Located at Mt Cook Lakeside Retreat on the shores of Lake Pūkaki, just outside Twizel, the Pūkaki Observatory & Wine Cellar offers intimate stargazing experiences in the gold-status Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve.
Each evening begins in the candlelit wine cellar, where guests can enjoy a tasting from a curated selection of wines or Scotch whisky while learning about the stars, planets and deep-sky objects visible that night. The experience then moves into the observatory, where the roof slides back to reveal the southern night sky.
Using a 9.25-inch Celestron telescope, high-powered binoculars and naked-eye viewing, guides bring the Milky Way, planets, star clusters and nebulae into focus. When conditions are right, the Aurora Australis may also be visible.
For a more indulgent evening, Billion Star Dining combines fine food with the wonders of the night sky. The experience begins at The Moraine, Mt Cook Lakeside Retreat’s signature restaurant, with a multi-course Chef’s Tasting Menu celebrating estate-grown produce, seasonal ingredients from the kitchen gardens and flavours sourced from the Mackenzie region. Thoughtfully prepared dishes showcase local produce through creative techniques and refined presentation.
After dinner, the experience continues with a guided stargazing tour at the Pūkaki Observatory. Beneath one of the region’s darkest skies, the stars provide a memorable finishing touch to an evening of exceptional food and drink — a fitting companion to a final sip of wine or whisky.
Advance bookings are essential for all experiences, with pick-ups available from Twizel.
