AuthenticAs Star Gazing -Nightscape Portrait Photography Tour

Recommended by 100% of travelers

Queenstown, New Zealand

2 hours (approx.)
Pickup offered
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

Keen or budding photographers will love the chance to photograph the night’s sky with a photographer. The skies in the lower South Island are among the clearest in the world and you’ll learn how to photograph them on this private tour. As well as getting great shots you’ll have your portrait taken against the sky–a unique souvenir.

This private tour is customizable to suit your needs
Ideal for visitors and locals alike
Photograph the moon, constellations, and more
Have your portrait taken with a galactic backdrop

What's Included

Optional astrophotography tuition with your own camera/tripod or iphone
Coffee and/or Tea

Hot Chocolate and Cookies (please let us know if there are any food allergies)
Private transportation
4WD Land Rover pick up and drop off
Permitted 4WD location on Department of Conservation land
Health & Safety audited and full public liability insurance
Southern Night Sky Tour by a Aotearoa Astrotourism Guide
Professional photography taken of you supplied digitally as a Pixieset Collection

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Pickup details

Bespoke planning enables pick up from anywhere from within the Wakatipu Basin or please email to discuss further. Please Note for Starry Night Adventures: Throughout the year start times vary, please select the 7:30pm appointment to book, however the actual start times are approximately; January - 11pm, February - 10:30pm, March - 9- 9:30pm, April - 8-9pm, May - 7pm, June - 6:30pm, July - 6:30pm, August - 6:30pm, September - 7:30pm, October - 9pm, November - 9:30pm, December - 10:30pm

Operating hours
.7:30 pm

Itinerary

Queenstown

1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
Not wheelchair accessible
Stroller accessible
Service animals allowed

Near public transportation
Most travelers can participate
This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate

Supplied by

Cancellation Policy

This experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. If you cancel or ask for an amendment, the amount you paid will not be refunded.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Featured review

Alice_B

The most amazing experience of our lives. Thanks so much to Simon for being so welcoming and accommodating. We even had a back up date when the clouds weren’t favourable. Simon’s knowledge of astrology and astronomy and the Māori stories of the sky were a unique and fascinating touch. Not to mention the photos which are mind blowing and like nothing I’ve ever seen. Truly bringing the magic of the sky here on earth. Thanks so much !

Reviews

5.0

based on 65 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

If you do one thing in queenstown- make it this !

Alice_B, Feb 2026

Response from Host, Feb 2026

Kia ora, kā mihi nui ki a koe Thank you so much for your kind words, we're so pleased that we managed to find such incredible skies for you. We hope you treasure your photos for many years to come and you continue to enjoy exploring the night sky

Great experience! ...

Edye_F, Dec 2025

Great experience! Highly recommend, Simon was very knowledgeable and made for a great evening. Great for family’s

Response from Host, Dec 2025

Thank you so much! We're really pleased you had such a good time, it was awesome to show you all around the Southern Night Sky. We hope you enjoy the rest of your adventure down under. Kā mihi nui

Emma and Simon are lovely...

Dariel_P, Oct 2025

Emma and Simon are lovely people! I came to this with no nightscape photography experience and a few hours later I had some great photos, a good foundation for taking more on my own back home, and a better understanding of the local stories centered on the stars. I’d happily do this again if I get to revisit Queenstown!

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Thank you so much for your review. It was a real pleasure to spend the evening sharing both the photography techniques and the stories that live within our southern skies. I’m really glad you left feeling confident to capture more nightscapes on your own and that the experience gave you something lasting to take home. Emma and I both enjoyed your curiosity and enthusiasm .. it would be wonderful to see you back in Queenstown one day for another adventure under the stars. Mā te wā - Until next time

Amazing!

Catherine_K, Apr 2025

Such a special highlight of our honeymoon. Simon is so knowledgeable, we loved learning about navigating stars and Māori culture, and received incredible photos of us with the night sky. Thank you!!

Response from Host, May 2025

Kia ora Catherine, Kia pai te rā mō kōrua and big mihi for spending part of your honeymoon with me under the stars — that’s something pretty special. I’m stoked the stories of sky and place added to the experience, and I hope the photos bring back those memories for years to come. Wishing you both a lifetime of clear skies and good adventures! Kā mihi, Simon

Out of this world experience

Donna_N, Nov 2024

If you are in the Queenstown area and have even a mild interest in the sky at night, then this tour is for you. Our guide Simon met us at our hotel in town and took us to one of the peaks around Queenstown where we witnessed the most spectacular night sky that we have ever seen. Simon has a very interesting way of guiding you through the sky watch. He has an exceptional understanding of Māori culture and their spiritual relationship with the stars. He showed us the main star clusters in the Southern Sky and explained through various stories how their positions and relevance are so important to the Māori culture and history. Simon brought several optics with him including telescopes and cameras suited for viewing. He took several photographs of the night sky and sent them onto us the next morning. The photographs also captured us looking and pointing to the stars which will provide us with wonderful memories. Simon also brought spare coats, hot chocolate and cookies that not only kept us warm, but capped off a wonderful evening. Thank you Simon for your enthusiasm and guidance, making this one of our most enjoyable evenings in New Zealand.

Well worth the experience

Charlotta_D, Mar 2024

The guide was wonderful and knowledgeable. Telling us about the Mauri history with the stars . Highly recommended and appreciated

Best Star Gazing-Nightscape Portrait Photography Ever

Sara_R, Jan 2024

One of best experiences we had during New Zealand Trip. Simon is very professional and passionate about what he does. We learned so much about how to navigate the southern dark sky, saw too many incredible stars, images, also Māori culture. The Milky Way is absolutely stunning, the nightscape portrait is unmatched, we will value this experience, the photos are amazing, unbelievable! Thank you so much for this extraordinary tour! Highly recommend!

Starry night

Xiaozhu_P, Oct 2023

Simon is just GREAT! He took good care of my husband and I. He made sure that we were safe, warm and comfortable. He is knowledgable, professional, and patient. I would definitely recommend this tour to my friends who would visit Queenstown. During the tour, we not only saw the amazing stars and the Milky Way, but also the splendid aurora! YES! AURORA! Thank you Simon for the unforgetable tour!

Fabulous experience.

Eric_H, Jun 2023

Simon was a great guide. We learned so many Maōri traditions and the telescope was amazing as well as the photos. He has great humor but watch out, he might send you home with ducks. All kidding aside, it was a fabulous evening even with a full moon.

Response from Host, Jun 2023

Thank you so much for your kind words. We are so happy that you had a great time.

Unforgettable, you have to do it!

James_N, Sep 2022

My wife and I had the absolute best time on our star gazing trip with Simon. He is very knowledgable and passionate about what he does and it is very obvious and genuine. He catered our experience to us and our interests and we learned so much about the southern sky and how people navigate by it. We saw things through his telescope that we thought we would never see including seeing Saturn and it’s rings. And the pictures of the night sky, including the Milky Way, are absolutely stunning and are such a special and unique souvenir that you can’t get in any other way and our unique to our night and our experience. Of all of the amazing things we did on our trip to New Zealand and of all of the pictures we have, this excursion/tour and the photos from it are at the top of our list. You cannot go to Queenstown and not do this!

Response from Host, Sep 2022

Thank you so much for your kind words. We are so happy that you and your wife had such an incredible night on your Starry Night Adventure, you really did have a beautiful evening for star gazing. It was lovely to meet. you both and we look forward to meeting you again when you return, Emma & Simon