Akaroa Stargazing

21/04/2025

April 21-28, 2025. International Dark Sky Week is a worldwide celebration of the
dark and natural night.
For many, the dark night is often misunderstood, unfamiliar, and
frightening. But the night is filled with wonder and awe and is
critical to the health and well-being of our planet.
As lighting options become more inexpensive and brighter, we are
illuminating the night more and more. Today, 80% of the world's
population lives beneath light-polluted skies. 8 out of 10 children
will grow up never seeing the Milky Way. / /

18/04/2025

EASTER SALE!

Hop into savings at Akaroa Stargazing Space (2/8 Rue Balguerie, Akaroa) this Easter weekend!

Swipe to see some of our amazing deals!

Hape Space Explorer Sand Ship Set: Fuel your little astronaut's creativity with this 6-piece set, featuring 5 spaceship molds and a handy storage backpack! Perfect for developing fine motor skills and encouraging sensory exploration.

Glow-in-the-Dark 3D Planets: Bring the magic of the universe to your home!

Matariki Books by Scholastic: Explore the stories and science behind Matariki with our selection of individual books!

Visit us in-store today and blast off into Easter savings!

05/04/2025

Our new Seestar S50 telescope is taking our stargazing tours to the next LEVEL! With its advanced technology, you'll be able to explore the night sky like NEVER before.

Last night, Luca used the Seestar S50 to capture these stunning images during our Night Awe:

Swipe to see:

🔭 The Orion Nebula
🔭 The Carina Nebula
🔭 Centaurus A galaxy

Join us on a tour to experience the thrill of stargazing with our new Seestar S50 telescope. And Luca's excitement!

28/03/2025

Revisit the wonders of the universe at our shop!

When was the last time you explored Akaroa Stargazing Space, the only astronomy-themed shop on Banks Peninsula? We're excited to share that, due to popular demand, our exclusive Akaroa Stargazing merchandise is now available!

Pop in to check out our new range of T-Shirts, Hoodies, and Crew Neck sweatshirts. We're really proud of how they've turned out, and I think you'll love them too!

You can find us at 2/8 Rue Balguerie, Akaroa. We can't wait to catch up and share our passion for the Universe with you!

21/03/2025

Swipe through to get a sneak peek of what we've been up to yesterday evening! From sungazing to stargazing, with a grazing platter in between... and S'mores!

This was a bespoke experience, tailored just for our guests. At Akaroa Stargazing, we're all about crafting unique and unforgettable experiences. With expert guides and state-of-the-art equipment, a truly out-of-this-world adventure awaits you!

Ready to explore the wonders of the universe? Visit our website to discover our range of astronomy tours or contact us to create a bespoke experience tailored just for YOU!

19/03/2025

LAST CHANCE TO SAVE!
Don't miss your opportunity to capture the stunning night sky of Akaroa! Our Early Bird Special for the Akaroa Astrophotography workshop is expiring in just 4 days!
Book now and receive 15% off with code EARLYBIRD15! Don't let this amazing deal slip away!

Secure your spot and take your astrophotography skills to new heights with expert guidance from Joseph Pooley!

When: 23rd-25th of May
Where: Akaroa
What to bring: Your camera, tripod, and enthusiasm!

NEED ACCOMMODATION?
We've got you covered! Akaroa Waterfront Motels is offering 15% off the total amount of stay exclusively for our workshop attendees! Book our workshop to receive the promo code and enjoy a comfortable stay with stunning waterfront views!

Don't wait - book now and start preparing for an unforgettable astrophotography experience!
👉https://akaroastargazing.rezdy.com/693315/akaroa-astrophotography-workshop

14/03/2025

TONIGHT witness the magic of a Total Lunar Eclipse from Akaroa!

⏰️Timings (Akaroa):

7:26 p.m. - Eclipse begins (below horizon)
7:48 p.m. - Moonrise
7:58 p.m. - Maximum Eclipse (moon closest to center of shadow)
8:31 p.m. - Total Eclipse ends
9:47 p.m. - Partial Eclipse ends
11:00 p.m. - Penumbral Eclipse ends

🧐Viewing tips:

The eclipse won't be directly visible at first, as the moon will be below the horizon. As the moon rises, it'll be very dim due to the total eclipse phase, making it hard to spot.
For the best view, head to a high point around 7:58 p.m. to catch the Maximum Eclipse.
Make sure you have a clear sight to the East to spot the moon as the eclipse ends.

This spectacular event can be viewed with the naked eye! For a closer look, grab your binoculars or telescope to see the Moon's details up close.

🔭Get equipped:

We're now selling Celestron binoculars at our shop - perfect for tonight's eclipse and future stargazing adventures!

Join Luca tonight:

We still have availability on our stargazing tours - Book now 👉 akaroastargazing.com/nightawe

[Image: The Moon eclipsed in November 2022 - Captured by Luca]

10/03/2025

Shoutout to Luca, a long-time advocate for protecting Banks Peninsula's incredible dark skies! As a dad, he's even more passionate about preserving this natural treasure for future generations. His fear is that our son Eros might miss out on the night sky's beauty, but with responsible lighting and regulations, we can ensure that doesn't happen!

Read Luca's inspiring interview below and join the movement to protect our dark skies! We need more volunteers to help make Banks Peninsula a Dark Sky Reserve a reality!

👉

Akaroa Stargazing owner Luca Devescovi wants to turn down the lights on Banks Peninsula - but he needs public backing.

05/03/2025

Spotted in Ōtautahi Christchurch! Andrew from Astronz discovered The Hub.

02/03/2025

Sungaze. Graze. Stargaze.

Astronomy Bites is now open for bookings!

