60% of Aotea Great Barrier Island is protected conservation land. Island landscapes are jawdroppingly gorgeous and teeming with flora and fauna, that is sometimes endemic to the island and often endangered. This island is a heaven for nature lovers. Most … Read More
I was blown away when I first spotted Saturn through a telescope. Seeing this planet and its rings with my own eyes put our solar system and our life within in a different perspective. It kind of made it more … Read More
Gift ideas for the stargazer in your life When you have a stargazer in your life, or if you like our island, finding the perfect gift is easy! Here are some ideas: A Voucher for a stargazing experience A Sanctuary … Read More
Binoculars are a great way to explore the night sky. They are very portable and have a wide field of view. As a bonus you can use them for viewing land based objects in the day time, too. During … Read More
Matariki – Summerstargazing in New Zealand Did you know that Matariki is visible in the New Zealand summer sky? In the above image it’s visible to the left of the stargazer’s head. Many people in New Zealand think that it’s … Read More
James Webb image Have you seen Jupiter in this image by the James Webb Space Telescope? Clearly visible in this image are Jupiter’s dust ring and bright auroras at the poles. Just amazing how the human race is now able … Read More
Complimentary ‘Sanctuary’ Book with your booking this summer Five years ago the International Dark Sky Association gave Aotea Great Barrier Island the designation of Dark Sky Sanctuary. The first island sanctuary in the world. So it’s time to celebrate our … Read More
Delighted to be named number one stargazing experience in NZ The Good Heavens team are chuffed to be named number one Stargazing Experience in NZ, among many excellent experiences in the country. Our stargazers often comment on our stunning seaside … Read More
Charting the night sky Find out how Deb came to be the director of an astro tours company on Great Barrier Island. Elisabeth Easther chatted to Deborah Kilgallon, co-founder of astro tours, Good Heavens on Great Barrier Island for an … Read More
Guaranteed magnificient skies Aotea Great Barrier Island is a Dark Sky Sanctuary. This means it has spectacular skies for stargazing. If you are coming to the island, why not indulge in a guided stargazing experience? If you’d like a stargazing … Read More