Stargazing

Mt Cook Lakeside Retreat is situated at the heart of the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve, meaning it stands in one of the best locations in the world to view clear, dark skies and brilliant stars.

At the time it was certified in 2012, the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve was the first dark sky reserve in the Southern Hemisphere and the first anywhere to be declared with Gold Tier status. This is the highest dark sky certification that can be accorded, and is a recognition of the pristine skies of the Mackenzie Region, which are essentially completely free of light pollution.

The peaceful and beautiful experience of darkness and starlight is one that is being lost, as light pollution becomes the norm in urban and suburban areas around the world. When you stay at Mt Cook Lakeside Retreat, we hope you will take the time to step outside, look up, and gaze into one of the world’s purest, clearest night skies.

The Dark Sky Reserve is recognised and certified by the International Dark-Sky Association, based in Arizona, which is the international body giving accreditation for Dark Sky Reserves and Dark Sky Places worldwide.

We created our Pukaki Observatory to share the beauty of the Dark Sky Reserve with our guests through small, private gatherings in a comfortable, intimate setting.

The purpose-built observatory and cellar began from the concept of an underground space. Its thick concrete walls maintain the cool temperature needed to cellar our wines, and the sitting area allows us to share a tot of whisky or glass of wine with you while we introduce the Southern sky and the spectacular stargazing experience to come.

The observatory itself features a retractable roof and 6-inch refractor telescope. When the roof recedes, the observatory walls frame a breathtaking window to the stars. Our telescope can sight the rings of Saturn and bands of Jupiter, as well as sparkling star clusters, nebula and planets. The telescope can also be used for astrophotography, for guests with an interest in night sky photography.

The Retreat’s setting in the heart of the Dark Sky Reserve makes it an ideal location for astrophotography.

Set up your camera under some of the clearest, darkest skies in the world, and be mesmerized by stars like many have never seen. On special nights you may also get a glimpse of the Southern Lights, or Aurora Australis.

As part of our guided stargazing experience, we are able to help you learn basic techniques for how to take your own night sky images. Or, if you prefer, simply relax and enjoy stargazing, and we will take a photograph for you. This one-of-a-kind image of your party under the beautiful New Zealand night sky is the perfect keepsake to remember your journey.

We also offer deep space astrophotography using our observatory telescope. From the very first image we shot through the telescope of the Orion Nebula, we were in awe of the beauty of this colourful object sitting quietly in the Orion Constellation 1,344 light years away. Deep space astrophotography is a unique experience, a rare opportunity to venture into the past using a simple DSLR camera. Join us in the observatory and we will show you how to photograph nebula, star clusters and planets.

For guests interested to further hone their skills, we can arrange a private astrophotography session with a professional photographer. The photographer will meet you on site for a personalised workshop to develop your astrophotography knowledge and technique.

We’ve worked with some of New Zealand’s leading wineries to curate a selection of superb wines to populate our wine cellar.

Of course, being in the heart of the Mackenzie Country, with its history of Scottish settlement, it would have been a tragedy if we did not also include fine whiskies in our collection – the beverage of the Scottish Highlands, which some say is the “nectar of the Gods.”

Every dark sky experience in the Pukaki Wine Cellar and Observatory begins in our wine cellar. Enjoy a glass of wine or tot of whisky from our collection whilst being introduced to the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve and the features of the Southern sky.  Please note the Observatory experience does not include a wine tasting experience.