Bortle 2· Truly darkCertified reserveHighland

Aoraki Mackenzie

New Zealand · -43.73°, 170.10°

A whole basin legislated dark since 1981.

4.8(356)

Best night in range

Jun 16, 2026

20% cloud · 0% moon

82Sky score

SQM reading: 21.85mag/arcsec²
Naked-eye limit: 7.6mag
Clear nights: 235per year
Elevation: 1,030 m

The site

The Mackenzie Basin protects 4,300 km² of sky by law — every fixture in the district is shielded and warm-toned. Lake Tekapo reflects the southern Milky Way on still nights, and the Aoraki ridgeline gives a hard, clean horizon in three directions. Aurora australis reaches the southern horizon roughly a dozen nights a year.

First gold-tier reserve in the southern hemisphere
Aurora australis on the horizon during high activity
Mount John observatory open to visitors nightly

Ten-night forecast

Updated 6h ago

Sky Score combines cloud cover, transparency, seeing, humidity and lunar illumination against this site's Bortle class. Higher is better; anything above 82 is worth rearranging a calendar for.

Night	Moon	Cloud	Transparency	Seeing	Humidity	Sky score
SunJun 14	3%	39%	67%	81%	36%	74
MonJun 15	0%	46%	58%	86%	47%	71
TueJun 16Best	0%	20%	79%	71%	36%	82
WedJun 17	2%	40%	62%	87%	41%	74
ThuJun 18	6%	53%	54%	54%	47%	62
FriJun 19	12%	57%	55%	47%	55%	59
SatJun 20	20%	49%	53%	76%	42%	65
SunJun 21	29%	54%	51%	71%	55%	61
MonJun 22	39%	21%	81%	56%	26%	76
TueJun 23	50%	61%	55%	83%	53%	59

When to come

Share of nights that stay usable, month by month. The recommended window is February, March, April, August, September and October.

62%

66%

71%

68%

60%

57%

58%

64%

69%

70%

66%

63%

JFMAMJJASOND

Recommended windowShare of clear nights

Field reports

Sophie Marchand

Physician, Lyon

I booked the two-night beginner trip mostly to humour my partner. I have since bought a telescope, joined a club, and rebooked for the Namib week. Hiroshi starts from absolute zero without ever making you feel like a beginner.

Guided nights here

Expeditions at Aoraki Mackenzie

All expeditions

First light

Aoraki Mackenzie · New Zealand

First Light Weekend

A short, gentle introduction: two nights, one camera, and a sky that does the work.

AstrophotographyMilky Way

Apr 17–19, 20262 nightsmax 12

From, per person

$890

4.7(212)

Hiroshi Okabe

The site

First gold-tier reserve in the southern hemisphere

Aurora australis on the horizon during high activity

Mount John observatory open to visitors nightly

Night

Moon

Cloud

Transparency

Seeing

Humidity

Sky score

SunJun 14

39%

67%

81%

36%

MonJun 15

46%

58%

86%

47%

TueJun 16Best

20%

79%

71%

36%

WedJun 17

40%

62%

87%

41%

ThuJun 18

53%

54%

47%

FriJun 19

12%

57%

55%

47%

55%

SatJun 20

20%

49%

53%

76%

42%

SunJun 21

29%

54%

51%

71%

55%

MonJun 22

39%

21%

81%

56%

26%

TueJun 23

50%

61%

55%

83%

53%