Mount John Observatory
Mount John University Observatory
New Zealand's most important optical observatory. Climb in daylight for views over the milky-blue Lake Tekapo, or join a dark-sky stargazing tour at night to see the southern Milky Way.
Mount John stands at 1,029 metres and is home to the University of Canterbury Observatory, at the heart of the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve. During the day, you can drive up (road toll about NZD 10 per car) or hike up from the lakeshore in about 1.5 hours. At the summit, the Astro Café serves coffee with views over Lake Tekapo and the Southern Alps. The night stargazing tour is run by the Dark Sky Project. It lasts about 2 hours, starts from NZD 200, and departs from the visitor center in town by vehicle. Tours are canceled on cloudy nights. The summit gets very cold after dark, so bring a thick down jacket.
Opening hours
Daytime approx. 09:00–17:00; stargazing tours at night
Nearby sights
- Tekapo Springs
- Dark Sky Project
- Lake Tekapo Lupins
- Lake Tekapo & Church of the Good Shepherd
- Sheepdog Memorial
- Lake Alexandrina
- Roundhill Ski Area
- Peters Lookout