Star Safari

Love our night sky! Rediscover what's out there and experience a fabulous night sky with:

1. the largest telescopes available for public use in Wairarapa, with top-of-the-range optical equipment,
2. VR headsets, so that when the weather is cloudy you can take off to the Moon or float in the International Space Station, and
3. your hosts Hari and Sam.

*****Hari was a finalist of the New Zealand Woman of the Year in 2019 and was picked to go to the European Space Agency Astronaut Selection in 2021. An astrobiologist, Hari trained for Mars at the Mars Desert Research Station in Utah and lectures at Auckland University in Planetary Protection. She is on the Wairarapa Dark Sky Association and Women in Space Aotearoa Committees.
For the last 25 years, Sam has been living in Wairarapa, observing the night sky from his private observatory. Sam is a former airforce pilot and intelligence officer, studying astrophysics and now a professional space science communicator. *****

Nestled in Wairarapa's stunning dark skies, is the Star Safari Observatory, handy to both Martinborough and Carterton but far away enough not to be impacted by light pollution. This is important for stargazing, because the darker the sky the more objects you can see.

Our equipment is the best in Wairarapa because for stargazing, size really matters. Our telescopes gather lots of light and our eyepieces are the best on the market. When the sky is cloudy, we take you on a virtual tour through the Universe with our science-based planetarium software and we have VR headsets just for you so you can experience space in a fully immersive way.

It goes without saying that hot chocolate is a must for stargazing but we also serve tea if you prefer. Sit on a moon chair or lay on a bean bag and just be one with the Universe. And while other people might tell you stories about the night sky, talk about star lore and star constellations, or even maybe try and tell your future, we talk science.

Come discuss with us about the future of humankind and how is linked to space exploration, let's ponder together how to make a better one and marvel at the Universe. We look forward to your visit and sharing this amazing night sky we have here in Aotearoa.

Please check the directions here: https://star-safari.nz/contact/

More information as well as our terms and conditions here
https://star-safari.nz/stargazing-in-wairarapa/

Stargazing. Big Telescopes. Space Shop. Astrophotography. Space Science Communication. Virtual Night Sky Tours.

Photos by Milky-Way.Kiwi and JET Productions.