By Maria Popova

If the nocturnal travel trend sounds intriguing, October is a great time to try it. The month brims with bright, naked-eye visible space sights, including two meteor showers and planet-moon pairings—not to mention the roughly 11-year peak of the northern lights. This is also the last months to see the Milky Way core in the northern hemisphere. It’s visible near the horizon as soon as twilight descends for much of the month. Here’s everything to watch for in October’s night sky; don’t miss this guide on how to stargaze before you go.

Oct. 5: Moon meets Saturn and Neptune

After sunset on Oct. 5, the bright waxing gibbous moon and Saturn will tango above the eastern horizon. The two will travel together through the sky all night. Neptune, which is visible only by telescope, will transit alongside the duo as well, according to stargazing app SkySafari.

Oct. 6: Full harvest supermoon

After months of waiting, we’ll have the first full supermoon of the year come Oct. 6. During the spectacle, the full moon will appear larger and brighter than usual. It’s most visually impressive around moonrise and moonset, which coincides with sunrise and sunset during the full moon phase. Watch for the bright orb in the eastern sky; like the previous night, Saturn will still hover near the space rock, too.

Oct. 8: Draconid meteor shower peaks

Unlike most meteor showers, the Draconids are most visible in the early hours of twilight. It will peak soon after night descends on Oct. 8. Unfortunately, the bright waning gibbous moon will block all but the brightest meteors. To avoid it, try using your hand to shield the moon’s light while you’re watching. The shower can produce around 10 meteors per hour during its peak, according to EarthSky.org.

Oct. 10: The moon crosses the Pleiades

Watch as the Seven Sisters, better known as the Pleiades star cluster, appear to meet the moon after dusk on Oct. 10. The moon will cross over the cluster as it travels through the sky. The action spans the full night, with the moon covering the stars in the early night hours, then traveling far enough to reveal the cluster of over 1,000 stars (with around six that are naked-eye visible) in the pre-dawn hours.

Oct. 16: Crescent moon with Jupiter and Venus

October’s moon-planet hangouts continue with an alignment of Venus, the crescent moon, and Jupiter visible in the wee hours of Oct. 16. Look for the trio above the eastern horizon just before sunrise. You can also admire the moon nearing Jupiter the nights of Oct. 13 and 14.

Oct. 20-21: Orionid meteor shower peaks

The Orionid meteor shower, beloved for its shooting stars with vivid tails, will peak from roughly Oct. 20 into 21. You can see up to 10 to 20 bright meteors under dark skies—think: from a dark-sky park or stargazing hotel. The meteors originate from Halley’s comet, and this year’s peak will be extra dazzling, as it coincides with a new moon. It’s visible in the northern and southern hemispheres, according to Space.com.

New Zealand’s reputation as one of the best destinations in the world to view the night sky is well established. From sleeping under the stars in a glass pod at the Lindis, a billion-star dining experience at Mt Cook Lakeside retreat, experiencing a Wanaka starset on a private lake cruise, to a starlight soak at Atarangi lodge, hosted by Moana Skies. These stargazing experiences are not only memory makers, but will provoke deeper thought about our place in the universe, all while coated in luxury comfort.

NZ is globally renowned for dark sky reserves and sanctuaries in both the South and North islands. Each of the stargazing locations and experiences we will be mentioning has its own charm and beauty, topped with luxury features. The following is your guide to the best of New Zealand’s stargazing experiences.

Moana Skies Kaikōura

One of the finest stargazing spots is Kaikōura, which is now one of the best locations in New Zealand’s largest dark sky sanctuary. In an isolated corner of the South Island, where it is difficult to detect any light pollution, the recently gazetted Kaikōura Dark Sky Sanctuary is an ideal location to stargaze and shoot astrophotos.

Moana Skies is a luxury high-end tour operator offering several extraordinary stargazing experiences. Their private tour is an entirely individual stargazing experience, where guests are taught to operate telescopes by an expert guide. Imagine yourself surrounded by the sky’s radiant stars, constellations, and other heavenly delights when night approaches. The experience cannot be avoided by someone eager to enjoy slow luxury travel.

The Aoraki Mackenzie dark sky reserve

Aoraki Mackenzie Dark Sky Reserve surrounds the stunning Lake Tekapo, said to be one of the world’s largest dark sky reserves. The Aoraki Mackenzie Dark Sky Reserve has some of the darkest and clearest night skies in the world, so, if you are a night sky lover, this is the perfect destination to witness the splendour of the stars.

