Kōaka (Spring) has well and truly sprung. Without a doubt this is one of the most beautiful times of the astronomical year.
Read More
Syd's AuthenticAs Adventure in Queenstown was nothing short of magical. From snow-covered landscapes to star-filled skies, this personalized journey combined breathtaking beauty with professional photography, capturing memories that will last a lifetime.
Read More
Winter nights in the Southern Lakes have been filled with extraordinary stargazing moments. Our journey through the cosmos, using cutting-edge technology and traditional methods, has made this season unforgettable.
Read More
Join us on a journey with Jem, a nurse who found solace and connection in our Starry Nights Adventure back in Winter 2022. Her experience led to life-changing decisions and a move to Queenstown, where she continues to explore the beauty of autumn bliss with her partner.
Read More
Explore Punamāhaka, (Moke Lake), a stunning lake surrounded by towering peaks, an absolute gem in the Southern Lakes Crown, day or night.
Read More
We're thrilled about using the 8" Dobsonian telescope for our Starry Night Adventures, but its size limits our mobility. To enhance the experience, we introduced the Unistellar eVscope. This camera-like telescope collects photons with a sensor and generates real-time images on our iPad. It's portable, sets up quickly, and tracks celestial objects as Earth moves. The eVscope reveals stunning details of galaxies and cosmic phenomena that are invisible to the naked eye. We can now take our guests on Starry Night walks, capturing memories and offering an immersive experience. The eVscope excels even during bright moonlit nights, transforming our adventures.
Read More
The Little Bit Extra option allows you to add extra time to your Starry Nights tour, which is customized to your preference. For example, if you're interested in astrophotography, you can use the extra time to learn about and practice this skill. Alternatively, if you’re looking for an even more personalized experience, you can use the extra time to capture specific photographs or enjoy more stargazing. Ultimately, the Little Bit Extra option allows for a more tailored and personalized experience for you.
Read More
Forget the misconceptions that stargazing in summer isn't possible. Not only is the Summer Southern Night Sky outstandingly beautiful, you can also see the Aurora Australis if you're lucky.
Simon, the Astro Guide at AuthenticAs gives you a run down on what to expect on one of their Starry Nights Adventures during the warmer months
Read More
A Total Lunar Eclipse happens when our planet Earth sits directly between the Sun and the Moon and as such the light from the Sun which usually reflects off the Moon is dimmed. The Moon itself turns a beautiful deep red colour creating absolute magic all across the heavens. As so often happens in modern life, our focus is often on the detail, not the whole picture. Read about Simon’s night time adventure under the Total Lunar Eclipse as he looks upon the whole sky, not just a close up of the Moon itself, and what an incredible show it was.
Read More
It’s time for one of those stories again. What we do, and the way in which we do it, is intentional. We set out to help people design and immerse themselves in an unforgettable experience here in the Southern Lakes. As we slow down and discover, the moments will be captured in breathtaking photographs.
Read More
So many people ask us if we’ll be able to see Tahu-nui-a-raki (The Southern Lights) when they are inquiring about our AuthenticAs Starry Nights Tours. Unfortunately, this isn’t the easiest of phenomena to predict, especially a few months in advance. On Friday night, Jakob & Taryn were treated to a spectacular show, that literally came out of nowhere.
Read More
People come to Wai Tāhuna (Queenstown) for so many different reasons. One of them, is to celebrate a birthday with their friends. Our amazing little town has so much to offer, it’s perfect, as this group of girls found out as they headed here to celebrate Ash’s 30th. An AuthenticAs Starry Night Adventure proved to be the perfect addition to their packed itiinary.
Read More
We love having solo travellers come on our adventures, it allows us to deliver a truly tailored experience so that our manuhiri (visitor) gets exactly what they are looking for. Read about our night under the Stars with Nick, an exceptionally inspiring young man from Melbourne, here in Tāhuna (Queenstown) for a week of snowboarding and adventure seeking.
Read More
Is there a more romantic way of proposing than being halfway up a mountain, in the snow, under the stunning Southern Night Sky? We’re not sure there is. It’s even better when it’s disguised as a Star Gazing Tour, keeping the secret safe and amplifying the surprise. Read about Sue & Tania’s unforgettable AuthenticAs Starry Night Adventure here in Tāhuna, Aotearoa (Queenstown, NZ)
Read More
AuthenticAs offer a truly unique range of services and skills. During their holiday in Queenstown, Kritika wanted to honour her culture by exchanging rings with her fiancé Sam under the Southern Night Sky. In her dreams, they’d be able to have a personalised star gazing tour and a collection of breathtaking photographs to treasure for years to come. Imagine her delight when we told her we could take care of all of her desires.
Read More
Even with an 87% moon and closed roads, we made an epic evening of Astrophotography in the Wakatipu Basin happen for Keng & Victor who were visiting Tāhuna from Singapore
Read More
Orion sets over the Southern Alps. Simon soaks up the beauty of view to the West of the Southern Night Sky in early Autumn, all the while capturing images to create beautiful photographs
Read More
What a backdrop for a maternity shoot. It was such a pleasure to spend time with Elaine and Jimmy under the stars creating these amazing photographs
Read More
We headed toward Aoraki for a weekend retreat. With warm clothes packed and all the necessary camera gear we were prepared for a couple of nights under the stars in this International Dark Sky Reserve. Having access to a telescope was the icing on the cake
Read More
Queenstown offer some of the best night skies in the world. Come on a Starry Night Adventure with us to witness this beautiful sight with your very own eyes. You’ll not only take with you many precious memories, you’ll have a collection of breathtaking photographs to treasure for decades to come
Read More