Aoraki Mackenzie Dark Sky Reserve stargazing in December 2026
Galactic core overhead in the southern winter. Tours from Tekapo.
Tue 1 Dec to Thu 31 Dec 2026
Best night: Sat 5 December 2026
Dark from 23:26 to 03:30 · 4.2 h without the moon · Milky Way core: below horizon
| Night of | Moon | Dark hours | Moon-free | Milky Way core | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue 1 Dec | 49% | 4.3 | 3.0 | below horizon | 79 |
| Wed 2 Dec | 38% | 4.3 | 3.2 | below horizon | 84 |
| Thu 3 Dec | 28% | 4.2 | 3.5 | below horizon | 88 |
| Fri 4 Dec | 19% | 4.2 | 3.8 | below horizon | 91 |
| Sat 5 Dec | 11% | 4.2 | 4.2 | below horizon | 92 |
| Sun 6 Dec | 6% | 4.2 | 4.2 | below horizon | 92 |
| Mon 7 Dec | 2% | 4.0 | 4.0 | below horizon | 92 |
| Tue 8 Dec | 0% | 4.0 | 4.0 | below horizon | 92 |
| Wed 9 Dec | 0% | 4.0 | 4.0 | below horizon | 92 |
| Thu 10 Dec | 2% | 4.0 | 4.0 | below horizon | 92 |
| Fri 11 Dec | 6% | 4.0 | 4.0 | below horizon | 92 |
| Sat 12 Dec | 11% | 3.8 | 3.5 | below horizon | 91 |
| Sun 13 Dec | 17% | 3.8 | 3.0 | below horizon | 88 |
| Mon 14 Dec | 25% | 3.8 | 2.7 | below horizon | 85 |
| Tue 15 Dec | 34% | 3.8 | 2.3 | below horizon | 80 |
| Wed 16 Dec | 44% | 3.8 | 2.2 | below horizon | 75 |
| Thu 17 Dec | 54% | 3.8 | 1.8 | below horizon | 67 |
| Fri 18 Dec | 64% | 3.8 | 1.5 | below horizon | 58 |
| Sat 19 Dec | 74% | 3.8 | 1.0 | below horizon | 45 |
| Sun 20 Dec | 83% | 3.8 | 0.7 | below horizon | 33 |
| Mon 21 Dec | 91% | 3.8 | 0.0 | below horizon | 14 |
| Tue 22 Dec | 96% | 3.8 | 0.0 | below horizon | 9 |
| Wed 23 Dec | 99% | 3.8 | 0.0 | below horizon | 7 |
| Thu 24 Dec | 100% | 3.8 | 0.0 | below horizon | 7 |
| Fri 25 Dec | 97% | 3.8 | 0.0 | below horizon | 9 |
| Sat 26 Dec | 92% | 3.8 | 0.0 | below horizon | 13 |
| Sun 27 Dec | 85% | 3.8 | 0.0 | below horizon | 19 |
| Mon 28 Dec | 76% | 3.8 | 0.5 | below horizon | 35 |
| Tue 29 Dec | 65% | 3.8 | 0.8 | below horizon | 48 |
| Wed 30 Dec | 55% | 3.8 | 1.2 | below horizon | 59 |
| Thu 31 Dec | 44% | 3.8 | 1.5 | below horizon | 69 |
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Questions
What is the best night for stargazing at Aoraki Mackenzie Dark Sky Reserve in December 2026?
The best nights are Sat 5 Dec, Sun 6 Dec, Mon 7 Dec, Tue 8 Dec, Wed 9 Dec, when the sky is fully dark and the moon is down for most of the night.
Can you see the Milky Way core at Aoraki Mackenzie Dark Sky Reserve in December?
Not really: in December the galactic centre is below the horizon or only up in twilight or moonlight.
Aoraki Mackenzie Dark Sky Reserve stargazing by month
Weather is not included. Times are local (Pacific/Auckland).