Kia ora, I’m Daniel.

Originally from England, I moved to New Zealand nearly a decade ago in search of something the city lights could never offer: a truly dark sky. Growing up, I studied astronomy and planetary sciences in the UK — but the stars themselves remained hidden behind a veil of light pollution. I dreamed of seeing the night sky as it truly is, and that dream brought me here, beneath some of the clearest and darkest skies in the world.

Since arriving, New Zealand hasn’t just given me the Milky Way in all its splendour — it’s also become my home.

Over the years, I’ve had the privilege to guide under these southern stars for some of the country’s leading stargazing companies, including the renowned Dark Sky Project in Lake Tekapo. A highlight of my career was working atop Mount John Observatory at the University of Canterbury, assisting with research on the largest telescope in New Zealand, MOA, where we hunted for distant planets orbiting faraway stars.

But my connection with the night sky goes far beyond my work. Astronomy became a passion that followed me into my own backyard — where countless nights spent observing, photographing, and tracking asteroids have deepened both my skill and my wonder. I’ve learned to capture images I once only dreamed of, and to spot distant objects racing silently through the dark.

For me, astronomy has never been just about stars and planets. It’s about perspective. About standing under a vast, ancient sky and realising that we are part of something far greater than ourselves. Every time I guide a tour, my goal is to share that feeling — that quiet sense of awe — with others.

I invite you to join me, to look up, and to see the universe not just with your eyes — but with wonder.

Clear skies,
Daniel
Founder & Guide — Stargaze Mackenzie