Southern Skies Stargazing Tour in Dunedin
5
Full view
LIKELY TO SELL OUT*
Southern Skies Stargazing Tour in Dunedin
By Horizon Tours
Recommended by 100% of travelers
This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher
With clear skies and unobstructed views, the Otago Peninsula makes an ideal destination for star gazing and it’s even possible to view Southern Lights (Aurora Australis) under the right conditions. On this tour, venture out to explore the peninsula at night and use binoculars to get a closer look at the star constellations. Warm up with hot drinks and snacks as your guide tells you about the different constellations and their importance to the Maori people.
from per adult
$92.84
from per adult
$92.84
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation
Ages 10-80, max of 10 per group
Duration:
4h
Start time: Check availability
Ticket type:
Mobile
English
Highlights
- Intimate stargazing experience with a maximum of 10 people
- Spot star constellations and look out for the Southern Lights
- Learn about the stars and hear Maori legends from your guide
- Hassle-free pickup and drop-off at your Dunedin hotel
- Snacks
- Light refreshments
- Hotel pickup and drop-off (selected hotels only)
- Coffee and/or Tea
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Entry/Admission - Portobello
- Departure details
- Traveler pickup is offered.
- We collect from some centrally located accommodations. Or from Dunedin I-Site in the Octagon. Drop off back at accommodation.
- Hotel pickup is offered. View the hotel list on our checkout page to see if yours is included among the pickup points.
Return details- Returns to original departure point
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 90921P5- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Most travelers can participate
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 10 travelers
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- A note from Southern Skies Stargazing Tour in Dunedin
- Face masks are available in our vans
What you can expect during your visit- Gear/equipment sanitized between use
- Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
- Transportation vehicles regularly sanitized
Community- Safety precautions are provided by the property and are not checked by Tripadvisor for accuracy.
- How much is Southern Skies Stargazing Tour in Dunedin?
- Southern Skies Stargazing Tour in Dunedin price starts from $97.69. Discover and book Southern Skies Stargazing Tour in Dunedin on Tripadvisor
- What is the Southern Skies Stargazing Tour in Dunedin cancellation policy?
- Southern Skies Stargazing Tour in Dunedin cancellation policy: For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience. Discover and book Southern Skies Stargazing Tour in Dunedin on Tripadvisor
- Which company provides Southern Skies Stargazing Tour in Dunedin?
- Southern Skies Stargazing Tour in Dunedin is hosted by Horizon Tours. Read reviews, discover additonal experiences or contact Horizon Tours on Tripadvisor. Discover and book Southern Skies Stargazing Tour in Dunedin on Tripadvisor
- How much time do I need for Southern Skies Stargazing Tour in Dunedin?
- On average, this experience will take approximately 4h. Discover and book Southern Skies Stargazing Tour in Dunedin on Tripadvisor
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 90921P5
Itinerary
- You'll get picked upSee departure details
- 1Otago PeninsulaStop: 60 minutesSee details
- 2Allans BeachStop: 60 minutes - Admission includedSee details
- You'll return to the starting point
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About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator.
nsydguy
00A great tour
James was an excellent driver and guide - friendly, considerate, flexible, and a font of knowledge on just about e…
michelerD9710FN
00Best Tour/ Guide Ever
I had a fabulous trip with my very professional, knowledgeable and enthusiastic guide James. He took me on as a sol…
Ben T
00Wonderful City Tour
I've just returned from a wonderful city tour of Dunedin. James was a font of local knowledge and helluva nice guy…
Photogirlygirl
00Wonderful tour of Dunedin, Larnach Castle and The Albatross Centre
My husband and I had the pleasure of meeting James the tour guide for an enjoyable day seeing the sights of Dunedin…
Tamara D
00Wonderful highlight of our trip
Fantastic, family run, warm, friendly and knowledgeable tour guide. Highly recommended. We learnt about the culture…
Blablubb123456
00The absolute best! A truly wonderful tour to experience Dunedin and its wildlife.
