Good Heavens
Are you ready to embark on a magical night-time journey? Good Heavens' mission is to share the wonders of the spectacular starry sky with visitors at the beautiful Great Barrier Island. Your Experience at Good Heavens will take you on a comfortable, enlightening, and entertaining journey through our universe.
Local stargazing guides will teach you about the night sky and how you can use the stars to orientate yourself and discover places where stars are born. An experience where guests can look through telescopes, deep into space and wonder at the beauty and the magnificence of this magical nocturnal environment.
The bliss about being able to live in an International Dark Sky Sanctuary - among the darkest of all the Dark Sky Places in the world is what owners Hilde & Deborah absolutely love about their off-grid Island. Great Barrier Islands light pollution is minimal, the night sky is very dark and stars are very bright- it is part of the reason why they have chosen to live and work on this island sanctuary.
Aotea – Great Barrier Island
Apart from dark skies, Great Barrier Island (please link https://www.greatbarrier.co.nz/) is also known for being off-the-grid, travelling here is travelling back to the future. The island population is quirky and arty, and there are many galleries. There are beautiful beaches for long walks and if you also like the bush, the many well-maintained walking tracks go through varied and virtually unspoiled landscapes that hide many endangered taonga. Meet the friendly locals in the pubs or clubs. No adrenaline rides or crowds here, but pure beauty and tranquillity. This island really is special.
Eco-experience
As the island boasts so many natural treasures Good Heavens is committed to looking after it. Being mindful of this fragile island ecosystem Good Heavens tread lightly on it throughout their stargazing experiences, and the team consciously uses products that generate limited waste and a small carbon footprint, such as laser pointers that are charged by the sun. During their stargazing experiences, they will also touch on the effects of light pollution.
Personalised experience
Small groups, scenic locations and local Great Barrier Island guides ensure you will have a unique and personalised experience. Being mindful of clients is important to the team. So whether it's a stepping stone for further exploration of the universe or a one-off experience, your stargazing experience should be unique and personalised. An experience you will remember forever!
Join enthusiastic local guides where the sky meets the ocean. They will guide you through the starry southern night skies and beyond, sharing their knowledge on astronomy. The Good Heavens team knows the Barrier inside out and will either meet you at your accommodation if it has good views of the sky for a private experience, or book in for a group tour in the best dark spots, while adding local flavour.
Good Heavens is your Great Barrier Dark Sky contact for:
Look Up and Get Lost / Moon Walk: Group Dark Sky Experience - In a dark island location, your guide will set up a telescope to help us get close and personal with the stars, gaze at deep sky objects and view several interesting constellations. We may even see a planet or distant galaxy!
Dining with the Stars: Private Dark Sky Experience with dinner included. In addition to our Heavens Above Experience, our guide will bring a scrumptious dinner prepared by a local gourmet chef and served by us.
Heavens Above: Private Dark Sky Experience. Our guide will come to you and bring an 8" Dobsonian telescope, binoculars, moon chairs and hot chocolate, at your accommodation or at a beautiful beach nearby. Xspot is great for this experience, see here.
Good Heavens provide comfortable and targeted experiences, so that you can learn more about the stars. An enthusiastic local stargazing guide will take you on a journey through the starry southern night sky and beyond, sharing fun astronomy facts and interesting stories to help you remember the details. Great Barrier Island is one of very few Dark Sky Sanctuaries in the world. Away from the lights of the big city, and as an off-the-grid island, light pollution is minimal. Great Barrier Island’s dark skies are superb so go stargazing! Marvel at the magic of our dark sky with one of the best ranking stargazing companies in New Zealand - the local dark sky ambassadors of Good Heavens!