Join us for a unique 3-hour experience, available exclusively from April to August.

Enjoy breathtaking views, local delights, and expert guidance as you explore the wonders of the Southern sky.

Don't miss out! Book your spot now for this intimate experience, limited to just 6 guests.

👉 akaroastargazing.com/astronomybites

Photo taken by Luca: Comet C/2024 G3 at sunset, viewed from Akaroa Heritage Park

23/02/2025

Happy 3rd Birthday to Akaroa Stargazing!

Today, we celebrate three incredible years of sharing the magic of the night sky with all of you! We're honoured to have had the chance to stargaze with so many amazing people (with Luca, of course!) and explore the Sun's wonders with Luca and Pedro.

A huge thank you to everyone who took the time to write us a review - your kind words mean the world to us! And to those who were left speechless by the stars (we get it!), thank you for being part of our journey.

Starting a business can be a challenge, but living our passion has made every moment worth it. We may not be millionaires, but we're rich in experiences and connections made under the stars.

To celebrate this special milestone, we're excited to offer a FREE Guide to the Night Sky with every booking of our Night Awe or Date Night tours, while stocks last (only 8 copies left)! Don't miss out on this fantastic opportunity to deepen your connection with the night sky.

Here's to many more nights of stargazing, wonder, and adventure together!

Picture taken by Luca from Akaroa Heritage Park of an Aurora over Akaroa harbour.

13/02/2025

Did you know that light pollution wastes more than just light? It also wastes energy, money, and contributes to climate change!

Swipe to read these staggering stats from DarkSky International

Let's work together to reduce light pollution and create a more sustainable future!

04/02/2025

Under the stars, we find our place in the universe.

We're happy when our guests experience this same sense of wonder! Recently, one of our stargazing guests was left speechless, describing their experience as "truly fantastic" and "awesome"!

Gazing up at the breathtaking Milky Way, we're reminded of the infinite possibilities and mysteries waiting to be explored.

Join us on a stargazing journey that will leave you in awe of the night sky and inspired by the wonders of the universe!

👉 akaroastargazing.com

28/01/2025

Woopsy, we're a bit late to the socials party, but we're happy to share that yesterday we officially launched our brand-new daytime tour, Cosmic Quest!

To celebrate, we're offering an exclusive discount for all bookings made before February 28th, 2025! Use the code QUEST15 at checkout to receive 15% OFF every Cosmic Quest booking!

The best part? You can book now and choose a later date that suits you - as long as you book before February 28th!

21/01/2025

GIVEAWAY ALERT! Cosmic Quest Daytime Tour Launch 🚀

We're putting the finishing touches on our brand-new daytime tour... and we want YOU to be among the first to experience it!

To celebrate our official launch, we're giving away 2 tickets for our inaugural tour on Monday 27th January at 1 pm!

About Cosmic Quest:
Join us on a truly unique 2-hour walk of discoveries, blending traditional Māori astronomy (Tātai arorangi) and modern astronomy. Our expert guides will lead you on a walk that replicates the actual scale of our solar system. Starting from Akaroa Stargazing Space, you'll make your way to the Akaroa Lighthouse, exploring the wonders of our cosmic neighbourhood.

How to enter:
1️⃣ Follow our page
2️⃣ Comment below with your favourite planet

Giveaway details:
🌟This giveaway is not sponsored, endorsed, or administered by, or associated with Facebook.
🌟The giveaway is hosted by Akaroa Stargazing.
🌟The giveaway will run from Tuesday 21st January to Friday 24th January 4 PM NZDT.
🌟The winner will be announced on Friday 24th, and must accept their prize within 48 hours; otherwise, a new winner will be drawn.
🌟The prize includes 2 tickets to our Cosmic Quest daytime tour on Monday 27th January at 1 pm.
🌟The prize is only available for guests who can attend the tour on the specified date and time.
🌟Please be aware of scam accounts; we will never message and ask you to follow a link.

Good Luck!

16/01/2025

The wait is over! We're thrilled to announce the dates for our highly-anticipated Astrophotography Workshop in Akaroa and the Bays !

Join us from May 23rd to 25th for an exclusive two nights experience under the stars with renowned astrophotographer Joseph Pooley Photography !

Invest in yourself and take your photography to new heights! Whether you're a beginner or experienced photographer, this workshop is perfect for anyone looking to try their hand at astrophotography or refine their skills.

Learn the secrets of capturing breathtaking nighttime images with Joseph's expert guidance. Explore the stunning Banks Peninsula, renowned for its exceptional dark skies.

Workshop details:
2 nights of concentrated tuition in the field
Personalized guidance from Joseph Pooley
Tailored content to meet your needs and skill level
Small group
Workshop price: $990 per attendee

Early Bird Special: Book now and receive 15% off! Use code EARLYBIRD15 at checkout. (Limited time only)

For more information and to book your spot, visit our website https://www.akaroastargazing.com/workshop

Accommodation packages: available upon request

08/01/2025

Meet Pedro, our astronomy guide since December (well, last year already)!

Originally from Madrid, Spain, Pedro shines bright leading Solar Explorer tours from Akaroa Lighthouse. Caught here checking out the Sun through our Solar telescope!

Visit our Akaroa Stargazing Space for impromptu Solar Explorer tours! We're all about seizing the day - flexible departures available. Pop in, feel like sungazing? Let's do it!

02/01/2025

Experience Akaroa's ONLY guided stargazing tours!

Tonight's forecast: Clear Skies ahead!
Dark skies guaranteed post-New Year's Eve New Moon.

Limited spots left on our 10:30 PM & 12:30 AM departures.

Bonus: We capture your stargazing moment - FREE souvenir photo!

Book now: akaroastargazing.com