



Join us for a magical stellar evening with New Zealand’s only guided hot pools and star gazing experience!
Join us for a magical stellar evening with New Zealand’s only guided hot pools and star gazing experience!
Located at the renowned Tekapo Springs resort, this tour blends the spectacular Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve with exclusive access to a relaxing hot pool.
Your experience features an outdoor journey under the dazzling night skies of Tekapo – gaze through telescopes and uncover fascinating astronomy with your knowledgeable guide. In poor weather, you’ll step into a customised Virtual Reality tour of Tekapo’s skies, enriched with science, storytelling, and local legends.
You’ll also enjoy the serenity of our soul-warming 38 ℃ hot pool, floating in a hammock while marvelling at the sparkling canopy above. Your guide remains nearby to share celestial insights and stories, making the night come alive both in the water and beyond.
The Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve is home to some of the clearest, darkest skies in the world and is the largest reserve of its kind in the southern hemisphere.
All prices are shown inNZD ($)
Real highlights, tips, and the helpful advice straight from Bookme customers who’ve actually done this experience, summarised with AI support
Our Guides were very informative and knowledgeable. The best part was to get to hear the stories of how people named the stars and the history of Maori culture related to the stars while bathing in the hot pools.
Thank you for your awesome feedback. We are really pleased to know that our guides could pass on their knowledge, and you learnt a lot about our amazing night sky. The pools are nice and relaxing, and they are the best way to enjoy the stars. We hope to see you again in the future.
We were lucky with a very clear sky (went late March). The views were incredible, spent the whole time looking up in wonder and awe. I would have an interest in space but hadn't know the names/ locations of the stars up to that point. These were all explained to us, was really interesting. The hot springs were very relaxing, had nearly an hour in there. Overall an amazing experience
Thank you for your awesome feedback David. When you get a clear night, it truly is an incredible experience so we are pleased that you got the chance to see the stars and the guides could pass on their expert knowledge to you and that you got to enjoy the incredible night sky while relaxing in the pools. We hope to see you again in the future.
Hot pools good and got to see stars. No star gazing though. Would have preferred star gazing first than pools after to listen to stories Was meant to be on 1215am tour. Staff contacted to advise earlier better weather so agreed. I felt staff wanted to finish early because skies were clearer at 12pm
Thanks for your feedback. We're glad you enjoyed the hot pools and seeing the stars, but we're sorry the experience didn’t meet your expectations. Occasionally tour times or formats may change for operational reasons, as outlined in our terms and conditions. We appreciate you sharing your thoughts and will pass this on to the team.
It really was something else we were lucky enough to see the blood moon eclipse (which was needed because if there’s a full moon you don’t get to see many stars) and get some awesome photos of it through the telescopes provided. The tour head was amazingly insightful and full of knowledge and the hot pools were amazing.
Thanks for your amazing review! We're so glad you were able to witness the blood moon eclipse — what a special moment to experience during the tour. 🌕✨ It's great to hear you enjoyed the insights from the guide and the chance to capture photos through the telescopes, as well as relaxing in the hot pools. Thanks for joining us!
Copyright ©2026 Bookme Limited.
christiem1 from Australia wrote on 26 April 2026
Star gazing Lake Tekapo.
Our Lake Tekapo star gazing experience during autumn was truly unforgettable. As the sun set and the sky gradually darkened, the chill in the autumn air only added to the sense of anticipation and wonder. Once night fell, the sky came alive in the most spectacular way. With minimal light pollution, the stars appeared incredibly bright and vivid, and the Milky Way stretched clearly across the sky. It was a magical sight—something you don’t fully appreciate until you see it with your own eyes. The guides were knowledgeable and passionate, sharing fascinating insights about constellations, planets, and the unique features of the Southern Hemisphere sky. Their enthusiasm made the experience even more engaging and meaningful. What made it extra special was the peacefulness of the surroundings—the stillness of Lake Tekapo, the crisp autumn breeze, and the sheer vastness of the night sky. It felt both humbling and awe-inspiring at the same time. Overall, it was a breathtaking experience and a must-do for anyone visiting Lake Tekapo in autumn. Highly recommended for those looking to witness the beauty of the night sky in one of the world’s best stargazing locations.