The shape of the building, chosen to reflect the angles of the mountain peaks around, is recessed into the ground to allow guests to feel part of the landscape. The glass house is set back against the hills at the back of a large farm/ranch.... read moreWhat a great experience. This building is the creation of New Zealand designer, Ian Perry. The Magic of the Dark in a Dark Sky Sanctuary. Or, you could catch the Cable Car up to Wellington's Carter Observatory, perched high above the city, to discover the stories and significance of New Zealand's southern skies. You can take part in festivities around New Zealand that mark Matariki, such as light shows on the Auckland Harbour Bridge or at Te Papa Museum in Wellington. The Only Dark Sky Reserve in the Southern Hemisphere This area of sky is protected from light pollution by local bylaws, with tight controls on outdoor lighting. Tips: arrive in daylight...it is worth the sunset but also easier to find. Frosty nights were no deterrent...it was a warm and cosy stay. Enjoy Good Heavens Dark Sky Experiences with stargazing packages for individuals or groups including "Dining with the Stars". New Zealand's very own Great Barrier Island is one of only five Dark Sky Sanctuaries and in June 2017 was named the first Island Sanctuary of the world. The spring water, sourced from deep under the Ben Ohau Range, is as pure as it gets and free from contaminants. We wish we had more time to spend in Twizel to stay even longer with them! Payment will not be taken for “on Request” bookings until they are fully confirmed. The glass house is set back against the hills at the back of a large farm/ranch. Each building is located on it’s own and in such a way that you cannot see one building from the other. Your browser does not support iframes. Let us show you the best of New Zealand on other platforms by selecting 'On' and allowing us to share data from your visit(s) with our partners. Dark, clear skies, unique celestial features and otherworldly landscapes make stargazing in New Zealand a breathtakingly magical experience. Our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy explain how we use your data and who our partners are. Option Two – The Ultimate Salad for 2. We also use cookies to show you the best of New Zealand on other platforms. The dark sky reserve is located in the Mackenzie Basin, in the South Island of New Zealand, and includes Aoraki Mt Cook National Park and the villages of Lake Tekapo, Twizel and Mt Cook. We stayed two nights at the end of a road trip. Totally unique experience What a great experience. read less, Incredible Nights Under a Canopy of Stars What a treat! Your SkyBed nestles within native scrub and tussocks in a private location. Here, you'll enjoy professional telescopes and knowledgeable, passionate guides for an unforgettable stargazing experience. A stunning place. Totally reccommend it! Outside, in a sunken courtyard, you can relax in a 2m long stainless steel-cedar bathtub. An evening dinner platter or salad is available on request. Catch a gondola high into the mountains with Skyline Stargazing and enjoy picking out constellations through the lenses of telescopes. We are excited to announce the opening of two new SkyScape units on the 1st of May, or earlier if completed. We stayed two nights at the end of a road... read moreWhat a treat! We cooked up some High Country local slamon that we bought from the farm in Twizel for dinner (best to plan ahead as Twizel is a bit of a drive to a restaurant, and many places seemed closed on Monday night anyway). Known for its interactive experience, the Carter Observatory is New Zealand's national observatory. These collisions are brought to life by spectacular sheets of purple, green, yellow and blue that dance silently across the night sky. Local cheeses, local smoked salmon, cured meats, chutney, fresh vegetable sticks, fresh bread and crackers.
The Auckland Stardome is an observatory and planetarium that has special shows for children as well as a planetarium and space gallery. Sourced from a spring under the Ben Ohau Range. Book this room today and reserve your spot. Hotels near Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve, Lake Tekapo on Tripadvisor: Find 11,898 traveller reviews, 6,199 candid photos, and prices for 14 hotels near Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve in Lake Tekapo, New Zealand. Recently, 4,300 square kilometres of New Zealand’s South Island was recognised as an International Dark Sky Reserve, the largest reserve of this type worldwide. Great local produce for breakfast before a leisurely departure. The shape of the building, chosen to reflect the angles of the mountain peaks around, is recessed into the ground to allow guests to feel part of the landscape. Recently, 4,300 square kilometres of New Zealand’s South Island was recognised as an International Dark Sky Reserve, the largest reserve of this type worldwide. We had two absolutely crystal clear nights to stargaze from the outside bath. The house is completely off grid, but still has all of the mod-cons (except a microwave) with automated temperature control, wifi etc.
Far from city lights, and under strictly controlled local ordinances, the gold-rated dark sky reserve has almost light-pollution-free skies making for exceptional night sky viewing for the thousands of visitors who make the pilgrimage each year. Local policies acknowledge the value that the Stewart Island/Rakiura community places on environmental protection and help to preserve the pristine skies. A gourmet continental breakfast is provided which can be prepared in the kitchenette. Hard to get back to sleep after that and watched the sun rise over the farm. The Southern Lights are seen mainly in the southern half of the South Island, in and around Lake Tekapo, Dunedin, Queenstown, Southland and Stewart Island. We stayed two nights at the end of a road... What a treat! This means that the stars you see in Twizel, Tekapo or Mt Cook are some of the clearest in the world. This unique building comprises a glass-roofed bedroom, as well as a grass roofed kitchenette and bathroom. Watching the sun come up over the valley was another highlight. To view cookie details and how to opt-out, please see our Cookie Policy. International Dark Sky Reserve In June 2012, the region gained further international recognition as the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve - at 4300 sqkm, it is the world's largest international park in the sky. Recently, Stewart Island/Rakiura was officially recognised as the world's fifth International Dark Sky Sanctuary and the second Island Sanctuary in the world. Central heating keeps you warm during the cooler months. (Day and night). Accommodation Mackenzie Region With breathtaking scenery and a wealth of things to see and do it’s the perfect excuse to stay awhile and explore more. This includes a selection of Muesli, Yoghurt, Fresh Fruit, Croissants, Local Jam, Juice, Tea and Coffee.
