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Tekapo Star Gazing Tour: Stellar Relaxation
4.4
99 Ratings
Lake Tekapo
Experience Tekapo’s unique stargazing and hot pools tour. Float in warm waters under the dark sky reserve, guided by expert storytellers. Book now!
Experience Tekapo’s unique stargazing and hot pools tour. Float in warm waters under the dark sky reserve, guided by expert storytellers. Book now!
Duration:
1 hour, 30 minutes
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Tekapo Star Gazing - Tekapo Star Gazing is the only guided hot pools and star gazing experience in New Zealand. The tour operates from the renowned facilities of Tekapo Springs, combining the stunning Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve with our soul-warming hot pools. The guided portion of the tour focuses on the mythology and legend…
- Tekapo Star Gazing - Tekapo Star Gazing is the only guided hot pools and star gazing experience in New Zealand. The tour operates from the renowned facilities of Tekapo Springs, combining the stunning Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve with our soul-warming hot pools. The guided portion of the tour focuses on the mythology and legend attributed to celestial objects by different cultures around the world. If the skies do not co-operate for outdoor stargazing, an informative indoor experience is run instead, featuring the use of a high-definition projector and stunning full-color satellite images of deep space as well as interactive elements and similar fascinating and informative content as in the outdoor tour - including an introduction to our telescopes.
The second half of the tour is where it really gets magical in a (37.5-38.5-degree Celsius) hot pool, let the real world melt away as you lie back with the help of a floating hammock to ensure ultimate relaxation and easy sky viewing.
What's Included
- Exclusive use of the hot pools at night in a group of no more than 32
- Pick up/drop off from Lake Tekapo Township (subject to availability and upon request only)
- A warm woolen blanket to use whilst outside exploring the universe
- A floating hammock to use whilst floating in the hot pools
- Professionally guided tour of the largest dark sky reserve
- Exclusive use of the hot pools at night in a group of no more than 32
- Pick up/drop off from Lake Tekapo Township (subject to availability and upon request only)
- A warm woolen blanket to use whilst outside exploring the universe
- A floating hammock to use whilst floating in the hot pools
- Professionally guided tour of the largest dark sky reserve
What's Not Included
- Food and non-alcoholic drinks (some hot drinks provided on the tour)
- Alcoholic drinks (cannot be brought to the premises)
- Swimwear, robes and towels available to borrow
- Food and non-alcoholic drinks (some hot drinks provided on the tour)
- Alcoholic drinks (cannot be brought to the premises)
- Swimwear, robes and towels available to borrow
Additional Information
The ultimate in stellar relaxation, Tekapo Star Gazing is the only guided stargazing and hot pools tour in New Zealand! It combines the stunning Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve with the soul-warming hot pools of Tekapo Springs. A 1.5-hour experience, the first half of the tour begins with an introduction to the night sky using…
The ultimate in stellar relaxation, Tekapo Star Gazing is the only guided stargazing and hot pools tour in New Zealand! It combines the stunning Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve with the soul-warming hot pools of Tekapo Springs. A 1.5-hour experience, the first half of the tour begins with an introduction to the night sky using high-powered telescopes and a fascinating combination of astronomy and storytelling. The second half is spent floating in our 37.5-38.5 degree hot pool on inflatable hammocks, gazing up at the night sky as our guides continue to entertain with cultural and scientific stories of the sky. The tour includes complimentary towels, robes and hot drinks.
- Minimum age to join the tour is 6 years old.
- Dress accordingly to the weather conditions. A warm blanket will be provided but temperatures can be very low in our alpine environment.
- Wheelchair accessible, please advise at time of booking if wheelchair assistance is required due to limited availability
- Subject to favorable weather conditions. If canceled due to poor weather (snow, extreme ice, lightning storms), you will be given the option of an alternative date or full refund. Tours go ahead regardless if some or none of the night sky is visible. If the sky is not visible an informative indoor tour takes place to highlight the significance of the Aoraki MacKenzie Dark Sky Reserve and local Maori understanding of the night sky. Regardless of the weather, the relaxing hot pools as the second half will still go ahead.
