Starry Skies as a World Heritage Site?

Lake Tekapo in New Zealand's South Island!
This town is famous for its starry skies. Apparently, they are aiming to register the starry skies as a World Heritage Site...
I joined a stargazing tour! It was a tour to view the stars from the elevated Mount John Observatory, but unfortunately, it was cloudy and I couldn't see anything 😭
Although it's rare for it to rain during the summer, cloudy skies are quite common, so I recommend staying for several days to increase your chances of seeing the stars...
However, it seems the best season is winter! Even in summer, it was cold at the summit, and they lent us down jackets, so in winter, proper cold-weather gear is a must!
Also, if you want to take beautiful photos of the starry skies, a tripod is essential! Lowering the shutter speed helps capture stunning images. I had planned to take photos too, but... 🥹
That said, Tekapo doesn't have much to do besides stargazing, haha.
During the day, I tried hiking Mount John casually, but it ended up being exhausting, haha. If you're into outdoor activities, hiking might be fun, but if not, make sure to prepare for a relaxing time 😂
To get to Tekapo, you can take a bus from Queenstown or Christchurch 🚌. However, be aware that the number of buses is limited!
I definitely want to try again someday!

Post by Dacchi | Jul 11, 2025