One of New Zealand’s most iconic photo locations is on the shores of Lake Tekapo. High County Lodge and Backpackers now offers unique motel and backpacker accommodation in the heart of our naturally beautiful Mckenzie Region. What a great experience. Being so close to the Southern Alps means our weather is very changeable and often we have four seasons in one day – so come prepared for all eventualities! Summers are usually very hot and winters cold, often with a frost in the early morning followed by a clear sunny day. In addition to above, we use other cookies and analytics to provide a better site experience. We had two absolutely crystal clear nights to stargaze from the outside bath. Leafy salad greens, local feta cheese, local smoked salmon, pickled beetroot, cherry tomatoes, orange segments, sweet lemon dressing and fresh bread. For stargazing at Mount Cook, head to Big Sky Stargazing(opens in new window) at the foot of Mount Cook or join one of Dark Sky Project(opens in new window) (formerly Earth & Sky) tours at Tekapo's Mount John Observatory. 23 Mackenzie Drive, Twizel ,South Canterbury, New Zealand, “We really loved our time at the High Country Holiday Lodge! read less. The cedar bath was great, we laid in it watching the sun go down with a good bottle of red. All planting around the unit is native to the area to help the SkyBed blend into the environment.
If you travel New Zealand in winter, you might be lucky enough to catch the symphony of colour that is the Aurora Australis. The 4,300sq km area is inside the Mackenzie Basin of the South Island, which encapsulates Aoraki Mt Cook National Park and the villages of Tekapo, Twizel and Mt Cook.. The glass house is set back against the hills at the back of a large farm/ranch.... What a great experience. Snuggle under a feather duvet with natural fibres to keep you cool in summer and warm in winter. Thanks for everything!”. In June 2012, the region gained further international recognition as the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve – at 4300 sqkm, it is the world’s largest international park in the sky.
Find airfares. No chemicals are added – just pure fresh water – sourced from a nearby spring. Covering much of the Aoraki/Mount Cook Mackenzie region, the Dark Sky Reserve has been labelled as one of the best stargazing sites on Earth. With the unit recessed into the ground, you feel part of the environment, whilst also having shelter and privacy. We use cookies to provide you with a better experience on this site. No chlorine is added, just 100% pure NZ water. We stayed two nights at the end of a road trip. International Dark Sky Reserve The 4300sq km area has been declared as the southern hemisphere’s sole dark sky reserve.
These two new buildings are the same in design as our current building, with just a couple of small adaptations to improve thermal performance. Absolutely great place to visit. To help blend the building into the environment. It was cloudy (drizzling) when we went to bed, but I woke at about 4am to a full sky of stars & Milky Way. Each SkyScape unit will be fitted with blinds for added privacy. Please note that all guests must be over the age of 16 years. We stayed two nights in absolute luxury. Here at SkyScape we are completely off-grid, using solar, gas and a back- up generator for those cloudy days, so we ask you to please conserve energy where possible. What a treat! The Aoraki Mackenzie Dark Sky Reserve. Check out what other travelers say about New Zealand on TripAdvisor. This building is the creation of New Zealand designer, Ian Perry. acknowledge the value that the Stewart Island/Rakiura community places on environmental protection and help to preserve the pristine skies. The 4300sq km area is bounded by a spectacular alpine landscape with the Southern Alps in the west, and the Two Thumb Range in the east. Far from city lights, and under strictly controlled local ordinances, the gold-rated dark sky reserve … These are ‘On Request’ bookings and are subject to confirmation upon the new units being completed. Winter in New Zealand is also a time to celebrate Matariki, the Māori New Year. for uninterrupted star viewing and cloud watching. Twizel is part of the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve. The facilities were clean and never more than a few steps away and the staff was a delight to deal with. Frosty nights were no deterrent...it was a warm and cosy stay. We stayed two nights in absolute luxury. We stayed two nights in absolute luxury. Aoraki International Dark Sky Reserve. The glass house is set back against the hills at the back of a large farm/ranch. The bed rests at ground level, so you are, in terms of perspective, lying on the ground viewing the stars. A dirt road leads to your SkyScape accommodation, traversable by standard 2WD vehicles. See constellations and shooting stars in glittering dark skies; much of New Zealand has no light pollution and is home to some of the most accessible observatories in the world.
The house is completely off grid, but still has all of the mod-cons (except a microwave) with automated temperature control, wifi etc.
Bring easy to eat food....crackers and cheese, there is local wine in the mini bar but you can take your own and sit and watch sunsets and stars from the bath.