Situated in the Mackenzie Basin in the foothills of the Southern Alps on New Zealand's Southern Island, Lake Tekapo is surrounded by the breathtaking scenery that has made New Zealand a must-see destination for travellers the world over. The area surrounding Lake Tekapo can boast its own microclimate, protected as it is from coastal weather fronts by the nearby Southern Alps. This leads to a much higher number of clear days and nights a year compared with the rest of New Zealand and makes it an ideal location for stargazing.

A local company, 'Earth and sky' run a variety of tours throughout the area, including those of an astronomical nature. There are daytime tours to the nearby Mt John Observatory, night-time stargazing tours that run to both Mt John and the Mt Cook National Park where equipment and guidance are provided to lead visitors through the features of the fascinating skies of the southern hemisphere. The company even runs special twilight tours to cater for families with young children.

Written by  Anna Dejardin.

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