The Matariki cluster, captured beautifully by Luca.

06/07/2026

Happy school holidays!

What absolutely beautiful weather we’re having to kick things off...🌧️☁️

With clouds and rain forecast for the next few days, chances of seeing the stars in the evening are pretty low. But hey, we're in New Zealand... the weather can change quickly! 🤞

Either way, we've got you covered. A wee reminder about our indoor Space Voyager tour! You get to stay warm and travel deep into Space from the total comfort of our shop, guided by Luca or Karoline. 🚀🪐

We have two daytime sessions running every day: 10:30am and 1:30pm.

To help out with the holiday budget, we are doing a Buy One, Get One HALF PRICE deal for all our daytime sessions this week! Use the code HOLIDAY at checkout.

Spaces are strictly limited per session, so get in quick before they sell out!

Address

2/8 Rue Balguerie
Akaroa
7520

Telephone

+642102430328

Website

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