Saturday 11th July 2026 

Celebrate Matariki 2026 at the University of Canterbury Ōtehīwai Mt John Observatory, New Zealand’s premier astronomical research facility. Join us on Saturday the 11th of July for an exciting Open Day featuring free guided tours of the research telescopes. Your guides will be astronomy staff and students from the University of Canterbury (UC), who conduct world-class research at the Observatory. 

Tours will depart from the Observatory summit. Please follow the signs from the summit carpark to the tour meeting point. UC staff will be on hand on the mountain to give directions. Tours will commence shortly after 9:30 am, with the last tour departing at 3:30 pm. Tours will set off when approximately 10 people are gathered at the meeting point. Each tour lasts approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour. 

During your visit, you will get a "behind-the-scenes" look at our four primary research telescopes: 

Before and after the tour you can explore the public areas of the Observatory summit and enjoy tasty food and beverages at the Dark Sky Astro Cafe (10am to 3pm). 

While the UC Observatory telescope tours are free, please note that the standard road fee ($14 per car) still applies for vehicle access to the summit. However, walking up from Tekapo village is free. 

Don't miss this exciting opportunity to explore the heart of the International Dark Sky Reserve!