Aotea Great Barrier Island is a Dark Sky Sanctuary. This means that our island is protected from the harmful effects of light pollution and that Aotea’s skies are exceptionally clear and dark. Without the impact of artificial light, the island is widely considered as one of the best places in the Southern Hemisphere to view the night sky. It’s the perfect place to embark on a stargazing adventure!
To get the most out of your time under the stars consider a stargazing experience with small local business Good Heavens. They provide guided stargazing experiences – on top of a sand dune.

Picture yourself, nestled under a blanket while you gaze up and are whisked away on a journey through our solar system and beyond. Good Heavens’ guides are your celestial companions, treating you to captivating tales and mind-blowing facts about the night sky. They’ll share the enchanting stories our ancestors used to make sense of this wondrous world above. And they’ll even treat you to a hot chocolate, to still increase your stellar bliss.
Your guide will use a laser pointer, binoculars and an 8” telescope to showcase the most interesting features in our solar system and beyond. You’ll be gazing up into the Milky Way, at planets and at constellations for around 1.5 hours and lose yourself in a sea of twinkling stars.

Group experiences – Look Up and Get Lost – run on clear nights, 2 to 4 times a week. They’re replaced by Moon Walks when the moon is larger than 50% in the evening sky.