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| Mt John Sunset Tour | (spring & autumn only) |
Arriving near sunset time, you can take in the beautiful views from the top of Mt. John after the road is closed to the public. See the sky fade to dusk, and enjoy a complimentary dessert in the Astro Café. As darkness falls, join us outside with telescopes and knowledgeable guides to greet the emerging stars, and get a glimpse of the beautiful New Zealand sky.
| Tour duration: | Approximately 2 hours |
| Prices:
(from 1st October 2011) |
$105 per adult, $60 per child
(aged 5+)
$290 family (2 adults & 2 children) $340 family+ (2 adults & 3+ children) |
| Availability: | Every evening in spring & autumn, weather permitting |
| Departure times: | Please contact our town office (03 680 6960) regarding tour times, or e-mail info@earthandsky.co.nz |
Click here to read our terms and conditions
Click here to download the pricelist (PDF) — Return to Top of Page
| Mt John Night-time Observatory Tour |  |
Join us on our famous stargazing tour which starts at the Earth & Sky office in Tekapo, where you board our tour bus(es) for the trip up to the summit of Mt John — home of the most southerly permanent optical observatory in the world!
As conditions permit, allow our astronomy guides to help you navigate the southern night sky outdoors using green laser pointers. Experience the thrill of peering through powerful telescopes (16-inch, 11-inch and 9.25-inch apertures) and binoculars to see amazing sights, both near and far.
You can also enjoy your complimentary hot chocolate in our warm and candle-lit Astro Café. Also, if you wish to capture the beauty of the night sky and have a suitably equipped camera, we'll have world-renowned astrophotographer Fraser Gunn on hand to help you! For more details about our astrophotography, please click here.
When stars are hidden from sight by cloud, let us take you on journey to discover the nocturnal world of an astronomer. See behind the scenes of Mt John Observatory, usually out-of-bounds to the general public. Nowhere else can you experience what you see and hear on our Mt John Stargazing Tour, so let us help you explore the wonder and mystery of space!
| Tour duration: | Approx. 2½ hours (includes ½ hour travel time) |
| Prices:
(from 1st October 2011) |
$105 per adult, $60 per child
(aged 5+)
$290 family (2 adults & 2 children) $340 family+ (2 adults & 3+ children) |
| Availability: | Every night, weather permitting |
| Departure times: | Please contact our town office (03 680 6960) regarding tour times, or e-mail info@earthandsky.co.nz |
Click here to read our terms and conditions
Click here to download the pricelist (PDF) — Return to Top of Page
| Cowan’s Hill Stargazing Tour |  |
You will be able to use binoculars and telescopes to view objects of interest in the southern night sky with commentary and assistance from our trained astronomy guide.
The dome contains a fully computerised Sky-Watcher 14-inch Dobsonian telescope, well suited to wide-ranging observations from the Moon and planets out to the furthest deep-sky objects we can detect.
Behold and marvel at our closest neighbouring galaxies, the Magellanic Clouds, which grace our night sky along with constellations such as Orion the Hunter and Scorpius. You may also have the opportunity to see star clusters like the beautiful Jewel Box; awe-inspiring planets; nebulae, immense clouds of gas and dust; and distant galaxies which test the limits of human imagination.
| Tour duration: | Approximately 1¼ hours |
| Prices:
(from 1st October 2011) |
$65 per adult, $40 per child (aged 5+) |
| Availability: | October 10th through to April |
| Departure times: | Please contact our town office (03 680 6960) regarding tour times, or e-mail info@earthandsky.co.nz |
Click here to read our terms and conditions
Click here to download the pricelist (PDF) — Return to Top of Page
Mt John Family Tour — holidays only
The easily-assessible summit of Mt. John is the home of the most southerly permanent optical observatory in the world, located in a spectacular setting with 360° views of mountains and Lake Tekapo.
What better inspirational treat for your budding young astronomers than a visit to the MOA2 — yes, that's New Zealand’s largest telescope, not the flightless bird! A fun, educational outing designed for families.
| Tour duration: | Approx. 1 hour |
| Prices: | $85 per adult, $35 per child (aged
5+)
$200 family (2 adults & 2 children) |
| Availability: | Every evening, weather permitting |
| Departure times: | Please contact our town office (03 680 6960) regarding tour times, or e-mail info@earthandsky.co.nz |
Click here to read our terms and conditions
Click here to download the pricelist (PDF) — Return to Top of Page
Please note: The sky varies throughout the year, so Earth & Sky cannot guarantee that all features will be visible on any given tour. Please contact us if you have any further queries.
Earth & Sky Ltd., P.O. Box 112, Lake Tekapo 7945, New Zealand.
E-mail: info@earthandsky.co.nz
Phone: +64 (0)3 6806960 Fax: +64 (0)3 6806950
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