AuthenticAs Star Gazing -Nightscape Portrait Photography Tour
Traveler rating
5.0/5
Based on 70 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is AuthenticAs Star Gazing -Nightscape Portrait Photography Tour worth booking?
AuthenticAs Star Gazing -Nightscape Portrait Photography Tour is a 2-hour experience in Queenstown, New Zealand, from $899 per person. It scores 61 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Solid Choice”, based on a 5/5 rating across 70 reviews. This booking is non-refundable, so pick your date carefully. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 61 / 100
- Rating
- 5/5 (70)
- Duration
- 2 hours
- From
- $899 per person
Whether you live here or are visiting we have found the best places to take you on Stargazing. We collect you in our 4WD land rovers, choosing from many of our dark sky locations to guide and photograph you under the Sou
What you get
- Private transportation
- Professional photography taken of you supplied digitally as a Pixieset Collection
- Tea and coffee
- 4WD Land Rover pick up and drop off
- Health & Safety audited and full public liability insurance
- Optional astrophotography tuition with your own camera/tripod or iphone
About this experience
Whether you live here or are visiting we have found the best places to take you on Stargazing. We collect you in our 4WD land rovers, choosing from many of our dark sky locations to guide and photograph you under the Southern Night Sky. Come along with us NZ Astro tourism Academy qualified Guides this Summer 2023/4 and discover star navigation, the meaning and language of our constellations and using our Unistellar EVscope and night binoculars we choose the most interesting features viewable that night for you to see close up. We professionally shoot your portrait with the galactic core as a backdrop. Often snow will be under our feet. NZ Award winning photographers, we deliver you with a set of images from your experience to cherish along with images from our telescope that we viewed together live. Customers love this tour who are also budding astrophotographers -ask us for tuition and bring your camera/ tripod is also an option. We are the only Queenstown bespoke star gazing tour.
What's included
Included
- Private transportation
- Professional photography taken of you supplied digitally as a Pixieset Collection
- Tea and coffee
- 4WD Land Rover pick up and drop off
- Health & Safety audited and full public liability insurance
- Optional astrophotography tuition with your own camera/tripod or iphone
- Southern Night Sky Tour by a Aotearoa Astrotourism Guide
- Permitted 4WD location on Department of Conservation land
What you'll see and do
Queenstown
We hold Department of Conservation permission to access Dark Skies close to and/or within the Wakatipu Basin /Queenstown /Tahuna area. We particularly love to take our visits into the Mountains often snowy in Wintertime , with ease of access and down alongside Lake Wakatipu. We try our best to use bespoke locations planned for your needs or group wishes. We also have the ability to add in a Day into Night Tour and Authentic As Queenstown to this Starry Night Package so we can add in multiple locations.
90 minutes here
Where it starts and ends
Hotel pickup
Pickup is included for all travelers. Pickup begins about 5 minutes before departure.
Before you book
- Cancellation
- All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 4 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- AuthenticAs
Know before you go
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 70 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
Photo opportunities
8 mentionsThe views and photo stops come up again and again.
Knowledge and storytelling
7 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Traveler reviews
70 verified traveler reviews for AuthenticAs Star Gazing -Nightscape Portrait Photography Tour. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Professional and well organised
Although our tour was cancelled due to bad weather we felt it was important to acknowledge Simon and the tour for his professionalism. He let us know of the cancellation in good time and immediately issued a full refund. We were really disappointed not to be able to do the tour, but safety first always and nobody controls the weather. Hopefully we'll get a chance to return to Queenstown, and if so, we will book in the tour again with Simon.
via Tripadvisor
Bring warm clothes and...
Bring warm clothes and curiousity! What a special night. You'll learn a bunch about astronomy, astrophysics, photography, Maori legend, history, science and navigation. Still cherishing the memory and photos of our experience six months later. You won't regret it.
via Viator
Next Level, ‘authentic as’ star gazing (with Authentic As)
A must do for everyone, the ultimate ‘authentic as’ experience! Simon takes you on a journey of next level star gazing, with a Te Ao Māori narrative of the nights sky. The cosmos did not disappoint, in particular the Milky Way from our view point, was a jaw dropping, ‘pinch myself’ and ‘OMG’ moment! Ka mihi nui ki a koe Simon!
via Tripadvisor
The best adventure in Queenstown
Our experience with AuthenticAs doing the Starry Night Adventure was nothing short of incredible. Simon created such a personalised and memorable evening from start to finish — you can genuinely feel how passionate he is about what he does. The entire stargazing experience was magical, relaxing and honestly one of the highlights of our trip. It never felt like a “tour”; it felt intimate, personal and really special. To top it all off, Simon captured the most beautiful photos for us that we’ll treasure for a lifetime. As an added bonus, we were lucky enough to see the Southern Lights, which made the night feel even more surreal and unforgettable. An absolutely perfect evening and recommend this experience when in Queenstown.
Response from the operator: Thank you so much for your incredibly kind words, we're so happy you had such a great time. We've done everything we can to make this feel like an intimate experience rather than an off the shelf tour, so this really is music to our ears. And weren't we so luck with that incredible light show Kā mihi nui kia a koe
via Tripadvisor
Once in a lifetime experience!
We had such an amazing night on this stargazing tour. Simon was so knowledgeable and passionate, and he made the whole experience feel really special. The sky was absolutely mesmerising, and we were lucky enough to see four shooting stars, which was such a magical moment. We also loved learning more about the stars, astronomy, and Māori culture throughout the tour. It honestly opened up our interest in astronomy so much more. Such a beautiful and memorable experience, we’d definitely recommend it!
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 2 hours
- Free cancellation
- Non-refundable
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Hotel pickup
- Included for all travelers
- Booked in 30 days
- 25
- Verdict
- Solid Choice
Why this scores 61
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
AuthenticAs Star Gazing -Nightscape Portrait Photography Tour: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Queenstown.
How much does AuthenticAs Star Gazing -Nightscape Portrait Photography Tour cost?
+
Prices start at $899 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Queenstown usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does AuthenticAs Star Gazing -Nightscape Portrait Photography Tour take?
+
Plan for about 2 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Queenstown is not rushed.
Is AuthenticAs Star Gazing -Nightscape Portrait Photography Tour worth it?
+
It holds an Outty Ranking of 61 out of 100, which we label "Solid Choice". That score blends traveler sentiment (5/5 across 70 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable nightlife in Queenstown, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule AuthenticAs Star Gazing -Nightscape Portrait Photography Tour?
+
No. This experience is sold on a non-refundable basis, so only book a date you are confident about. Similar experiences in the city do offer free cancellation if flexibility matters more than price.
Is AuthenticAs Star Gazing -Nightscape Portrait Photography Tour suitable for kids and families?
+
Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 2-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book AuthenticAs Star Gazing -Nightscape Portrait Photography Tour?
+
Around 25 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Queenstown can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
+
Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Queenstown and add a light layer if any part of the 2-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does AuthenticAs Star Gazing -Nightscape Portrait Photography Tour start and how do I get there?
+
The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Queenstown within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Queenstown?
+
On Outty we rank every Queenstown experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Premium Milford Sound Small Group Tour & Cruise from Queenstown, Milford Sound Premium Small Group Tour & Cruise from Queenstown, Award Winning Premium Wine Tour Queenstown Tasting at 4 Wineries. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Queenstown?
+
Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Queenstown?
+
Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
+
Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
Ready to lock in your spot?
Pick a date, choose your group, and see the exact price for AuthenticAs Star Gazing -Nightscape Portrait Photography Tour.
Pick your date
