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Tekapo Star Gazing: Hot Pools Under Dark Skies
4.3
116 Ratings
Lake Tekapo
Experience Tekapo’s unique stargazing and hot pools tour. Float in warm waters under the dark sky reserve, guided by expert storytellers. Book now!
Experience Tekapo’s unique stargazing and hot pools tour. Float in warm waters under the dark sky reserve, guided by expert storytellers. Book now!
Duration:
1 hour, 30 minutes
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Tekapo Star Gazing - Tekapo Star Gazing is the only guided hot pools and star gazing experience in New Zealand. The tour operates from the renowned facilities of Tekapo Springs, combining the stunning Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve with our soul-warming hot pools. The guided portion of the tour focuses on the mythology and legend…
- Tekapo Star Gazing - Tekapo Star Gazing is the only guided hot pools and star gazing experience in New Zealand. The tour operates from the renowned facilities of Tekapo Springs, combining the stunning Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve with our soul-warming hot pools. The guided portion of the tour focuses on the mythology and legend attributed to celestial objects by different cultures around the world. If the skies do not co-operate for outdoor stargazing, an informative indoor experience is run instead, featuring the use of a high-definition projector and stunning full-color satellite images of deep space as well as interactive elements and similar fascinating and informative content as in the outdoor tour - including an introduction to our telescopes.
The second half of the tour is where it really gets magical in a (37.5-38.5-degree Celsius) hot pool, let the real world melt away as you lie back with the help of a floating hammock to ensure ultimate relaxation and easy sky viewing.
What's Included
- Exclusive use of the hot pools at night in a group of no more than 32
- Pick up/drop off from Lake Tekapo Township (subject to availability and upon request only)
- A warm woolen blanket to use whilst outside exploring the universe
- A floating hammock to use whilst floating in the hot pools
- Professionally guided tour of the largest dark sky reserve
- Exclusive use of the hot pools at night in a group of no more than 32
- Pick up/drop off from Lake Tekapo Township (subject to availability and upon request only)
- A warm woolen blanket to use whilst outside exploring the universe
- A floating hammock to use whilst floating in the hot pools
- Professionally guided tour of the largest dark sky reserve
What's Not Included
- Food and non-alcoholic drinks (some hot drinks provided on the tour)
- Alcoholic drinks (cannot be brought to the premises)
- Swimwear, robes and towels available to borrow
- Food and non-alcoholic drinks (some hot drinks provided on the tour)
- Alcoholic drinks (cannot be brought to the premises)
- Swimwear, robes and towels available to borrow
Additional Information
The ultimate in stellar relaxation, Tekapo Star Gazing is the only guided stargazing and hot pools tour in New Zealand! It combines the stunning Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve with the soul-warming hot pools of Tekapo Springs. A 1.5-hour experience, the first half of the tour begins with an introduction to the night sky using…
The ultimate in stellar relaxation, Tekapo Star Gazing is the only guided stargazing and hot pools tour in New Zealand! It combines the stunning Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve with the soul-warming hot pools of Tekapo Springs. A 1.5-hour experience, the first half of the tour begins with an introduction to the night sky using high-powered telescopes and a fascinating combination of astronomy and storytelling. The second half is spent floating in our 37.5-38.5 degree hot pool on inflatable hammocks, gazing up at the night sky as our guides continue to entertain with cultural and scientific stories of the sky. The tour includes complimentary towels, robes and hot drinks.
- Minimum age to join the tour is 10 years old.
- Dress accordingly to the weather conditions. A warm blanket will be provided but temperatures can be very low in our alpine environment.
- Wheelchair accessible, please advise at time of booking if wheelchair assistance is required due to limited availability
- Subject to favorable weather conditions. If canceled due to poor weather (snow, extreme ice, lightning storms), you will be given the option of an alternative date or full refund. Tours go ahead regardless if some or none of the night sky is visible. If the sky is not visible an informative indoor tour takes place to highlight the significance of the Aoraki MacKenzie Dark Sky Reserve and local Maori understanding of the night sky. Regardless of the weather, the relaxing hot pools as the second half will still go ahead.
Location
Tekapo Springs
Lakeside Drive
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.3
(116 Ratings)
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Barbara_j
Apr 9, 2026
It was lovely floating in... - It was lovely floating in the hot pool while gazing at the amazing night sky. Our guide was very informative.