Happened to be the only one booking the tour that day and could completely pick where to go or stay longer. Loved e…
TheMacsOnHoliday
00Must do experience
Absolutely spoilt! We booked a 4 or 5 hour nature tour but asked if we could possibly stop in at Larnach Castle. T…
Kiwikai72
00Totally worth it
Thanks James & Horizon Tours, we totally enjoyed our day with you to learn about Dunedin and the surrounding area, …
vaneked
00Awesome day
James was a wonderful guide and very knowledgeable of the area, would highly recommend!!! Nothing was a problem and…
LynnTonking
00If you want a day trip to introduce you to Dunedin
We cannot recommend this company highly enough. James was professional, personable and went above and beyond to mak…
StaceyCheer
00Superman to the rescue!!
We had pre-booked a Dunedin, Larnach Castle, and Peninsula tour with another company, who failed to pick us up! Wi…
Wanderer06350291090
00Very enjoyable and good value for money.
I would highly recommend this tour. It was very enjoyable and good value for money as it was seven.hours long. The …
Tina3337
00Excellent tour
This was a great tour, Lyndon is an awesome guide, super knowledgeable, friendly and really looked after us. We saw…
patriciajX5435WY
00Excellent wildlife tour
Watching Blue penguins coming to shore. Getting to know the history of numerous plants and trees. Great tour guide.
lesliedavidh
00Absolutely fantastic! A must do for any visitor to Dunedin!
James you are an excellent guide. Our group of 4 absolutely loved the history, the culture, the sights and the ban…
Contribute
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
51 reviews
Excellent
50
Very good
1
Average
0
Poor
0
Terrible
0
C&C
2 contributions
Couples
It was a very special night out. We were lucky with the weather, once the few clouds disappeared we were greeted with an awesome view of the skies. Kylie guided us through the night sky with exceptional knowledge and passion interweaving stories of Maori legend and how they were used for navigation. We also saw several shooting stars, the ISS and so many satellites, it’s just amazing what you can see. We were so well looked after. Awesome hospitality with blankets to keep us cosy, and delicious snacks, cheese platter and hot drinks to fill our bellies. We feel so fortunate to have been able to have been part of this special experience.
Written September 27, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Kylie R
Kia ora!
Thank you so much for your review. I am happy you enjoyed your time with me beneath the realm of Ranginui. I love showing people our beautiful southern skies. All the best for 2022.
Nga mihi,
The Horizon Tours Whanau, (family)
Written December 28, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Jack R
2 contributions
Couples
Amazing! What an awesome experience. Kylie's knowledge and passion for the night sky is outstanding. Pair this with fantastic story telling interweaving the stars with a maori cultural narrative and you're set.
The comfort factor was also esquisite 👌 From the all-the-way-back chairs to being tucked into blankets and fed delights including artisanal snacks, a cheeseboard and hot drinks. How good!
On our night the clouds and moon weren't playing ball but it really didn't matter. I'd go in the day 😁
The comfort factor was also esquisite 👌 From the all-the-way-back chairs to being tucked into blankets and fed delights including artisanal snacks, a cheeseboard and hot drinks. How good!
On our night the clouds and moon weren't playing ball but it really didn't matter. I'd go in the day 😁
Written September 11, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Kylie R
Kia ora!
Thank you so much for your review. I had a great time with you both, despite Marama making it a little difficult, and the unexpected clouds making it even worse! Hope you got the email with that App and book recommendation, I have checked out the duck and ewe, and my son has his eye on a couple of items.
Nga mihi,
The Horizon Tours Whanau, (family)
Written September 12, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Team Canada
2 contributions
Family
An absolute MUST while here on the South Island! Our family of 8,thank you to the amazing Kylie our hostess tour guide, shared an evening under the stars that will live our hearts forever. Kylie is a wealth of knowledge, has the singing voice that stirs your soul and makes education fun! Her families proud Māori heritage is shared with her guests. The entire experience was fantastic down to each detail: zero gravity chairs,blankets,snacks and warm drinks. We highly encourage everyone ( local as well as tourists) to count on Horizon Tours for an experience of a life time !
Team Canada. NZMJPP
Team Canada. NZMJPP
Written June 6, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Kylie R
Kia ora whanau!
Thank you so much for your review, and for making time on your quick trip to come and see the stars with me. I had an absolute ball, and hope that the rest of your trip went well, and that you travel safely back to Canada. Save some Sweet Georgia Browns for me!!
