Awe-inspiring Dark Sky Paradise
The Otago Peninsula is renowned as a natural night sky reserve, offering one of the best accessible locations close to a city for clear viewing of the Southern Stars and the awe-inspiring Milky Way. Shielded from urban light pollution by surrounding hills, the sparsely populated ocean-facing side of the Otago Peninsula offers stunning views of the majestic night sky and the Aurora Australis (Southern Lights), clearly visible under the right conditions. Hoopers Inlet, near the Harbour Cone Sanctuary, is one of the prime locations that beckons both locals and visitors to marvel at the colourful spectacle of the Southern Lights against the the backdrop of the Milky Way.
Dark Sky City Dunedin
There is mounting evidence that late-night light pollution not only obscures our view of the magnificent starry sky but also disrupts natural biorhythms and ecosystems, squanders energy, and can impact the quality of our sleep and health. With the Otago Peninsula as a splendid natural dark sky asset, Dunedin actively strives to become New Zealand’s first certified dark sky city.
Harbour Cone Sanctuary on the Otago Peninsula is an ideal location for stargazing enthusiasts and also offers a peaceful environment conductive to a good night's rest.