When you visit Aotea Great Barrier Island, just 90 kms from Auckland, New Zealand, there's so much more to explore than just our Dark Sky Sanctuary sky.
(Though the sky is amazing ✨️)
With spectacular beaches, sublime coastal vistas and 60% of our land mass protected as conservation land, you'll be very busy exploring in the daytime, too.
(If you are that way inclined)
Aotea is off the beaten track, so tourism infrastructure is minimal. You'll have to find and make your own fun. But you can rest assured it's easy too finding the most beautiful spots.
(With no one else in your lens)
And at the end of the day...
There's time to absorb the beauty of our universe! ✨️
#travelnewzealand #NZTT @greatbarrierislandofficial #nztravel #Novemberbliss #travelnz #nz #nztraveltips #nz_adventures #nzmustdo #nzaccommodation #mindfulness #✨️ #🤩
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On Aotea Great Barrier Island we regularly see bioluminescence on the beach or in the ocean.
This bioluminescence becomes visible when agitated, i.e. when the waves break, when we swim in it or when we walk over it. ✨️
It's a bit of natural magic. And it's so much fun to observe the wonder people experience when doing a backward shuffle on the beach.
We'd love to share it, but haven't been able to photograph it well, see above. 😁
Ideally it would be great to photograph a person enjoying this marvel, walking through it while it lights up for a few seconds with a sparkly sky above.
What's the best way to photograph this? Can it be done in one shot?
And, is there any chance to do this on a Samsung galaxy phone?
#photoadvice #longexposure #photohelp #s24 #galaxy
After last night's stargazing experience there was time for a bit of fun and contemplation under the stars.
With many thanks to our stargazer models for holding their long exposure poses! 🤩
In the northeastern Te Waka o Rangi, Rangi's Waka is visible as soon as it's dark.
Part of this Maori constellation and to the right is Orion, and he will be cartwheeling through the northern sky throughout summer.
Can you spot the triangle of Taurus the bull in the middle? With its scary long horns? Our biggest planet Jupiter is residing between these horns at the moment and we love observing this gas giant through the telescope and tell you its stories.
Come one, come all for this beautiful spectacle, right here, in the Dark Sky Sanctuary of Aotea Great Barrier Island. ✨️
Good Heavens' experienced and local stargazing guides would love to welcome you under the stars! 🌟
Stargazing on Aotea Great Barrier Island is blissfull. This is what we saw from the sand dunes last night.
#askyfullofstars
#stargazing #✨️ #darkskyexperiences #nztravel #stargazingnz #newzealand #visitauckland #greatbarrierisland #barrierair #greatbarrierislandofficial #🤩 #darkskyshare
Let us share this quiet joy.
Matariki is back in the eastern evening sky, which means that summer is back! 🌞 Raumati! Sigh!
These images were taken after our stargazing experience, around 11pm. Everything is up 4 minutes earlier every night, so in 2 weeks you can expect to see this in the eastern sky around 10pm and at the beginning of December around 9pm.✨️
Matariki and Orion will then be with us in our super dark and sparkly evening sky till the end of April.
And! A special surprise... there was bioluminescence, visible in the small waves rolling in, and as little sparkles on the beach. This winter/spring we've seen this a few times, when we used to think it was more of a warm weather thing. Something you can't plan, but can look out for! It's so magical. 🩵
Also note Jupiter just appearing in the line up, causing a reflection in the sea, soo bright! Saturn is still at the zenith, setting in January, and Venus AND Mercury, the little guy just for another week or so, Venus till March both in the west, Jupiter moving from east to west ovet the course of the summer. 🪐
We're so excited by our DarkSkySanctuary sky and we'd love to share our excitement with you during one of our stargazing experiences. 🤩😘
Send us a message if you'd like some help with planning around Moon, Milky Way, your star sign and of course, the planets.🌟
And! we can help with accommodation, flights and car rentals, too. 😊
Contact us now or share and save! 🌠
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#stargazing #nz ##nztravel #travelnz @purenewzealand @visitauckland
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#NZTT #✨️ #🤩 #darkskyshare
An fab Aotea mini-break in less than 24 hours.
