19 July 2028 - 7 days for £5,149 per person
Experience the total solar eclipse in the Southern Alps of South Island, New Zealand, on 22 July 2028. Join an expert astronomer and eclipse chaser, who will immerse you in the southern hemisphere's skies through engaging talks and guided stargazing in remote mountain locations.
For the eclipse, you will be based at a spacious private viewing site with full catering, offering the perfect vantage point for this unique experience. The tour includes a curated programme of visits and experiences exploring South Island. This includes the beautiful cities of Queenstown and Christchurch, historic rural towns and the stunning landscapes of Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve and Aoraki/Mount Cook.
From watching an impressive solar eclipse and stargazing under pristine skies to exploring Indigenous culture, history and breathtaking geological beauty, this is truly an engaging tour for both experienced eclipse chasers and first-timers.
In partnership with Intrepid Travel.
MAP
DAY 1: ARRIVE INTO CHRISTCHURCH AND MEET YOUR FELLOW TRAVELLERS
On arrival into Christchurch (Maori name Otautahi) airport, you will transfer to the 4-star-plus Distinction Christchurch Hotel, which is centrally located to explore this fascinating city. It is famous for its lakeside location and mix of both Maori and European heritage.
In the early evening, you will be welcomed by your tour leader and accompanying astronomy expert who will give the first of several lectures before enjoying dinner together.
As well as the formal talks, throughout the tour you will enjoy guided stargazing by the expert and also ad hoc commentary from the tour leader on cultural, historic and natural aspects of New Zealand as you explore South Island.
DAY 2: CANTERBURY, THE SOUTHERN ALPS AND STARGAZING ABOVE LAKE TEKAPO
In addition to the eclipse and some fascinating stargazing, this tour is designed to explore the best of central South Island. There is a lot to see!
Today you will travel by comfortable coach first through Canterbury, the fertile heart of South Island, where vast farmlands stretch out across its grassy plains. Then onto the Southern Alps, where you will experience a striking change in scenery as you approach the 500-kilometre-long ridge of rugged mountains.
Arriving at Lake Tekapo, you will check into the lakeside Peppers Blue Water Hotel, where you will have time to explore the small town including the Church of the Good Shepherd, one of New Zealand’s most photographed buildings.
After dinner at the hotel, you will travel a short distance into the scenic Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve for 2 hours of stargazing atop the Mount John Observatory (1029 metres above sea level), where you will be guided through the night sky, starting with naked-eye constellations and then exploring celestial wonders - planets, star clusters and galaxies - through powerful telescopes, including a 16-inch dome scope. Along the way, you'll hear both Maori and Western astronomy stories. Warm extreme-cold-weather jackets are provided, and the only physical requirement is a short 100-metre walk up a gravel incline.
DAY 3: WALKING AND STARGAZING IN AORAKI/MOUNT COOK NATIONAL PARK
After breakfast, a 1-hour drive takes you around the edge of Lake Pukaki, whose glacial waters reflect the dramatic peaks beyond. As you approach Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, the scenery becomes truly awe-inspiring as glaciers, alpine meadows and towering mountains dominate the landscape. At the heart of the park stands Aoraki/Mount Cook, New Zealand’s highest peak, rising majestically above the surrounding wilderness.
The area is a hiker's paradise and this morning you have a choice of two different hikes of varying length and difficulty, or you can just enjoy the Aoraki/Mount Cook Visitor Centre, which includes artwork collections, interpretation exhibits, local products and a café.
Option 1 - Tasman Valley Walk: Passing several small lakes, this short hike takes you to Lake Tasman. Here you can enjoy the view over the clear blue water, icebergs and the Tasman Glacier. This short walk is 2.7 kilometres long and should take about an hour.
Option 2 - Hooker Valley Walk: This hike is one of the most famous in New Zealand. An easy hike takes you through the fantastic mountain scenery to the glacial lake, from where you can enjoy a beautiful view of Aoraki/Mount Cook. It is 10 kilometres in length and should take around 3 to 4 hours.