Aoraki Mackenzie Dark Sky Reserve offers perfect viewing conditions all year round with its high altitude, arid climate, and minimal light pollution. Tekapo Star Gazing provides an exclusive stargazing and hot pool experience where you can relax under the stars. This experience is not only a chance to relax under the night sky, but you can even make use of the state-of-the-art telescopes provided to view planets, galaxies and shooting stars; an indulgent choice that is not to be missed!

Lake Tekapo: Silver River Stargazing

Being Tekapo’s highest-rated small-group stargazing activity, Silver River Stargazing is more intimate in nature. What makes Silver River quite special is that their guides are truly passionate about opening up the universe to you, and their dedication to maintaining small group tours is unwavering, so that every stargazer can make the most of the incredible experience. Experience a private tour, on private land, hosted by enthusiastic expert guides who unveil the wonders of the Southern Hemisphere sky, and watch the night sky come alive on this adventure under some of the best skies on planet earth.

Moana Skies & Ata Rangi Lodge starlight soak

A starlight soak is the most lavish way to relish the skies above, and defines a new approach to stargazing.  This starlight soak is a truly luxurious stargazing experience, hosted by the breathtaking Ata Rangi Lodge, organised by Moana Skies. Picture sipping on a glass of wine or rich hot chocolate and relaxing in a perfectly heated spa beneath some of the cleanest skies on Earth. Your personal Moana Skies guide will turn the night sky into your own personal planetarium.

For those who think luxury and adventure go hand in hand, this is stargazing. It is the ultimate private indulgence for couples or small groups seeking something very special because it is relaxed, romantically charged, and simply unforgettable. This experience certainly speaks for itself: gentle spa waters, crisp mountain air, and the starry Milky Way unite to create an extraordinary experience.

Mount Cook: Pukaki Observatory at Mt Cook Lakeside Retreat

With their Billion Star Dining experience, Mt Cook Lakeside Retreat provides something truly unique for those looking for the ultimate luxury stargazing experience. This isn’t stargazing; it’s an all-senses affair that starts with a fine dining experience, where creative and fresh cuisine paves the way for a night to be savoured.

Professional guides will introduce you to the night sky and the wonderful experience that awaits you while enjoying a welcome drink in their wine cellar before your arrival at the stars. With its rollaway roof and precision 9-inch reflector telescope, the observatory itself is a work of art.

There is a stunning view of the universe within the confines of the walls of the observatory since the roof opens up. Star clusters twinkling, the mysterious nebula, and distant planets are all seen in exquisite detail. You can even see the Aurora Australis tinting the southern sky in ethereal greens and purples on those enchanted nights when the atmosphere is just right.

Wanaka: Stargazing in Southern Alps

The Southern Alps are famous for their extremely dark skies, and they stage some spectacular light shows. Wanaka offers excellent stargazing where you learn about stars, identify constellations, and if you’re lucky on the night, see the Aurora Australis dancing across the horizon.

Wānaka is sufficiently far south to be able to photograph the Aurora Australis (southern lights) occasionally, and spring and autumn are the best times for southern lights photography. The area offers excellent astrophotography sessions and stargazing tours that take full advantage of the clear night sky of the Southern Alps.

Adventure Wanaka’s private boat stargazing

Experience the unblemished beauty of Lake Wānaka and the starry night from the sundeck of Adventure Wanaka’s specially designed, small, and cozy boat. An individually tailored charter experience that isolates you from the crowds and onto the quiet water, where the night sky is reflected exactly and in perfect, mirror-like conditions. This isn’t your ordinary stargazing adventure.

Stargazing really becomes a breathtaking and memorable experience when you’re floating serenely out on Lake Wānaka’s tranquil waters, bounded by the dramatic silhouettes of the Southern Alps, with nothing but the soothing lake water and a remarkable canopy of stars above.

The Lindis: Luxury stargazing in Central Otago

The Lindis offers a unique experience in one of New Zealand’s wildest and most remote landscapes, elevating stargazing to new heights. Under Lindi’s signature stargazing experience, your personal guide will take you to a private location in the valley where your stargazing experience begins. The Lindis also offer the most immersive stargazing experience, sleeping under the stars in a glass pod, where you can cozy up with a loved one and see the starry night dance to you while you drift off to sleep in luxury comfort.

With your own telescope, you can have a peek at some beautiful planets and deep-sky objects. The Lindis is very special year round, allowing you to sit under some of the darkest skies in the world.