Hirakimata Mt Hobson is such a great walk, and the plants spotted on the way are always different, depending on what's in flower. We saw flowering olearias, mairehau, sundew, korokia and sun orchids. 🌼
We walked in via Windy Canyon and the Palmers track mid arvo and got to the Whare te Matawhero Mt Heale hut around dinner time. Around 3 hours, lots of steps, up and down.
While it was hazy around sunset, it cleared on dark and we were treated to a stunning sunset. We then had another go at catching the comet, this time with binoculars. Success! 🤩
We could also hear the toketai black petrel clackety clacking around the hut after dark. A species that also really enjoys our supet dark sky.
This morning we walked out via the Peach Tree, fantastic views, lots of steps, and the Tram Line track, for a nice soak, aaah, in the Kaitoke Hot Pools, to get back to the car by 1pm. 🥰
Around 6 hours of total walking time with some time to smell the mairehau and take photos.
Elated with some clear sky to the west! 🤩
Clear enough to pick up this weeks' comet, C2023/A3 above mainland New Zealand, from Aotea.
Woopwoop! 🌠
Excited with the Aurora views from XSPOT Cliff House on Aotea Great Barrier Island.
Hard to observe with the naked eye but the camera picks it up perfectly 🤩
Looking back at Auckland's light pollution, which we can see from here, 100m above sea level. Fortunately it's doesn't affect our starry magic. ✨️
#xspotnz
#stargazing
#aurora
#darkskysanctuary
#✨️
Find the Magellenic Clouds with the Good Heavens team, ✨️ during a Stargazing Experience on Aotea Great Barrier Island in the subtropical north of New Zealand! 🤩
Learn more about these super cool clouds, then lean back in your moon chair and wonder - am I just a tiny speck in the universe? 🌟
@purenewzealand #nzmustdo #travelnz
#✨️ #🤩
Proposal, honeymoon or wedding anniversary? We're here for you! 🫶
#honeymoon #weddinganniversary #proposal #stargazing #✨️ #🤩 #😍 #🤩😍 #darkskyexperiences #nztravel #newzealand
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Are you looking for a holiday activity in Aotearoa New Zealand? If you've never been guided through the stars, try a guided stargazing experience while you are in New Zealand. You are in for a treat. New Zealand 's night skies are out of this world.
And stargazing doesn't get better than a Dark Sky Experience with Good Heavens on Aotea Great Barrier Island:
* in a Dark Sky Sanctuary
* by the beach
* with prime Milky Way views
* under a Southern Hemisphere sky ✨️
* with enthusiastic guides
* who are local
* and have the experience to fine-tune
* to your or your child's knowledge level
* small group size so that
* questions are welcomed
* 8" telescope and individual binoculars
* to get close-up to celestial beauty
* while your guide shares
* interesting astronomical facts and
* hearty mythological stories
* appreciate this magical nighttime world
* while you snuggle into a comfy chair
* under a cosy blanket
* and last but definitely not least 😁 ... enjoy
* homemade hot chocolate! 🫕
You'll find Good Heavens Dark Sky Experiences on Aotea Great Barrier Island, just 1/2 hours flight from Auckland, New Zealand - an off grid and off the beaten track island destination that's so stunning it's worth a visit in its own right.
Don't take our word for it, watch our reels!
And read our Tripadvisor reviews! 😉
Then book your experience or a flight - accommodation - rental car and stargazing package curated by Deb and Hilde. Let us take you to the moon, the planets and the stars!
More info on
www.goodheavens.co.nz ✨️
#stargazing #darkskyexperiences #pristinebeaches #isolated #offgrid #🌟🌟🌟 #offthebeatentrack #island #paradise #travelnz #nztravel #nztraveltips #✨️
#🤩
Magellenic Clouds waiting in the flax wings ✨️
In the Southern Hemisphere, these satellite galaxies to the Milky Way are currently rising higher into the evening sky for our summer stargazing delight.
Hear more of their story with our stargazing guides. 🤩
#darkskyexperiences #stargazing #✨️ #🤩 #stargazingnz #nztravel #newzealand #greatbarrierisland #xspotnz
