Best Stargazing Spots in New Zealand | International Traveller

If you want to be dazzled by the night sky, New Zealand overdelivers.

Small towns and settlements across the land are turning the lights off and pulling the curtains in order to be the best stargazing spot in New Zealand. To be fair, beyond city boundaries pretty much the whole country can claim spectacular stargazing thanks to clear skies, low light pollution and the particularly striking array of constellations that inhabit the southern skies above Aotearoa. Locations like Great Barrier Island/Āotea, Stewart Island/Rākiura, located 30 kilometres south of the South Island/Te Waipounamu across the Foveaux Strait and the home of New Zealand’s first Dark Sky Sanctuary, Rotorua and the Coromandel Peninsula.

The country also boasts the largest international Dark Sky Reserve in the world. Covering an epic 4300 square kilometres in the middle of the South Island, Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve is frequently touted as one of the best stargazing spots on Earth and is home to one of the country’s most photographed buildings: the Church Of The Good Shepherd.

The pretty stone church sits on the shores of Lake Tekapo and on a clear night is magically crowned by night skies crowded with stars (it is also worth photographing during the day, especially in spring when it is surrounded by colourful lupins).

This abundance of protected areas means New Zealand is in a prime position for stargazing. Here’s the lowdown on where to head for the most epic nightscapes.

Takapō (Tekapo)/Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve

The Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve near the epic landscapes of Mt Cook is one of the largest reserves of its kind, home to a working research station. You can tour the reserve and the astronomy facility with Dark Sky Project, where you’ll gaze through a high-powered telescope and hear Ngāi Tahu Māori star lore.

Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve is one of the largest reserves in the southern hemisphere. (Image: Igor Hoogerwerf)

Aotea Great Barrier Island Dark Sky Sanctuary

This remote island, 90 kilometres off the coast of Auckland, is a dark sky sanctuary due to minimal light pollution. Although it’s remote, it’s relatively accessible from Auckland via ferry or a short flight. Park yourself on top of a sand dune to watch the night sky light up or take a night sky tour with friendly locals at Good Heavens.

Rakiura Stewart Island Dark Sky Sanctuary

Rakiura Stewart Island is the southern-most Dark Sky Sanctuary in the world, and 85 per cent of the island is designated a national park. There are plenty of viewing platforms for stargazing here, and if you’re lucky, you might even see the southern lights.

southern lights from Rakiura Stewart Island. — See the southern lights from Rakiura Stewart Island, NZ’s southernmost Dark Sky Sanctuary. (Image: Flickr/Jack Osborne)

Kaikōura Dark Sky Sanctuary

This little township on the South Island is famous for whale watching, but it is lesser-known for its pristine night skies that provide particularly clear views of the Milky Way. Designated a Dark Sky Sanctuary in 2024, Kaikōura is one of the best seats in the house when it comes to watching the total lunar eclipse.

Kaikoura — Kaikōura has been declared a Dark Sky Sanctuary as of 2024. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)

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Lake Tekapo’s Dark Sky Project

A top spot for astronomical adventures. The ultimate experience is the night-time tour to hilltop Mt John Observatory. Learn about and look through the mighty telescope, head outside to survey the big picture, and enjoy the company of passionate guides. Next to the observatory, the glass-walled Astro Cafe is a stellar place to soak up the grandeur, day or night.

Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park

Further south at Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park but still within the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve, Big Sky Stargazing has state-of-the-art telescopes and special binoculars to get you in the zone. This family-friendly activity is based in the historic Hermitage Hotel, also home to a Planetarium, the fascinating Sir Edmund Hillary Museum, and a restaurant with superb views.

Wellington/Te Whanganui-A-Tara

Just an hour’s drive from Wellington/Te Whanganui-A-Tara in the rural Wairarapa, Stonehenge-Aotearoa is New Zealand’s only open-air astronomical observatory. While the stone circle here looks suspiciously similar to the English one, it has been constructed and positioned precisely for this southern hemisphere spot, drawing from Māori and Polynesian starlore. Its night-time Star Safari tour will take your astronomical knowledge to another dimension.

What is Matariki?

A major event in the Māori lunar calendar, Matariki takes place when the star cluster of the same name (also known as Pleiades or the Seven Sisters to astronomers) appears in the night sky during mid-winter. Formed over 100 million years ago, the appearance of the ethereal star cluster at this time of year marks the end of the old lunar year and the beginning of the New Year, with remembrance, celebrating the present, and looking to the future a focus. Most of the marae (Māori meeting grounds) around New Zealand hold feasts, with special celebrations in cities like Wellington and Auckland.

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.

See the best stargazing spots in New Zealand