Lake Tekapo: Stargazing Tour with Telescope & Marshmallows

Summary

Lake Tekapo night sky tour stories telescope fireside treats

You’ll wrap up in warm blankets under Lake Tekapo’s night sky, hear stories from your local guide, peer through a powerful telescope at distant galaxies, and toast marshmallows by the fire with hot chocolate in hand. The stargazing tour includes starry photos you can keep—plus that rare feeling of being small and wide awake beneath so many stars.

What’s the experience like?

We shuffled out onto the grass near Lake Tekapo, boots crunching on frost. It was colder than I’d guessed—my breath made little clouds—but our guide, Anna, handed us thick blankets and I immediately felt better. She pointed up at the sky (which already looked wild to me) and started telling stories about Māori legends and constellations. There was something about the way she talked—like she actually knew these stars as old friends. I tried to spot Orion’s Belt but got distracted by how quiet everything felt out there.

Anna set up this huge telescope—I mean, it looked like something from a sci-fi movie—and we took turns peering through it. My hands were freezing but I didn’t care; suddenly Saturn’s rings were right there, sharp as anything. Someone in our group gasped when they saw the Magellanic Clouds. We all kind of laughed together after that, maybe just because it felt unreal. The stargazing tour at Lake Tekapo really does make you feel tiny and lucky at the same time.

Afterwards we huddled around a fire bowl, roasting marshmallows until they stuck to our fingers (I dropped mine straight into the flames—classic). Hot chocolate tasted extra sweet with that cold air biting my nose. Anna snapped a photo of us with the Milky Way behind—she said sometimes you get aurora colors if you’re lucky but ours was just deep blue-black and full of pinpricks. I still think about that silence under all those stars—you know?

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Stargazing and night sky experience

• Arrive at Lake Tekapo
• Learn astronomy facts and star tales
• Use powerful telescope to view stars
• Take memorable photo under stars
• Toast marshmallows by fire bowl
• Relax with blankets and hot chocolate

Top questions

Is hotel pickup included for this Lake Tekapo stargazing tour?

No, hotel pickup is not included; guests meet at the designated location near Lake Tekapo.

Are children or infants allowed on this stargazing tour?

Yes, infants and small children can join; prams or strollers are welcome.

Is the stargazing tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes, all areas and transportation options are wheelchair accessible.

What happens if it’s cloudy during my booked night?

The night sky changes nightly due to weather; check your email for updates from the team before your session.

Does this tour include photos under the stars?

Yes, complimentary starry photos are taken during your session for you to keep.

Are drinks or snacks provided during the experience?

Hot chocolate and marshmallows for roasting are included in your evening.

How powerful is the telescope used on this tour?

The telescopes range from 9-25 inches in size and include an eVscope 2 astrocamera for deep sky viewing.

If my tour starts after midnight, which date should I book?

If your start time is after midnight (e.g., 12:30am Jan 1), book for the previous calendar day (Dec 31).

What’s included

Your evening includes use of powerful telescopes (including an eVscope 2), roasted marshmallows over a fire bowl, cozy blankets to keep warm while you stargaze, hot chocolate to sip under the night sky, complimentary starry photos taken by your guide, plus all fees and taxes covered so you can just show up ready for Lake Tekapo’s dark skies.