Fantastic! - Really well organised and lots of fun. The night sky was absolutely stunning (and we’ve been to a few dark sky reserves). Clem was knowledgeable and the introductory talk was really interesting. It was amazing to actually see the rings of Saturn and the moons of Jupiter ! We learnt a lot and would definitely recommend this experience. Grateful that extra warm jackets were provided.

Adult family trip and Mother Nature did not disappoint. You must remember this is an outdoor weather dependent activity. - We had a cold windy night but the clouds disappeared and the stars were brilliant. Hosts were knowledgeable and fun. We learned so much and would go again if we lived here

Must-Do! - This is a “must-do” while at Lake Tekapo! Very knowledgeable staff and plenty of time to explore the galaxy through all three telescopes. One of the top experiences in New Zealand!

Incredible experience! - Phenomenal experience overall. Fun being driven up in the bus (especially the last section with no lights!). The space themed music was a nice addition. Would DEFINITELY recommend layering up, and taking one of their jackets - you’re out all night and it is COLD. Especially if it’s windy. Our tour guide - a beautiful feminine human (?name - we think Carl? (They said their name a lot but it’s been a couple weeks and many tours since we went!) … I digress! They were so incredibly clever and knowledgeable about the night sky. And their obvious passion for the stars and sky above us was infectious. They finished their tour with a really heartfelt message about humans needing to reconnect more with their neighbours to restore a greater sense of community and it was honestly tear-jerking. Especially for someone so young! It was overall a fab experience and would highly recommend the tour to anyone. Definitely do the Summit!

I'm going to need a bigger antenna. - What a great project! We did the Summit Experience. We boarded a mini bus with other travelers and were taken to the Mt John Summit Observatory. Once up top, a quick briefing, followed by a guided tour of the night sky by the lovely staff. Viewing of the night sky through three of their onsite telescopes really made the evening. I had the privilege of viewing Saturn through a telescope! This is a great tour for the curious one, amateur astronomers and astrophotographers. If you want to learn about the McKenzie region dark sky project and/or gain an understanding of the night sky and what you can do to minimise light pollution this is a great start. Lots to learn!

If you have a passing interest in the night sky, then this is a must. - If you have a passing interest in the night sky, then this is a must. The staff were incredibly knowledgeable. The tout of the night sky was informative, fun and the views breat Kitted out with EWC ( Extreme Weather Coats) we were wrapped up warm against the elements, the location was sheltered from the wind. the telescopes were staffed by extremely knowledgeable staff, who were more than happy to explain the basic and complex. The setting with mountains all around with stars, planets and the Milky Way over head was breathtaking

Unique experience, but it is pricey. But you do get a refund if the weather doesn't cooperate! - It was a very interesting experience, having never done something like this before! You can read the other reviews for full details, but effectively you get an informative tour about the Mt John Observatory (next door to Tekapo town), an introduction to the main stars and planets in the night sky, and then also a chance to use three of their telescopes to peer at various planets / stars. Overall, the tour is about 1hr 15mins in total I reckon (as total time end to end is 2 hours). Do wear warm, as even though we went on a summer night, and was told it was 10 degrees up there, it did get colder as the wind picked up! And you do a lot of standing around in the open. They do provide HUGE coats to borrow for free, definitely do take one. But bring a beanie and gloves too, if you have them. They are also rather ethical; if there is cloud cover, they will tell you before the tour starts, and you can opt for a refund. Note - this option is only for the Summit Experience, not for the cheaper Crater Experience. On our night, we were told before the tour that the skies were 80% clear, but there was risk of some movement of clouds from nearby. We were offered the choice of a refund, but we decided to go ahead. During the tour itself, the visibility got progressively worse. We were maybe 1hr into the tour, when they had to cut it short - the last 5-10 mins I believe. They offered a 50% refund to everyone, proactively. Which was a very fair result, IMO. Price-wise, its not cheap at NZD200+ per person. I wouldn't label it great value for money. But it is a very unique experience. Timing, I would say that the 10pm tour was a bit too early for peak-summer (1st Jan). The sun had barely set yet. I would say go for the tour at least 2 hours after sunset time, so you can get the full "dark sky" experience with all the stars visible. Do book in advance if you can, as the tour groups snatch up loads of tickets 6 months out, from what I've been told.

We went in November... - We went in November (Spring) and it is still freezing when you go up so make sure you wear layers. They do provide you with a big red weather coat though. It was really dark as well so it was a little difficult to see where you are walking so make sure you stay close to the guide and your group as you’re not allowed to use any white light/torches.

Great experience lucky to have had the opportunity. - We were extremely lucky to get a window of opportunity as they'd only gone out once in the prior 2 weeks due to excessive cloud cover. 60% Cloudy at first then cleared up. Amazing how different the stars look when you're in an area of no light pollution ( ie: every city on the planet ) great experience and worth it but, just like glacier helicopters, I would recommend you go in with the expectation you may not be able to experience this and if you get to then treat it as a bonus to avoid disappointment. There is the virtual version but can't comment as we didn't need to do that. Tip - freezing and windy, dress accordingly.

Stargazing/Milky-way-view very bad... - I booked the event, it was confirmed and then paid for. Event did not take place without comment. Without justification (even after inquiring), this tour did not take place. Just embarrassing...