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The MacKenzie Basin is one of the best places on the planet to stare at the sky, and that's not an exaggeration. Being inside the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve means the darkness here is properly protected. On a clear night the Milky Way is genuinely overwhelming. Travellers consistently say it shifts something in them.

The guides do a solid job of making it accessible, whether you know your constellations or couldn't name a single one. The telescopes bring planets and galaxies in close, and the blankets and seating mean you're not standing around getting cold. (Promo code RANKERS gets you 10% off, worth grabbing before you book.) Tours run around 90 minutes to two hours, which feels about right. Families, couples, solo travellers, keen photographers, all seem to come away happy.

My one bit of advice: check the forecast and plan around a clear night if you can. A cloudy sky is obviously going to limit things. Most reviewers who picked good conditions rate this as one of the more memorable things they did in the South Island, and I'd back that.