Central Otago’s extraordinary skies take centre stage on Saturday 4 July, when the Winterstellar Charitable Trust brings a full day of activities to Central Stories Museum and Gallery, celebrating Matariki and the unique night skies of our region.
The afternoon session (12:00–4:00 pm) is free and open to everyone. There will be hands-on activities for children, making it a great outing for the whole whānau. Explore the first look at new works from the upcoming Winterstellar 2026 exhibition, featuring stunning astrophotography from internationally award-winning artists Kavan Chay, Tom Rae and Richard Zheng. The Central Cinema will be screening Winterstellar night sky short films, including rangi takō | clear skies, plus exclusive new footage. There will also be a Dark Sky Reserve information desk and a demonstration of lighting options that protect night sky quality — with expert lighting engineers on hand to answer your questions.
The evening session (4:30–7:30 pm) marks the official launch of the Central Otago International Dark Sky Reserve Project. Hear from Wairarapa Dark Sky Reserve coordinator Charlotte Harding, the Island Stars dark sky team from Green Island, Taiwan, and Professor Brian Boyle on the remarkable qualities of the Otago night sky. Weather permitting, the evening concludes with guided stargazing and an astrophotography workshop in Pioneer Park.
Evening attendance is free but booking is required. Reserve your place at humanitix.com.
A Winterstellar Charitable Trust event. Venue: Central Stories Museum and Gallery, Alexandra.
