Aurora Australis seen from Lake Dunstan, Cromwell. © NCHANT

Southern stars: see the rare but spectacular Aurora Australis

TAP FOR MORE INFO:

As world populations continue to gather in cities, and those cities grow, the chance to gaze longingly at the stars and really see them above the urban glow is diminishing.

But romantics, take heart! The heart of the South Island has always been renowned for its clear skies, and so has great potential for gazing at millions of stars that would pass you by anywhere else.

In 2012, a 4300sq km area of Canterbury (clue: that’s helluva big) was declared a ‘Dark Sky Reserve’. One of eight globally, it’s the largest one in the world. (Go us!)

What does it do? How do they turn all the lights out? They don’t need to. Look around, there’s not much here. And it makes the best of that and aims to keep it that way. The answer is in its name: you want to see galaxies, then get yourself up here.

Where? Well, the Mount John Observatory is kind of the centre of the whole thing. It’s one of the best places on the planet to look out for other planets. And constellations, moon craters, distant galaxies.

Amazingly, from here you can also see when conditions are right, the Aurora Australis, the Southern Lights.

They are utterly unforgettable. And unpredictable, unfortunately. Best viewed in the winter months, this is one of the best places in the country to catch a glimpse of them.

The planetarium within the complex gives you an amazing 3D tour of what’s up there, so you know what to look for when you get an eye on the telescope.

There you go: you’re an astro-tourist. And if you want to get right-sized about your place in the universe, this is the place to do it. Not feeling so important now, are you!

More stories like this

Find out more

Get outdoors

Marvel at the Milky Way in the Aoraki Mackenzie Dark Sky Reserve

There is no better place in New Zealand to see stars than in the heart of the Mackenzie district, where the clarity of the constellations will take your breath away.  Read the story . . . 

Find out more

Road trips

Loved by the locals: Mackenzie

Picturesque lakes, fields of summer flowers, easy road trips and cute cafés – there's a lot to love in the Mackenzie District. Read the story . . . 

Find out more

Get outdoors

Mackenzie: for lovers

Lording over the Mackenzie region, Aoraki Mount Cook has become a symbol for what could easily win the unofficial 'most beautiful region in New Zealand' competition. Read the story . . . 

Find out more

Get outdoors

Lake Tekapō: shimmering beauty

By day, the view’s pretty spectacular – the arid splendour of the Mackenzie Country dominated by Aoraki Mount Cook. But you really want to be here when it gets dark...  Read the story . . .