Best Spots to Stargaze | The Coromandel

Finding The Perfect Stargazing Location

Karangahake Gorge: A Stargazing Haven

Karangahake Gorge in The Coromandel offers stunning scenic beauty, rich history, and exceptional night sky viewing. Nestled between lush forests and dramatic cliffs, the Gorge provides a perfect dark sky environment, free from urban light pollution.

Visitors can marvel at celestial wonders, from the Milky Way to distant galaxies, making it a prime stargazing spot. The combination of Karangahake Gorge’s daytime landscapes and mesmerizing night skies creates a unique and memorable experience, blending natural beauty with the vastness of the universe.

The Pinnacles: Stargazing at its Peak

Perched as the highest point in The Coromandel Ranges, east of Thames, The Pinnacles offers a prime stargazing location. For avid skywatchers, an overnight stay in the nearby Department of Conservation (DOC) hut provides an unparalleled opportunity to immerse oneself in celestial wonders.

Renowned as one of New Zealand’s most popular one-day hikes, the journey to the top promises an exhilarating adventure through diverse terrain and stunning vistas. With bookings required, visitors can enjoy an evening under a vast canopy of stars, where the Milky Way stretches like a luminous blanket across the sky. Far from city lights, the brilliance of countless galaxies, distant planets, and passing satellites creates an awe-inspiring spectacle.

Hot Water Beach: Stargazing in Hot Water

Hot Water Beach, a hidden gem along The Coromandel coastline, offers a unique stargazing experience alongside its renowned natural hot springs. Within the narrow window of two hours before or after low tide, visitors create personal spa pools in the warm sands. Reclining in their hot pools, they enjoy a soothing embrace under the canopy of stars.

On evenings when the tide is just right and the full moon casts its glow, the beach comes alive with night bathers basking in the thermal waters. In winter, Hot Water Beach is ideal for witnessing Matariki rising—a star cluster celebrated by Māori as the New Year. With thermal wonders and celestial beauty, Hot Water Beach offers an unforgettable stargazing experience.

Kūaotunu, Ōpito Bay & Ōtama: Our Dark Sky Community

The night skies north of Whitianga are exceptionally dark, with Kūaotunu, Ōpito Bay, Ōtama, and Ring’s Beach working towards becoming an official Dark Sky Community. This area has a unique connection to both Māori and European history, as it was the landing point for early Māori navigators and the site of Cook’s observation of the Transit of Mercury.

For an evening's entertainment, simply pull up a chair, stretch out on the grass, or lay back in the sand. Almost anywhere is good for enjoying the starry spectacle.

Discover more stargazing experiences or download our stargazing trail map.