Nga mihi,
The Horizon Tours Whanau (family)
Written June 9, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Teamallblacks
1 contribution
Kylie, our tour guide made the experience really enjoyable. She was knowledgeable about the night sky and her passion came through as she was talking. She gave a great talk about various stars and included the Maori stories as well, this added to the understanding of how they were used in navigation. The evening was a bit cool but we were supplied with blankets and warm drinks. The nibbles provided made it seem like you were at the movies. We were not rushed and could stay out for as long as we were comfortable allowing us to see the night sky slowly moving. The fact they keep the groups small made it more personal. Would recommend this tour and have already mentioned it to friends as a must do.
Written April 27, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Kylie R
Kia ora,
Thank you so much for your review. I am thrilled that you are recommending our tour to your friends and family, it means the world to us. Sometimes the stars look like something out of a movie don't they!
Nga mihi,
The Horizon Tours Whanau, (family)
Written May 3, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
natsnaps
Auckland, New Zealand181 contributions
From the moment I was picked up I felt like I was travelling with family. As a family based company their hospitality is warm and embracing.
Kylie shared so much of her knowledge and shared her stories that brought the entire experience to life.
The journey to the star gazing spot was filled with anecdotes and stories of the land and its people.
Once at the special spot I lay back on the chairs and marvelled at the sight above. Never have I ever experienced the stars the way Kylie brought them to life. And never have I ever seen so many. You feel like you’re part of the galaxy with stars around you.
Where Greek, Maori or European, Kylie knew the stories of the stars. And we saw all of them on such a clear and amazing night.
She ensures everyone is warm and kept fed with light snacks.
This is a must do experience and one you will remember for a very long time.
Kylie shared so much of her knowledge and shared her stories that brought the entire experience to life.
The journey to the star gazing spot was filled with anecdotes and stories of the land and its people.
Once at the special spot I lay back on the chairs and marvelled at the sight above. Never have I ever experienced the stars the way Kylie brought them to life. And never have I ever seen so many. You feel like you’re part of the galaxy with stars around you.
Where Greek, Maori or European, Kylie knew the stories of the stars. And we saw all of them on such a clear and amazing night.
She ensures everyone is warm and kept fed with light snacks.
This is a must do experience and one you will remember for a very long time.
Written March 15, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Kylie R
Kia ora!
Thank you so much for your review. I love that you felt like you were travelling with whanau, as that is exactly the type of experience we hope to provide. Come out with me again! It was so much fun.
Nga mihi,
The Horizon Tours Whanau, (family)
Written April 14, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
mixiego
5 contributions
Tour given by Kylie who made it an incredibly rich evening with some wildlife sighting, local history, and Maori cultural interpretation of the night skies. Kylie was open to answering any questions I had and was warm and funny. The company is intentional about their approach to cultural and environmental tourism and has put in a lot of work to get it right.
Written January 26, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Kylie R
Kia ora!
Thank you so much for your review. We have worked hard to get the right approach for our tours, and I love that you picked up on that. I hope the rest of your trip went well, and if you find yourself back this way, I would love to show you our forests!
Nga mihi,
The Horizon Tours Whanau, (family)
Written January 28, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Dan T
1 contribution
Solo
This was a fantastic experience going out onto the peninsula. I was lucky with a clear night and you could see an array of stars. They do a great job of making you feel comfortable and warm (with snacks!) and tell you about both the science and the cultural stories and history of the stars. Dunedin must-do!
Written July 18, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Kylie R
Kia ora!
Thank you so much for your review. It means heaps to us. We are really glad that you had a clear night and enjoyed the evening despite the wind! Hope your trip north was a good one... and dry!
Nga mihi
The Horizon Tours Whanau, (family)
Written July 21, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Bloomington
1 contribution
This was such a fantastic experience. All day it had rained in Dunedin with low cloud but around 7pm the sky cleared and we had the most magical night on the Otago peninsula. (I feel like Kylie had a direct line to the weather gods!) Kylie and Lyndon are so interesting, knowledgeable and friendly. I loved the Maori legends and Kylie sang the most beautiful waiata. We were so well looked after with drinks, snacks and blankets. This definitely was the highlight of my road trip around the South Island. Highly recommend this trip.
Written January 31, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Kylie R
Kia ora!
Thank you so much for your review. We did have a fabulous night, and a great time with you all. So glad that it was the highlight of your trip, and that we could be a part of it. Good luck with getting to that bourbon tour!
