Dark Sky Indoor Maori Cultural Astronomy Experience

Overview

Available languages

Chinese

English

1 hour

Mobile ticket

Get ready to embark on a journey 13.8 billion years in the making. A treat for the senses, the Dark Sky Experience brings science, Māori astronomy and fascinating multi-media installations together in a ‘Big Bang’ of awe and inspiration.

Using incredible immersive visual displays, we explore the science based narrative of how living beings came to be, and delve into the depths of the Milky Way. Get up close with the impressive 125 year old recently restored Brashear telescope.

Thought-provoking, educational and entertaining, this journey is sure to change your outlook in the best possible way. A world first – this indoor experience is a must on all itineraries whether you’re staying in Tekapo or just stopping by.

Additional Info

Wheelchair accessible

Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller

Service animals allowed

Public transportation options are available nearby

All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible

Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What‘s Included

45 minutes guided tour through four zones, delivered by passionate guides

Learn the Māori understanding of the universe, its significance in navigation, agriculture, and life

Operates year-round - no need to rely on weather conditions

Suitable for all ages, making it ideal for families and visitors regardless of weather conditions.

A unique indoor journey through space, time, and cultural heritage

Explore the science based narrative of how living beings came to be

View the restored 125-year-old Brashear Telescope, a nine-meter-tall Victorian-era telescope.

Snacks

Coffee and/or Tea

What To Expect

A one-of-a-kind, astronomy experience in the heart of the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve. Discover the night sky from a cultural perspective, mixing Māori astronomy with scientific discovery. Learn about the indigenous people of New Zealand and their special connection to the night sky. Explore four interactive zones that reveal how Māori used constellations and ocean currents to navigate, the significance of star clusters, and the mythology in the stars. Both educational and entertaining, this truly unique experience will transform your perspective of the night sky in the best possible way.

Admission Included

Options

Mandarin Guided Tour

Mandarin Tour: Enjoy the Dark Sky Experience with a Mandarin speaking guide.

English Guided Tour

Dark Sky Experience with English Guide

Reviews

4.32

63 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

Fun for adults and kids
oanac882,
Nov 4, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We did the indoor tour since we were traveling with 2 small children (3 year old and 7 months old) and couldn’t do the outdoor ones. It was a great experience, we would have been happy to do it even if we could have done the outdoor tour. Our toddler also loved it since it was interactive.
Interesting but spectacular location
Steve B,
Oct 10, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00
As part of a tour bus group we took in this experience. Our guide gave a very detailed commentary on the Maori use of the stars and of the celestial bodies. Unfortunately he lost a lot of them due to his detailed commentary. The facility is located at such a spectacular location that just walking the grounds and taking in the views is a must. Crystal blue waters capped by snow capped mountains.
We booked the Indoor...
Zoe K,
Apr 21, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
We booked the Indoor Astronomy experience because we knew that it was going to be a cloudy evening, and I wanted my children to hear about the Soutern Sky constellations. Our tour guide was enthusiastic and informative. It's a great option if you know you are not going to see the real thing!
Quite an enjoyable introduction to the stars includinb a Maori point of view
claug735,
Apr 2, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
3.00
As we had come to Tekapo we wanted to find out a bit more about the stars. It was quite enjoyable. The special effects were good and we liked the telescopes.
Pretty Bland for the Price
tumbleweedchris,
Feb 8, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
3.00
This is a tough one to review. We originally booked the Summit Experience, but unfortunately it was a cloudy night, so that was canceled. I do want to advise people looking at this to be careful. I just assume observatories are placed in relatively clear locations, but looking at the forecast when we ultimately visited had several cloudy days. I don't know how often this gets canceled, but I'd be curious to know. If I had known that this area was prone to overcast nights X% of the time, it would've helped make my decision to plan this or not. Obviously that is not the observatory's fault, but wanted to note for those considering. They offered the indoor experience as a replacement, which we took so that there was some activity. The indoor activity just wasn't terribly interesting to me. It involved looking at an old telescope and going through three rooms with projections to talk about the night sky. The presentation wasn't that different than any other planetarium show (this is not a planetarium, however) that you would find at a local science center. It's for that reason that I would not recommend taking the indoor show. I would have preferred the full refund. For those considering the indoor show, the price just doesn't meet the product you actually get. Skip the indoor and carefully weigh the Summit Experience based on the cancellation chances.
A must see
Anesa T,
Jan 13, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
Great tour guide, brilliant presentation and worth the visit. The knowledge shared is awesome and the orator does his job very well.
Enjoyable experience
Erica G,
Jan 3, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
Informative, enjoyed the cultural stories, the brought the experience to life. Glad we had something indoors to do given all the rain.
$50 price tag on a $20 tour
Rodders2011,
Sep 13, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
2.00
$50 per person was a bit over the top for this half hour experience. You got to watch a video on constellations on the big screen and then moved on to a room about suns, another projection about constellations and the. See the big telescope. While I’m sure out guide was very knowledgeable he was very difficult to understand. Definitely would not recommend for the money.
The things you didn’t know!
TonyD2860,
Mar 20, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
A very interesting and educational experience. The guide was excellent and hugely knowledgeable. A good way to spend a spare hour.
Disappointed
22ccsydney,
Jan 11, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
3.00
This was a bit disappointing for the price. Geared more for younger kids - not space literate teenagers and adults. I hoped to learn a bit more about the Dark Sky Project, research etc but it was mostly about Māori astronomy, which was quite interesting, but not sure it was enough to sustain the 45mins at the $180 it cost for our family. .