NZ advertising astronomy.

[Terry B]

This advertorial turned up on my desktop on the SMH website.
http://www.traveller.com.au/brand-discover/shorticles/tourism_new_zealand/index.html?section=Open-a-window-to-the-universe-at-Canterbury%E2%80%99s-Dark-Sky-Reserve-1

Interesting that at least someone thought that dark skies might sell. To be encouraged.

[ZeroID]

We spent a couple of nights down there last year, it is quite stunning, both by day and by night. A lot of tourists do go through there. The township, Tekapo is geared to handle busloads of Asian groups for dining and star tours up Mt John.

[NorthernLight]

It is absolutely stunning down there. I am trying to be there at least once a year. My company operates some plant in the area and I am always hoping for a project that requires me to be there for a year or at least 6 months so I have time to do some serious imaging:)

I just hope they`d build a bridge to the South Island soon. The car ferry is expensive and can be unreliable. Air travel is really not an option for my gear - oh well, a private jet might do :)

[ZeroID]

Bridge to the Sth Island !! ?? Yeah Right ! Too deep, too far and way too Tempestuous seas. Will never happen. The reason the car ferry is unreliable ( mostly) is the wild weather they get down there across the Cook Strait. It bears the brunt of the opposing tides of Pacific and the Tasman and cops all the cold southerly winds that rip up the west coast and tears the place apart. They don't call it Windy Wellington for nothing !
A 'gentle breeze' down there is about 30 knots ! On the rare days it doesn't blow Wellingtonians think summer has arrived, any time of the year. ;)

[Eratosthenes]

This isnt a "Auckland vs Wellington" thing is it?;)

[Wavytone]

The resort at Mt Cook runs observing sessions when it's clear, they have a 30cm Newtonian. When it's clear it is phenomenal - first time I've seen the zodiacal light - and photographed it with a compact camera.

[gregbradley]

I imagine imaging from high up in Mt Cook could be spectacular.

Greg.

[ZeroID]

Nah ! Well not too much anyway :D

Bridging the Cook Strait would be pretty similar to putting a bridge across to Tasmania. ( Why haven't you guys done that btw ? :question: )

[Wavytone]

Observing site at Mt Cook is the local airstrip - it isn't high - maybes few hundred m at most above sea level. But it is awesomely dark.

[N1]

I tend to stay further south and to the east of Lake Pukaki. The horizon is lower there, making the Veil (for example) observable.