Sunshine Coast Stargazing has launched a small-group 90 minute stargazing experience that blends astronomy, astrophotography, storytelling and mindfulness beneath some of the darkest skies in Queensland.
Participants will be able to discover distant planets, star clusters and galaxies through high powered telescopes and a laser-guided night-sky tour.
The experience is available for $160 per person and includes tea, coffee, treats and a special take-home gift.
The Sunshine Coast Hinterland was recently confirmed as Queensland’s first Dark Sky Reserve and only the second in Australia, covering 870 square kilometres across the Blackall Range and making it one of the most accessible stargazing destinations in the country.
Under clear skies, up to 2,000 stars can be seen with the naked eye from the Hinterland, compared to fewer than 10 in city centres such as Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
The reserve covers the townships of Maleny, Mapleton, Montville, Witta, Flaxton, Kenilworth and Conondale, and sits just 40 minutes from the Sunshine Coast beaches.
The stargazing experience is also available as part of a Starstruck package at Narrows Escape Rainforest Retreat, which includes two nights accommodation for two, daily breakfast, sparkling wine, a cheese platter, a gourmet BBQ hamper and a gourmet picnic pack the following day. It is priced from $2,100 per couple. https://narrowsescape.com.au/
Other options include Night Sky Journeys with Mystic Mountain Tours running seasonally until October, and The Magical Dome at Petrichor Estate, a clear glamping dome with uninterrupted views of the night sky from a king-size bed, private bathroom, magnesium sunken spa and firepit.
For free stargazing, the Hinterland also offers a range of lookouts including Balmoral Ridge Lookout and Howells Knob Lookout, while Maleny and Mapleton Observatories hold regular public astronomy sessions throughout the year.
