NZ stargazing tour

On New Zealand's South Island, near Lake Tekapo, visitors can take a stargazing tour at the Mt. John Observatory with Earth & Sky (Lake Tekapo; phone +64 3 680 6960, www.earthandsky.co.nz). Mt. John is within the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve, among places noted for the clarity of their night skies.

On the 2-hour tour, guests view the sky through powerful portable telescopes set up by Earth & Sky or, on cloudy days, tour the Mt. John Observatory, normally inaccessible to anyone but the astronomers on staff, to learn about the equipment and the research being done.

NZD165 (near $109) adult, NZD155 senior or NZD88 child (8-17). Warm clothing is recommended.