Horizon Tours
Dunedin Southern Skies Stargazing Tour
We invite you to join us on our unique stargazing experience. The Whakatauki, proverb above refers to Atutahi, Canopus, the second brightest star of the Carina constellation. Atutahi was the first born child of Ranginui, sky father and a sign that Winter was on its way. The Southern Skies Stargazing tour takes you on a journey of discovery to learn about the unique celestial features of the Southern sky, while also sharing stories and waiata, songs about how Maori viewed the night sky. The Otago peninsula coastline provides a clear and breath-taking view of the night sky, along with a magical backdrop of coastal bird calls echoing across Hooper's inlet. In the right conditions, this rural coastal area is a prime viewing location for the Southern Lights, Aurora Australis. Our guides will point out celestial points of significance that can be viewed with the naked eye. You can also make use of our Skywatcher telescope, with a maximum practical magnification of 200x for a closer look. Listen to stories detailing Maori myths of creation, of how Te Ao Marama, the world of light, the world as we know it, emerged. Learn about how Maori relied on Tatai arrange, detailed astronomical knowledge to navigate the ocean, plant crops, and harvest Kaimoana, seafood.
Itinerary
We start by taking a journey out to the Otago Peninsula, stopping along the way to see sites of interest.‚Äã Learn about Maori culture and how our people travelled to Aotearoa or New Zealand. As we settle in at our night viewing location, we listen to the sounds of the coastline as our guides share Maori stories and waiata, songs. ‚Äã Different celestial points of interest are identified and explained by our knowledgeable guides. The tour provides comfortable seating, blankets and a Skywatcher telescope for our guests to use. Enjoy a light supper and a hot beverage, coffee, hot chocolate or tea spiced with kawakawa, Horopito or Manuka.
Includes
Light supper and a hot beverage, coffee, hot chocolate or tea Comfortable seating Blankets A Skywatcher telescope Pick up drop off
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