After dark

Campfire camaraderie

A primeval pleasure and basic human right – assuming there’s no fire ban – the campfire is the magnet to which life’s iron filings are attracted. Light it and they will come, to share stories (hopefully ghostly), to sing (possibly badly), or to simply sit entranced by the dancing flames.

Hot pool heaven

Nearly as relaxing as actually being asleep, an evening soak in a hot pool can be enjoyed in natural settings and spas dotted around the country. While most complexes close around dusk, many attached to holiday parks will stay open until the stars come out. Alternatively, find a natural, non-commercial spring so you can simmer away ’til midnight.

Find wild things

What do the mysterious critters of the night get up to? Cover the end of your torch with red cellophane to preserve your night vision, then tiptoe through their territory. The pinnacle of after-dark creature sightings is the kiwi, generally only seen on a guided tour. Easier targets are weta, moreporks, possums, hedgehogs and bats in the right place at the right time. Take time to appreciate any moths that you meet; New Zealand’s native species are diverse and often very beautiful.

Glowworm galaxies

The little larvae of the fungus gnat are up there with twinkling stars and sparklers when it comes to magical night light. Despite their minute size, they’re easy to find, sprinkled around New Zealand’s damp riverbanks, grottoes and earthy overhangs.

Spotlight

Remember when a torch was a coveted plaything with special powers, rather than just an emergency kit essential? Along with shadow puppets, we remember summer nights playing spotlight, which goes like this: big backyard, park or campground, a bunch of energetic friends, one of whom is ‘it’. The others hide while ‘it’ counts to 30, then goes hunting with the torch beam. The first person illuminated and identified becomes ‘it’; the game continues until the boss calls time for bed.

Backyard bivouac

Sleeping under the stars is an empowering and romantic notion, challenged by the realities of weather, mosquitoes and dew. Minimise these discomforts by erecting a bivouac: a flysheet tied to trees will do, or go the whole Bear Grylls with sticks and fernery. The kids will love it, until they realise there could be spiders and sasquatches, and then skedaddle back to their beds. Survival skills 101: done.

Night rider

Night-time mountain biking – a craze fuelled by highpowered helmet lights and an explosion of off-road cycle trails – involves serious doses of adrenaline and the occasional swallow of insects. It’s also enormous fun and is only really dangerous when attempted by the overly ambitious and those who forget to charge their lights.

Stargazing

Perhaps the ultimate after-dark adventure is exploring the universe; an enduring pleasure involving a blanket, binoculars, and a cup of cocoa or a glass of wine. Good fortune has endowed Aotearoa with exceptional stargazing conditions: specifically clear skies and low light pollution. Download an app such as Google Sky Map; get a copy of Richard Hall’s book, How to Gaze at the Southern Stars; or see Alan Gilmore’s summary of the summer night sky