Where to Spot the Best Stars in Tasmania: A Guide to Stargazing

An expansive night sky and low light pollution make Tasmanian skies one of the best for stargazing. Enjoy the stretched-out Milky Way and a multitude of constellations through these star-spotting experiences. Bonus points if you catch a shooting star.

Marriott Skygazer Tour

Staying at The Tasman, A Luxury Collection Hotel, Hobart? Join landscape photographer and night-sky enthusiast Luke O’Brien for an evening of star chasing on the outskirts of Hobart. Throughout winter, O’Brien takes small groups on guided nighttime photography adventures. He chooses the destination based on the evening’s conditions, but all of them are off the beaten track. O’Brien’s appreciation of the colour, movement and drama that can reveal itself in the night sky is infectious, so expect to be inspired by his knowledge and practical photography tips. You’ll enjoy transfers to and from the location from Hobart, and a hot drink to keep you warm during the evening. You’ll also get a Waverly Mills merino wool scarf. To keep up the practice long after the night is over, you also get your own copy of the Aurora Chaser’s Handbook to take home.

Walk on kunanyi

Ascend an extra 700 meters on kunanyi/Mt Wellington to get a new perspective on Hobart’s night sky with Walk on kunanyi’s After Dark tours. These hands-on sessions are an informative and eye-opening opportunity to learn about the southern night sky, and some events include traditional palawa/Tasmanian Aboriginal cultural sharing and the opportunity to gaze through a telescope. Your guide will help you explore what’s in front of you – from the moon and our solar system to visible planets and beyond as you look further into the Milky Way and deep space. Not all the action is above you, though: owls, possums, pademelons, wallabies and bats are frequently seen during the tours. There’s plenty of tea, coffee, hot chocolate and treats to keep you toasty, but rug up to get the most out of this star-studded event.

Dark Sky Dinner + Star Gazing

Tasmania’s annual Beaker Street Festival merges the best of art and science, and it has curated a special evening to celebrate Tasmania’s skies and produce. The Dark Sky Dinner is an evening dedicated to celebrating astronomy, the cosmos, and some of the best Tasmanian food and wine under dark skies. The evening starts at the Mount Pleasant Radio Telescope Observatory with a tour of the control room, the observing sheds and the specialist equipment. Then it’s on to the multi-award-winning Frogmore Creek for a candle-lit dinner celebrating local produce and wines made on-site. The Australian Space Agency’s Dr Elyse Allender is your MC for the evening, and there are talks by three legends of Australian astronomy: British Australian astronomer Alan Duffy, astrophysicist Dr Kirsten Banks, and the first person qualified as an astronaut under the Australian flag, Katherine Bennell-Pegg. This unique evening is an interactive opportunity to connect, talk and learn. And there are telescopes on hand and guided stargazing thanks to the Astronomical Society of Tasmania.

See the night sky from Cradle Mountain

When the sun goes down, private vehicle access to Cradle Mountain and Dove Lake is restricted to just a handful of cars, making this picturesque location an ideal spot for mid-winter star-gazing. The classic Cradle Mountain and Dove Lake night-time shot features the twinkling Milky Way above, reflecting into the still waters below. We recommend bringing plenty of layers and a warming drink. If you want to capture the night sky on camera, bring a tripod. A torch will help if you’re looking to venture along the walking tracks to find the right vantage point.

It’s a great opportunity to base yourself a short drive away at Tiny Escapes, a handful of thoughtfully designed tiny homes scattered across 260 acres of temperate rainforest. Big windows, outdoor baths and private firepits draw you outdoors and your gaze upwards. Just a 20-minute drive from Cradle Mountain National Park, Tiny Escapes offers a luxurious, off-grid experience. There are views across the Black Buff Conservation Area by day and expansive night skies. Stargazing from just outside your accommodation is an unforgettable experience – particularly when it takes place from an outside bath.

Launceston Planetarium

A visit to Launceston’s Planetarium allows you to explore the solar system from cinema-style seating, so your plans can’t be ruined by bad weather. The eight-metre-diameter dome offers an immersive simulation of the live night sky, giving you front-row seats to stars visible to the unaided eye from anywhere in the world. This realistic simulation replicates the apparent motion of the stars as the Earth rotates. Each film is followed by a guided sky viewing, making it a must-visit for stargazers and astronomy lovers of all ages. The Planetarium hosts a huge range of events, including an extended season of the exhibition Dark Side of the Moon featuring an immersive full-dome extravaganza set to Pink Floyd’s album of the same name.

This article is produced by Broadsheet in partnership with Marriott Tasman.