Why Attend?

Wairarapa’s pristine dark skies aren't just spectacular; they're also great for business. 

If you're thinking of incorporating astrotourism into your offerings, we're here to help. We, Hari and Sam, the founders of Star Safari, want to see quality astronomy and stargazing being delivered to the visitors to our region. Anyone can flutter a laser pointer around, but we want you to do better than that. Lifting the game for all of us gives our region a point of difference. 

So you have a real opportunity to capitalise on the dark sky. We want you to deliver a stellar introduction to it, find your way around binoculars and telescopes, and tell the story of our Wairarapa International Dark Sky Reserve. 

Our first two courses have sold out with a waiting list. Thanks to WellingtonNZ, which supports your success by sponsoring this course, we can now deliver a third. And thanks to the Masterton District Council, we have a fantastic venue to host it.

What we teach: 

• Introduction to the Dark Sky Reserve: Learn about the reserve's boundaries and requirements to maintain its status. With Masterton aiming to join the reserve, there is heaps of work to do.

• The Dark Sky Opportunity: Insights from Destination Wairarapa, exploring product development and business opportunities.

• Local Success Stories: Case studies of businesses effectively leveraging the Wairarapa Dark Sky Reserve.

• Astro-Tourism Strategies: Discover practical steps and successful models from New Zealand and around the world.

• Weather Management: Learn techniques for managing weather-related risks and maximising opportunities from astronomical events.

Expert Insights & Guest Speakers:

Your instructors are Hari and Sam. We run Star Safari Observatory in Ponatahi, which is our stargazing site. Each of us has over twenty years of experience in stargazing, astrotourism, and science communication, and our business continues to grow successfully every year. 

We have contributions and guest speakers from Destination Wairarapa, Wairarapa Business, WellingtonNZ, plus two special notes on the importance of the night sky in Te Aō Māori and advice on lighting from Carterton electrician Jack Newman. 

Plus:

TWO Hands-on Sessions: 

1. An introduction to stargazing gear and techniques.

2. Practical Stargazing Session: Telescope training, astrophotography basics, and real-world skills

and 

3. A personalised site visit: One-on-one business assessment to enhance your site’s dark sky potential.