Nga mihi,
The Horizon Tours Whanau, (family)
Written January 31, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Scott
Oegstgeest, The Netherlands1 contribution
Fantastic! 2 tours of the night sky for the price of one - both the from the scientific perspective & the Maori .
Everything little detail thought about, we were so comfortable and warm. Our hosts were wonderful, very knowledgeable and entertaining.
It was lovely to get a night time trip along up the Otago Peninsula to their deserted viewing spot. To hear the sea and get lost in the huge night sky was our most memorable trip in our holiday to New Zealand - it's a must!
Everything little detail thought about, we were so comfortable and warm. Our hosts were wonderful, very knowledgeable and entertaining.
It was lovely to get a night time trip along up the Otago Peninsula to their deserted viewing spot. To hear the sea and get lost in the huge night sky was our most memorable trip in our holiday to New Zealand - it's a must!
Written June 22, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Kylie R
Kia ora!
Thanks so much for your review, and we hope your trip home was uneventful! Thanks for spending your last night here out with us, and we hope to see you both again soon!
Nga mihi,
The Horizon Tours Whanau, (family)
Written July 12, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
shona_wona
Edinburgh, UK23 contributions
I was picked up by Kylie on a pretty cloudy Dunedin evening and couldn't believe I was the only one booked on the trip! So refreshing to know that this company don't have a minimum number in order for the trip to go ahead.
The drive out to where the stargazing was to take place was really scenic, with a few stops on the way to admire the views, spot seals and sealions along with all the bird life too. When we got to the stargazing spot, Kylie got me all cosied up with fleecy blankets and a really comfy chair. Plus a selection of hot drinks and some tasty snacks too.
Sadly, the sky wasn't working in my favour that night and it was too cloudy to see any of the stars, other than Venus (a planet, not a star!). I was gutted as if I'd booked the night before, the sky was completely clear and it would have been an awesome star gazing experience.
Despite not seeing any stars, I thoroughly enjoyed my few hours with Kylie - a truly wonderful, open and friendly person - I feel very blessed to have met her. I was also offered a full refund because we didn't get to see any stars. I declined the refund as I had such a good time regardless.
Do this trip if you can!
The drive out to where the stargazing was to take place was really scenic, with a few stops on the way to admire the views, spot seals and sealions along with all the bird life too. When we got to the stargazing spot, Kylie got me all cosied up with fleecy blankets and a really comfy chair. Plus a selection of hot drinks and some tasty snacks too.
Sadly, the sky wasn't working in my favour that night and it was too cloudy to see any of the stars, other than Venus (a planet, not a star!). I was gutted as if I'd booked the night before, the sky was completely clear and it would have been an awesome star gazing experience.
Despite not seeing any stars, I thoroughly enjoyed my few hours with Kylie - a truly wonderful, open and friendly person - I feel very blessed to have met her. I was also offered a full refund because we didn't get to see any stars. I declined the refund as I had such a good time regardless.
Do this trip if you can!
Written January 20, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Kylie R
Kia ora Shona!
Thanks so much for your review. I had a fantastic time talking and getting to know you, and am glad you enjoyed the experience despite the sky not doing what we wanted. Hope you get to make it back this way again some day!
Nga mihi
The Horizon Tours Whanau, (family)
Written January 21, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We are very keen to see the Aurora Australis, weather permitting, would this be a definite possibility on this tour?
Yoshitake50
Glendale, CO1 contribution
What times are the pickup and drop offs?
Lyndon P
Dunedin, New Zealand
8pm to midnight during the summer
FrequentFlier702932
Nagoya, Japan
12／31(火)に予約した加藤ですがホテルの送迎と時間を教えて下さい。
ホテルはザブラザーズブティックホテルです。
予約リファレンス BR-706504260
Kylie R
Dunedin, New Zealand3 contributions
Kia ora,
We have your hotel, Brother's Boutique Hotel, in our system and will see you on the 31 of December.
Nga mihi
Kylie
Tony Chen
1 contribution
Hi, how long will be the journey?
Kylie R
Dunedin, New Zealand3 contributions
Kia ora,
Apologies for the tardy reply to your question. Our Stargazing tour takes around four hours. In the summer we depart Dunedin at 8PM and we look to have you back into town not later than 12 Midnight.
Nga mihi
The Horizon Tours Team
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
