Embark on a journey 13.8 billion years in the making…
The Dark Sky Experience brings together modern science, tatai aroraki (Maori astronomy) and immersive multi-media installations in a ‘Big Bang’ of awe and inspiration. Explore the purpose-built Dark Sky Project facility, Rehua, on a 45-minute guided experience, which provides a thought-provoking, educational and entertaining introduction to the universe around us. Admire the beautifully crafted 125-year-old Brashear Telescope, a masterpiece of Victorian engineering which stands nine metres tall, and uncover the importance of the stars and how astronomy influenced traditional Maori life, from growing crops, fishing and navigation to telling time and the change of seasons.
Rehua is situated in Tekapo, in the heart of the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve. At 4,300 square kilometres, this is the largest Dark Sky Reserve in the world, and the first to achieve gold status in recognition of its pristine skies. The Dark Sky Experience is a daytime tour which can be enjoyed whatever the weather, and can easily be combined with an evening stargazing experience at the nearby Mt John Observatory.
No two explorers are the same, so you have the freedom to craft your experience exactly how you want.
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