Stargaze Mackenzie

Science-focused stargazing tours

Twizel

Professional stargazing tours with an experienced astronomer

Explore the universe from the world-famous Aoraki Mackenzie Dark Sky Reserve with our small-scale custom-built tours

Learn the science behind the stars and walk away with a new appreciation for the night sky, one that will stay with you forever

Twizel’s clear, dry climate and low light levels make it a top choice for stargazing in the South Island.

Thanks to its open landscapes and lack of urban glow, Twizel provides excellent conditions for observing the night sky.

Stargazing tours

  • The Cosmos Explorer Tour

    A 75-minute guided stargazing experience under dark, clear skies. See stars, planets, and nebulae through a telescope.

    Learn the night sky with a laser-guided tour. Quiet, simple, unforgettable

    -🌌 Small group size (10 max)

    - 🕒75 minutes

    - 🔭 10” telescope

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  • Person in a red jacket with outstretched arm in front of a starry night sky, with mountains and water in the background.

    The Star Party (Private Stargazing)

    Private stargazing session for groups of up to 10. Your personal guide will lead you through the southern sky, pointing out constellations, planets, and distant deep-sky objects. Enjoy a personal experience and more time with the telescope.

    Perfect for families, friend groups, or small tour parties

    -🌌 Private group (4-10 max)

    - 🕒90 minutes

    - 🔭 10” telescope

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  • Stone church under starry night sky with Milky Way

    The Backyard Stargazer Tour

    Let the stars come to you. We bring the telescope and laser-guided sky tour directly to your accommodation. You’ll explore planets, star clusters, and deep-sky wonders — all from the comfort of your own backyard.

    -🌌 Hire an astronomer to you (2-10 max)

    - 🕒75 minutes

    - 🔭 10” telescope

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Where to Stay in Twizel

Stay Mackenzie

If you're planning a visit to Twizel, we recommend staying with Stay Mackenzie.

They offer a range of high-quality holiday homes and boutique accommodations throughout the area. We partner with Stay Mackenzie to deliver our Backyard Stargazing Tours—a private and relaxed experience right at your accommodation. It’s the perfect way to explore the night sky without needing to leave your doorstep.

Why Choose us?

At Stargaze Mackenzie, you’re not just looking at stars — you’re guided by an astronomer with 10 years of real-world experience in astronomical observations, guiding and outreach, astrophotography and even research.

Our tours offer authentic scientific insight into the cosmos. Your guide has studied professional astronomy and will provide you with facts grounded in real science.

We explain:

  • The true nature of stars, galaxies, planets, and cosmic events

  • The latest discoveries and how they impact our understanding of the universe

  • How professional astronomers study the night sky, from ground and space-based observatories

Every tour is designed for those who want genuine knowledge, delivered in an easy-to-understand manner. The tour is not just a view through a telescope, it’s a view into the nature of the cosmos.

The Stargaze Mackenzie Difference:

✅ 10 years of astronomical field experience
✅ Science-led tours — ideal for curious minds of all ages
✅ Real explanations that are easily accessible
✅ Learn how astronomers actually observe, discover, and measure the universe

If you want more than just pretty stars — if you want to understand what you’re seeing — then Stargaze Mackenzie is your perfect guide to the night sky.