The best places to stargaze in Auckland

Auckland may be known for its vibrant city lights, but step into some of its more remote corners and you’ll see twinkles of a different kind. From serene beaches to elevated viewpoints, the city and its surrounds provide the perfect backdrop for stargazing.

First, grab a bite before heading out to stargaze

While you’re waiting for the stars to come out, have a meal at a restaurant that sets the mood for a night of wonder.

Talented Kiwi chef, Ben Bayly has travelled across Aotearoa New Zealand to source ingredients and inspiration for select dishes. Now he’s bringing ‘stargrazing’ - the unique experience of enjoying New Zealand's stunning night skies while indulging in exceptional cuisine - to Ahi, his Commercial Bay restaurant. Ahi’s menu celebrates authentic New Zealand food, made with fresh organic produce grown by New Zealanders who are embracing regenerative agriculture. Sounds like the ideal appetiser before nature serves up its spectacular main event.

Dine like a star at SO/ Hotel’s elegant restaurant, Harbour Society. Their ever-evolving menu emphasises sustainability and seasonality, and incorporates innovative wood-fire cooking techniques, with everything on the menu designed to share. With incredible views out across the harbour towards Rangitoto Island, you can put your star-spotting skills to the test before you head outdoors.

Let the twinkling fairy lights above Federal Street be a sign of things to come. Follow them to Metita, located within The Grand by SkyCity complex. Metita offers a fresh exploration of Pacific cuisine through seasonal flavours, inspired by chef Michael Meredith’s Pacific heritage. 

And while you’re on the hunt for stars, you’ll find 5-star-worthy meals at Beast & Butterflies. As you would expect from a harbourside restaurant, you’ll find plenty of fresh seafood options on the menu with exotic flavours from the Pacific Rim with Asian street food influences. 

Aotea Great Barrier Island

Escape to Aotea Great Barrier Island for a few days, just a scenic 30-minute flight away, for an unforgettable stay filled with adventure - and plenty of stargazing. Thanks to its remote location, the island is a designated Dark Sky Sanctuary, offering some of the clearest views of the night sky you'll ever see, free from light pollution. With Good Heavens Stargazing Experiences, you can immerse yourself in the beauty of the cosmos from the top of a sand dune, far removed from the city lights of Auckland. The experience is nothing short of magical. 

Shakespear Regional Park

In the distance you might spot the glow of Auckland’s skyline, but out here on the Whangaparāoa Peninsula, you’ll feel galaxies away from the central city. At the tip of the Peninsula, Shakespear Regional Park is an expansive sanctuary for conservation, recreation and farming. Its peaceful location and undisturbed surrounds means it’s the perfect place to immerse yourself in the Milky Way. Although the gates to the park are closed at 9pm during summer and 7pm in winter, you can still access nearby Army Bay Beach, or travel on foot to Te Haruhi Bay. For the best experience, book a stay at Te Haruhi Bay campground so you can settle in among the dunes to stargaze, and then wake up to the incredible sounds of the nearby bird sanctuary. 

Tāwharanui

Matakana is considered a ‘blue zone’, meaning it's right up there when it comes to dark skies. Peninsulas tend to offer great opportunities for stargazing, and the Tāwharanui Peninsula is no exception. Mostly known for its beautiful beach, Tāwharanui has even more to offer once the sun goes down. Book a night at the Tāwharanui Regional Park campground, pack a blanket or a couple of camping chairs and enjoy lying back and soaking up the spectacular views above. There are also stargazing and wild kiwi guided tours that you can join, delving into the nocturnal world of the regional park. There’ll be plenty to spot up above, but remember to also keep your eyes peeled for the elusive North Island brown kiwi. 

Piha

Piha’s renowned dark sand beach also boasts an incredible dark sky. As if it wasn’t already one of Auckland’s most wild and magical places, on a clear night, the night sky makes a visit here a real celestial adventure. Pack a blanket and head to the dunes to marvel at the scenes above, or better yet, pitch a tent at Piha Domain Motor Camp so you can drift off under the stars. 

Waiheke Island

With its close proximity to Auckland, Waiheke Island may not be somewhere you’d first consider for a dark sky. However, the eastern side of the island is said to be nearly as dark as Dark Sky-accredited Great Barrier Island, thanks to the hills that block out Auckland’s glow. There is even a passionate group of locals dedicated to advocating for Waiheke to be designated as a Dark Sky. Enjoy a meal at one of the island’s many vineyard restaurants, then settle into a beanbag under the stars, and see how many shooting stars you can wish upon. 

Stardome Observatory & Planetarium

You don’t have to go far to find front-row seats to the universe, because Auckland’s own observatory sits right in the heart of Cornwall Park. The Stardome Observatory has been taking Aucklanders on a journey into space since 1967 with daily planetarium shows and films in the 360-degree indoor dome, complete with comfortable, reclining seats. An expert astronomer will take you through "Our Night Sky," showing you the exact positions of the stars in the sky on the day of your visit. On Friday and Saturday nights (weather permitting) you can climb into the historic telescope dome for the Zeiss telescope experience, and on. On a clear night you can expect to see four or five deep-space objects.