Location
Tekapo Springs
Lakeside Drive
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.4
(99 Ratings)
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Jamesb4329
Apr 4, 2025
Unique stargazing experience - Really recommend this! Combines interesting stargazing with relaxing hot pools. The guides were helpful, well informed and interesting. The facility was great - mix of stargazing in a real dark sky reserve using telescopes and a VR backup experience for any cloudy moments. Thermal pools were relaxing and atmospheric under the stars. Good facilities - free & easy parking etc.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Evelynh169
Feb 28, 2025
5 out of 5 stars! Great experience! - Tonight, my husband and I really enjoyed our Soak in the Stars experience with Tekapo Springs. Our Star Expert Patrick regaled us with fascinating facts on stars, galaxies, planets, meteor / meteorites, shooting stars. He showed us how to use the southern cross constellation to identify due south. After using powerful telescopes on the star deck for an up close look at the fascinating night sky, we all changed into our togs and were provided cozy robes on our way to the hot springs pool. Aaaah, it was heavenly to slip into the warm, soothing waters and relax on the floating hammocks provided, under a blanket of stars. Patrick did a Q&A as many of us were eager to learn more about the stars. Patrick shared the Māori lore about Ranginui - father sky and Papatūānuku -Mother Earth. It felt magical to listen to the stories, while floating under a dark sky lit up with constellations of stars strewn like diamonds across the Milky Way. It made us feel more connected and in awe of the universe we live in. We highly recommend this experience to anyone passing by Lake Tekapo! 2 thumbs up and 5 out of 5 stars! P.S. The rest of the crew were very friendly and helpful making the experience pleasant, organized and safe. Thank you team Tekapo Springs! We appreciated you and will spread the good word.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
R_vanderhorn1
Dec 12, 2024
Unique Stargazing Experience! - An unforgettable evening under the clear skies at Tekapo Springs! The first hour was spent exploring the stars through preprogrammed telescopes, and we were thrilled to see the rings of Saturn up close. The hot springs portion was equally delightful, with the guides sharing trivia as we soaked and stargazed. We've experienced other stargazing tours before, but this was one of the best!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Carterg585
Nov 22, 2024
Well worth the visit. - Blah blah blah it was great blah.
The guides were fantastic, informative and funny, the sky was clear and blankets were provided for us all, and we enjoyed the hot pool for more viewing, information and stories afterwards. An incredible experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sean_g
Nov 13, 2024
Stellar - Great experience. The moon was a little too bright and caused poor conditions for star gazing. However what we could see was explained and shown to the group effectively. The dip in the hot pools with more info about the stars and random interesting facts was great. I'd suggest it for anyone. Although make sure the moon is not on the way to becoming full.
Review provided by Viator
Resort37816611803
May 28, 2023
Absolutely magical - Wow! Absolutely loved our experience. The guides were wonderful, knowledgeable and humorous.
We were lucky as the night before it was pouring with rain but for us it was almost clear.
Our guides knew their stuff, were open to questions, able to have a laugh and even though I’m sure they have done this 100s of times they still seemed just as excited as I was seeing it for the first time.
Floating around in the hammocks staring at the stars was magical, a couple of shooting stars put on a show for us
Thank you so much
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Shane_p
Apr 29, 2023
Great tour with José - Absolutely amazing journey with Jose as our guide. Very well versed in Incan history (as a history nerd myself). Very personable and made our afternoon a pleasure. Would highly recommend this company and José whilst in Cusco!
Review provided by Viator
John
May 29, 2021
Don't miss this! - The night we visited there was a lot of cloud cover. But we started with the VR experience. Very professional, and very well done. Lots of information - too much to take it all in but it prepared us for when we went outside, lay on the hammocks in the 38' pool and were both entertained and informed by the real star of the celestial, milky way experience - Sang. Informative, knowledgeable, and then he was able to add both a Maori and world-wide cultural stories about what we had seen on the VR. Just brilliant. Loved it. Highly recommended. Even without the Milky Way and the constellations on view we left thoroughly satisfied and better educated than when we arrived.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jval2014
May 1, 2025
Decent spa - nothing fancy but was nice to do - Went here in April 2025 with a friend (both in our mid 30's). It was a decent time and the price was good as well. They aren't natural hot spring but that was okay as it was still relaxing and nice. Three hot pools and one other one for children. Only one hot pool children could not go in, so we did chose to hang out in there most of the time (no offence to children, but they just aren't relaxing to me .. ) We also got the package that included the sauna's which I would recommend (if you like that I suppose). They had a small cold plunge outside of them that you could do which was a good amount of cold that you could stay in for a minute or 2 and was refreshing! Overall it was a nice few hours spent, but not something I would say you MUST do.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Bucko43
Apr 9, 2023
Highly recommend - The weather was cloudy but a few stars around so we got to see some through the four telescopes and then had a very informative chat whilst relaxing in the hot pools looking at the stars. Highly recommend. Would have been nice to see the full moon through the telescope
Review provided by Tripadvisor