Gipfelerfahrung - University of Canterbury Mt John Observatory

Very worth the price! We were able to see 2 satellites floating in the distance, shooting stars, the Milky Way and the Southern Cross and... the Aurora Australis! I did not expect to see the Aurora since it is late March but a resport came in that there was increased activity. A faint glow in the distance was the Aurora, then came beams of greenish light rising and fading. The docent also used a laser to point out certain stars so there was no guessing! I learned so much in an entertaining way. I was amazed that the human eye cannot see very much of all the colors until the docent set up his camera for a 30 second exposure shot - we were shocked at what the camera "saw!" Excellent viewing night with a fun and experienced staff. Be advised to check the "new moon" calendar so the evening you choose to experience the sky is especially dark and not illuminated by moonlight. The scientists manning the individual telescopes were knowledgable. I would have liked an area for novice cell-phone-camera visitors to try their hand at getting their own photos. Advice from a docent would have been an appreciated, "added feature" too. This said, the Dark Sky Project experience was the highlight of our NZ trip!

We absolutely loved our Summit Experience, one of the highlights of our time in New Zealand. The team at the Dark Sky Project were enthusiastic and very knowledgeable, and worked hard to show us a variety of stars and constellations. It was awesome to see research telescopes at work!

Straight off, we couldn't do the summit because it was full cloud. We opted to have a partial refund and do the indoor experience and it was incredible. David, our guide, was deeply knowledgeable and he took us around the universe using their bespoke screening room (think like a cinema but more comfortable and very intimate). The whole experience was excellent and well worth the cost of 40NZD per person. Would easily recommend.