Star Safari Stargazing Experience, Martinborough
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September 2026
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Who is going?
Adults
Age 13 and over
Children
Age 12 and under
Select a highlighted day to see live departure times and the exact price for your group.
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Same price on Viator, Outty earns a commission.
Traveler rating
4.6/5
Based on 8 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Star Safari Stargazing Experience, Martinborough worth booking?
Star Safari Stargazing Experience, Martinborough is a 1.5-hour experience in Wellington, New Zealand, from $100 per person. It scores 56 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Worth a Look”, based on a 4.6/5 rating across 8 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 56 / 100
- Rating
- 4.6/5 (8)
- Duration
- 1.5 hours
- From
- $100 per person
Did you know that the Wairarapa International Dark Sky Reserve has one of the darkest and clearest skies in New Zealand? Only 80km from the Wellington Airport, you get a personal astrobiologist and an astrophysicist to s
What you get
About this experience
Did you know that the Wairarapa International Dark Sky Reserve has one of the darkest and clearest skies in New Zealand? Only 80km from the Wellington Airport, you get a personal astrobiologist and an astrophysicist to show you the Universe. We are Hari and Sam, and we created Star Safari out of our love of the night sky. • We invested in the best equipment for stargazing, with powerful telescopes and top-quality optics. We know our night sky - both our 16" telescopes are manual, and you can learn it too! • Advanced stargazers, bring your observing list. • Beginner stargazers, we will show you where to start. By the end of the session, you will know what's in the sky and how to orient yourself to the stars. Star Safari is a 90-minute experience with the Universe while seeing the best the amazing southern sky offers. If the weather is unsuitable for stargazing, we explore our sky in virtual reality. You get to ask questions. We deliver a learning experience just for you.
What's included
Included
- All children 15 and younger for free, with no lower age limit. Maximum 2 per paying adult.
- Free cancelation up to 24 hours before session start time.
- All Fees and Taxes
- Tea and coffee
- 2x 16" (inches) very large telescopes per group and other telescopes and binoculars.
- Professional Instructors. Hari is a TEDx featured astrobiologist, Sam is an astrophysicist
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Wellington
Look out for the email with driving instructions. Follow the signs from 1169 Ponatahi Road along the gravel driveway and then to the right. You will end up going up a hill and we will meet you in the carpark. CAMPERVANS - we pick you up at the bottom of the hill. Please see email instructions.
Hotel pickup
No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.
Ends at
Look out for the email with driving instructions. Follow the signs from 1169 Ponatahi Road along the gravel driveway and then to the right. You will end up going up a hill and we will meet you in the carpark. CAMPERVANS - we pick you up at the bottom of the hill. Please see email instructions.
Options you can book
Star Safari Stargazing Nov-Dec
16 November to 15 December
Star Safari Stargazing Sep
16 September to 28 September
Star Safari Stargazing April
7 April to 28 April
Star Safari Stargazing Experience, Martinborough
Star Safari Stargazing Oct-Nov
16 October to 15 November
Star Safari Stargazing Sep-Oct
29 September to 15 October
Star Safari Stargazing Aug-Sep
21 August - 15 September
Star Safari Stargazing Apr-Aug
29 Apr - 20 Aug
Star Safari Stargazing Mar-Apr
March to April
Star Safari Stargazing Dec-Jan
16 December to 15 January
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en, fr
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 10 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Star Safari
Know before you go
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Please call us at the phone number below.
- Please dress up warm and as if you would go hiking. It gets very cold at night.
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 8 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
Knowledge and storytelling
6 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
The guide
2 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Traveler reviews
8 verified traveler reviews for Star Safari Stargazing Experience, Martinborough. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Unique experience
Passionate guides. Unfortunately, we could only see very few stars because of the clouds. The organization had provided a worthy alternative and their passion allowed them to continue to fascinate us. It was an educational evening
via Viator (translated)
More Fun Than Educational
with all best intentions the experience was for me "meh" due to a number of factors, a few of which were under the control of the operators. The venue is great; elevated and isolated offering a great location for viewing the night sky. Out of control of the operators is the Moon... the pesky thing was sooo big and sooo bright illuminating the entire countryside to a level where one could see cows in detail some 50 feet away. The Moon's reflected light effectively whitewashed the night sky, so pick an evening when the Moon is not so bright, if you can. OK, the operation was IMHO quite amateurish. The 2 people guiding us struggled to manhandle the refracting telescope into the correct physical locations and to hold position on stellar objects. Their knowledge of the night sky seemed to me to be on a basic level. For me the experience was one of entertainment and not so much educational.
via Tripadvisor
A dark sky treat
What a fabulous night. As the sun set the magic of the night sky appeared. This was a relaxed and extremely informative evening. Two expert star gazers introduced us to planets, galaxies, nebula clouds, clusters, red and blue stars. The highlight seeing Saturn in all its glory, rings and moons etc.
via Tripadvisor
Must do event when in area!
Even though a bit cloudy, had fantastic time! Hari and Sam double teamed with 2 telescopes, showing wide array of stars and star clusters. Great hot chocolate post viewing!
Response from the operator: Thanks for visiting us. We're very glad you enjoyed Star Safari.
via Tripadvisor
nice experience
pity the weather wasn't good enough, however, this is still a very nice experience for the 5 of us and learn a lot throughout, especially the detailed explantion and the VR, although i do somehow have a little of the 3D sickness, but generally speaking, a wonderfull experience and the friendly tour/guide, a highly recommended one to all !
Response from the operator: Thanks for visiting us at Star Safari. The weather doesn't always allow us to have the telescopes out, but we're very pleased you enjoyed our cloudy programme.
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 1.5 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Hotel pickup
- No pickup, meet at start point
- Booked in 30 days
- 3
- Verdict
- Worth a Look
Why this scores 56
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Star Safari Stargazing Experience, Martinborough: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Wellington.
How much does Star Safari Stargazing Experience, Martinborough cost?
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Prices start at $100 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Wellington usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Star Safari Stargazing Experience, Martinborough take?
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Plan for about 1.5 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 Wellington is not rushed.
Is Star Safari Stargazing Experience, Martinborough worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 56 out of 100, which we label "Worth a Look". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.6/5 across 8 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable most popular in Wellington, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Star Safari Stargazing Experience, Martinborough?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Star Safari Stargazing Experience, Martinborough suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 1.5-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Star Safari Stargazing Experience, Martinborough?
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Around 3 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 Wellington 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?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Wellington and add a light layer if any part of the 1.5-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Star Safari Stargazing Experience, Martinborough start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Wellington 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 Wellington?
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On Outty we rank every Wellington experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Overnight Experience Tour on Kapiti Island, Discover Wellington 3 hour City Tour, Martinborough Wine and Wild Coast Tour from Wellington. 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 Wellington?
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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 Wellington?
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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?
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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.
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