After checking into the Hermitage Hotel next to Aoraki/Mount Cook, you will hear a pre-eclipse briefing before dinner at the hotel. The detailed presentation is designed to ensure you are well-prepared for the event tomorrow afternoon. It will cover the science behind eclipses, the nuances of this particular eclipse compared to others, how to make the most of the event and how to record it visually. Guests on our previous eclipse events have expressed how useful they found this briefing session, allowing them to make the most out of the eclipse experience.
After dinner, you will take a short drive onto the slopes of Aoraki/Mount Cook for another stargazing session. You will have a 90-minute tour of the night sky through high-powered telescopes along with discussing incredible features visible to the naked eye. With practically no light pollution, you will see the Southern Cross, planets, distant galaxies, star clusters, moons and the Milky Way.
DAY 4: TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE DAY
This morning, you will travel from Aoraki/Mount Cook towards Queenstown. You will drive over the 971-metre-high Lindis Pass and then arrive into Cromwell, a town known for its orchards and vineyards.
In the afternoon, you will transfer to the private viewing site, where you will have plenty of time to choose your spot for the eclipse viewing. Drinks will be available on arrival and eclipse glasses will be provided. The attractive, secluded location is very close to the absolute centre of 100 per cent totality, with great views.
Should weather conditions at the private site affect visibility, we have also identified secondary sites within a few hours' drive.
First contact, when the moon first begins to pass across the face of the sun, begins around 3.08pm, and you will experience totality around 4.15pm, lasting for 2 minutes and 53 seconds. After the eclipse ends, there will be dinner served in the grounds of the viewing site. The accompanying expert will be on hand to answer any questions throughout the experience.
Your journey then continues to Queenstown, often referred to as the St. Moritz of the South Seas. Due to its beautiful mountain location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu, this small resort town has developed into the popular centre of South Island and will be your base for the next 3 nights at the Millennium Queenstown Hotel.
DAY 5: EXPLORE QUEENSTOWN
This morning, you will attend a post-eclipse lecture, where you can not only relive your experience in New Zealand but also see how the eclipse presented across the rest of the southern hemisphere.
The afternoon is at leisure and there are several points of interest to explore within walking distance of the hotel. We recommend a trip on the Skyline Gondola, for sweeping 360-degree views across Queenstown, Coronet Peak, The Remarkables and Lake Wakatipu.
In the early evening, you will board the vintage TSS Earnslaw steamship to go to Walter Peak for a BBQ dinner. Set in award-winning gardens with stunning lake and mountain views, Walter Peak High Country Farm offers an outstanding BBQ menu highlighting the finest New Zealand produce paired with Central Otago wines. After dinner, you will return on the steamship to your hotel.
DAY 6: HISTORIC ARROWTOWN, KINROSS WINERY AND FAREWELL DINNER
This morning, you will enjoy a guided trip to Arrowtown, a historic settlement that is still inhabited today. Arrowtown is one of New Zealand's most picturesque settlements, situated on the Arrow River, where gold was once mined. Founded in 1862 at the height of the gold rush, you will explore restored cottages, visit the Arrowtown Chinese Settlement and see the old sites from the gold rush era.
At midday, you will then head into the Gibbston Valley for a wine tasting at Kinross Winery, before heading back to Queenstown for a free afternoon followed by a group farewell dinner in the evening.
DAY 7: ONWARD TRAVEL
After breakfast and saying farewell to your fellow guests, there will be a private transfer to Queenstown airport, from where you can fly to New Zealand’s three biggest airports, Auckland, Christchurch or Wellington, as well as several major Australian and other international cities.
Alternatively, you may join a series of add-on New Scientist Discovery tours to continue exploring New Zealand’s glacial and geothermal sites or Australia’s astronomy heritage, or even a best of Australia tour, especially designed for New Scientist guests. More details of these tours will be released nearer to the event.
