Do look up: stargazing in New Zealand's first dark sky community

"As the last strip of pink on the horizon fades to indigo on the Maniototo Plain in Otago, every word I speak arrives in a puff of condensation. Six hundred metres above sea level, in winter the temperature here can drop to -15C. Spring isn't much warmer. But the chill is worth it. Standing in the dark in what feels like the middle of nowhere, I've come to a paddock not far from the historic mining town of Naseby to stargaze."

"Even in a country where there's about 20km of space per person, the Maniototo Plain is sparsely populated. During the 1860s gold rush about 20,000 fortune seekers descended on Otago, but when they eventually moved on, towns like Naseby were left to a sleepy future. Now home to just 140 people, it's not even a place you drive through. We're not on the way to anywhere, says local Jill Wolff. You've got to choose to go to Naseby."

"Dedicated stargazers and astronomers have always appreciated its spectacular night sky, something that's now more widely known since Naseby became a certified dark sky community in 2025. Sign up for a weekly email featuring our best reads There are more than 200 dark sky places designated by DarkSky International around the world. Naseby is New Zealand's 10th dark sky place and its first dark sky community one of five certification categories, ranging from remote sanctuaries to urban sky places, awarded for exceptional dedication to the preservation of the night sky."

"Wolff, a member of Naseby Vision, the not-for-profit volunteer community development group that ran the certification project, says the town decided to pursu"

Naseby sits on the Maniototo Plain in Otago, where winter temperatures can fall to -15C and spring remains cold. The town is remote and sparsely populated, with about 140 residents, and it is not on a through-route. During the 1860s gold rush, thousands arrived, but the population later declined. Despite its small size, Naseby attracts mountain bikers and dedicated stargazers. Its night sky gained wider recognition after the town became a certified dark sky community in 2025 through a volunteer-led project run by Naseby Vision. DarkSky International designates more than 200 dark sky places worldwide, and Naseby is New Zealand’s 10th dark sky place and first dark sky community, reflecting strong preservation efforts.

Read at www.theguardian.com