Review provided by Viator
Gloria19147
Mar 17, 2026
One of our most memorable experiences in NZ! - Even though there were clouds blocking the stars we were so looking forward to seeing, this was a fabulous experience. The virtual reality experience about the history of the universe was excellent and fun for all. Then the time in the warm pool listening to Maori stories was magical. Make sure you do this.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Shelby_c
Mar 8, 2026
Stargazing & Folklore - The springs were warm and lovely. They have a robe and towel for you and changing/showering facilities. The water hammocks were nice. I found that you can sit on them or straddle them and lay back. I enjoyed laying back to see the stars better and be more immersed in the water. After 45 minutes in the pool and storytelling which we learned a lot from then everyone got out of the pool, changed, and went to the stargazing deck. They had 3 telescopes set up and 1 of the 3 employees was an Astronomer which I thought was cool. Great experience and well worth the money.
They do keep the parking lot and grounds super dark for stargazing. That is part of the experience. I noticed a group of women in their 70s and 80s that had some challenges getting up the ramps in the dark. I would suggest being prepared to use the flash light on your phone facing the grounds to help anyone who may have trouble traversing the way in. Most of the path in has low lighting but there are strips of the path that do not. I wouldn’t avoid if I was older and had terrain challenges. I just want it to be called out to keep everyone safe.
We saw 3 different things through the telescope and all were really neat. Learned lots and enjoyed the Māori folklore.
Review provided by Viator
Sandra_m
Feb 26, 2026
Great fun. - You may or may not get clear skies but it is a great activity regardless. The host is enthusiastic and very knowledgeable.
Review provided by Viator
Nora_t
Dec 29, 2025
Knowledgeable guides and... - Knowledgeable guides and lovely hot springs, with refreshments, showers, and nice amenities. Really enjoyed learning about the stars, especially those you can only see in the Southern Hemisphere. At first we considered canceling when we saw that low cloud cover would be 100%. However, the weather and clouds completely cleared up in time for us to see Saturn, Betelgeuse, Sirius, and many other stars.
Review provided by Viator
Marie_f
Jan 31, 2026
Lake tekapo hot springs and star gazing experience - Did this tour with my husband and 4 young adults, beautiful setting and clear night sky for us. Enjoyed the hot tub experience. Room for improvement..groups of 8 around each tekescope meant minimal time ( like 2 minutes each) viewing which was really disappointing. Need smaller groups.,need to be told to bring warm clothing as we are outside at the telescopes for an hour. Expected The knowledge of the presenters to be more in Depth . The initial quiz was a bit amateurish
Review provided by Viator
Silveranicore
Jan 23, 2026
Relaxing soak in the dark - On a clear night, I'd recommend this in a heartbeat. Sadly it was fully overcast on the day I went. The 45 minute soak in the hot pools at night with red ambient light was still very relaxing, and the 45 minute VR show that followed was well-conceptualized. No substitute for the real thing, but the guides kept us engaged anyway. Would've appreciated a discount for lack of actual stargazing.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Leona_m
Apr 5, 2026
This excursion is not... - This excursion is not what we expected. The overall quality was poor. I had hoped to learn more about the southern skies and their constellations rather than the focus being on planets. There were some real chatterboxes in the group which made it difficult to hear the guide when out at the pool and it was very disrespectful towards her. A simple run through housekeeping rules at the start may have prevented this. It was interesting to hear the Māori stories and the hot springs were enjoyable. Overall, it was overpriced for what it is and unless one was a complete novice at stargazing, I don't think I would recommend this tour.
Review provided by Viator
Psmt5
Apr 5, 2026
Good staff and nice experience in the bath but terrible value for money. - The night of the tour was cloudy and therfore we received the presentation rather than the star tour. The presentation consisted of a quiz followed by a VR experience. I felt the VR experience was poor. This was followed by the hot pools where the guide told us some stories about the constellations. This part was quite good. As I said it was cloudy with some small breaks in the cloud but the stories were still interesting and it was nice to lie in the pool and listen. The experience was well organised with robes handed out and towels left out for us. The staff were also friendly and attentive. I feel however they given what was paid for this tour is very bad value for money and I couldn't recommend it to anyone based on that.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Christoph_b
Jan 29, 2026
Goes so, way too expensive - Unfortunately, hardly any stars to see, but nobody can help it. But holobrilles as a substitute didn't work, that was disappointing. Time inside hot pools was nice. Overall, however, far too expensive. 100 euros per person ... for what?
Review provided by Viator