GoodHeavens: Great Barrier Island (Aotea)

With the title of an International Dark Sky Sanctuary, Great Barrier Island, only 90 kilometres by plane or ferry from Auckland, is a prestigious site in astronomical history. You will land on Aotea, or the Great Barrier Island, where stars twinkle bright. The reality that this island is nearly entirely free from light pollution, with pristine surroundings that make it so extraordinary for stargazing. The image below was taken by James Rua, highlighting the truly magical experience hosted by GoodHeavens.

As the number one-rated stargazing tour business on the island, Good Heavens, hosts intimate and cozy stargazing tours amongst the sand dunes, where they will teach you how to use constellations and stars for navigation, chat about Maori and European myths all while comfortably rugged up in the comfort of blankets and a hot drink.

Twinkle Dark Sky Tours: Stewart Island/Rakiura

Dark Sky International accredited Stewart Island/Rakiura in 2019. This secluded sanctuary, located in the deep south of New Zealand, has some of the optimum viewing conditions for the Aurora Australis, or the enchanting southern lights.

The locals truly do care to keep the night sky and environment intact, and Rakiura National Park holds about 85% of Stewart Island. Since 2017, technical readings for sky quality on Stewart Island have been 21.51 and 21.93 mac/arc sec2, so you will be able to see stars like never before.

Twinkle Dark Sky Tours offers a chance to see the details of the moon’s craters and some of the most enchanting spots in our solar system. Experience a truly memorable stargazing experience with Twinkle Dark Sky Tours in one of the most remote and pristine Dark Sky sanctuaries in New Zealand.

Stargaze your way through New Zealand with Aroha

Stargaze your way through New Zealand with Aroha New Zealand Tours. New Zealand dark sky reserves are great locations for reflecting on where we fit in the scheme of things. There is a character unique to each location and something special that each one has to offer. Stewart Island provides you with unbridled wilderness, but the Lindis is restraint and decadence. The Mackenzie Basin provides you with alpine beauty on a colossal scale, but Kaikōura contains huge mountain scenery with an incredible coast.

For centuries, the night sky has mesmerised humans, and these unique spots throughout Aotearoa still have new generations of visitors and locals spellbound, so come with a sense of wonder and prepare to be amazed. By yourself under the stars on a remote island getaway or gazing up at the world’s largest dark sky reserve, New Zealand night skies will blow your mind about the universe.

Located in southern Colorado’s San Luis Valley, Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve is home to North America’s tallest sand dunes. These dunes, which rise abruptly from the shadow of Colorado’s Sangre de Cristo Mountains, are formed by the interplay of winds funneling through mountain passes and the ongoing recycling of sand via wind. While the star attractions, Hidden Dune and Star Dune, tower approximately 750 feet above the valley floor, one of the park’s extraordinary features is Medano Creek, a seasonal stream that emerges in spring and early summer.

Fed by snowmelt, Medano Creek—called Colorado’s Natural beach—flows at the dunes’ base, creating a shallow, inland beach-like playground where visitors can splash, float on tubes, and build sandcastles. The flow typically begins in late April and peaks by early June, with water depths reaching ankle to calf level—often around 20 inches—before drying out during mid-summer.

Visitors flock to the dunes when the creek is in bloom as well as for exhilarating activities such as sandboarding, sledding, and dune hiking. It’s worth noting that, on warm days, sand surface temps can soar to 150 degrees, so hiking shoes or socks are a must.

The best time to visit the park is in spring and early summer, when daytime temperatures are mild and Medano Creek flows with cool, refreshing water. Since the park is designated an International Dark Sky Park, the dunes also offer remarkably clear night skies for stargazing.

Before planning your visit, be sure to check the real-time flow of Medano Creek, available from spring through fall, via an online graph that tracks the creek’s volume in cubic feet per second (cfs). While the data is collected about five miles upstream from the main Dunes Parking Area, it offers a useful snapshot of current conditions and whether water levels are rising or falling. This year, flow levels aren’t expected to top 20 cfs, which is a reminder to plan your visit accordingly.

The park is well-equipped for visitors, with dune-rover wheelchairs, convenient dune showers, and the Piñon Flats Campground. Families can participate in a variety of programs, including the National Park Service’s Junior Ranger program and Family Archaeology Days.

For a unique place to stay near the dunes, consider Dunes Desert Camp. This eco-luxury glamping site has just two spacious safari tents, offering a private and immersive experience in nature. Guests can opt for customizable meals and activities through the camp’s Dune Experiences program. For a more traditional stay, Great Sand Dunes Lodge provides a variety of standard room types, as well as campers and geodesic domes.