Stars for Change
Once a month, under the magical skies of Lake Tekapo, we invite you to join Stars for Change — a special stargazing tour where your wonder becomes a force for good.
Held on the second Saturday of every month, this 90-minute tour follows the same format as our signature Chameleon Stargazing experience — blending storytelling, astronomy, and a night sky portrait — but with a powerful twist: 100% of profits are donated to a different nonprofit organisation each month.
Thanks to your generosity, we have raised a total of
$6540!
As of June 2025
Join us for:
- A guided tour of the southern sky in one of the darkest places on Earth
- 2 powerful telescopes to observe deep sky objects
- A digital portrait under the stars to take home
- A cozy outdoor setting and a free hot drink
- The chance to connect with others under the stars — and make a meaningful impact on Earth
- A fire bowl and marshmallows
eVscope 2 and 9.25” Telescope
Exclusive usage of our powerful smart telescope eVscope 2. It delivers a stunning visual experience and an incredible amount of details, definition and zoom ability.
Our 9.25” optical telescope zooms in on the details of the night sky – and is the same size as the telescope Stephen Hawking had at his home!
Astronomy guide
Our professional astronomy guide will show you how to navigate and track time with the stars. The guide will show you constellations and share the stories behind them.
They will operate the telescopes and show you the most beautiful deep sky objects the night sky has to offer.
Photography
Each booking will receive a portrait photo taken professionally by the guides beneath the beautiful starry sky.
Each photo will be edited and emailed to you after your tour.
Outdoor furniture and blankets
Outdoor furniture, pillows, mattresses and blankets will be set up for you to enjoy the night sky comfortably.
Hot chocolate and souvenir cups
Lake Tekapo has low temperatures at night, hot chocolate can keep you warm during the 90 minutes tour.
Fire bowl and marshmallows
At the end of the tour, we will light the fire bowl, you can roast marshmallows with your friends and family.
Donation Calendar
MAY 2025 – ADL Timaru (Tekapo Wellness Festival)
ADL is a not-for-profit NGO in the lower South Island known for its strong support of young people and their whānau on mental health.
JUNE 2025 – Te Manahuna Aoraki Project
Te Manahuna Aoraki Project is a charitable company launched in 2018 to protect and revitalise the upper Mackenzie Basin and Aoraki Mount Cook National Park.
JULY 2025 – Tekapo Lions Club
The Lake Tekapo Lions Club serves the small community around the beautiful alpine Lake Tekapo in the Mackenzie Country of Aotearoa, New Zealand.
AUGUST 2025 – NZ Red Cross
The mission of New Zealand Red Cross is to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilising the power of humanity and enhancing community resilience.
SEPTEMBER 2025 – DarkSky International
DarkSky International restores the nighttime environment and protects communities from the harmful effects of light pollution through outreach, advocacy, and conservation.
OCTOBER 2025 – Lake Tekapo Bright Stars
The Lake Tekapo Bright Stars Community Trust was set up to oversee the development and operation of facilities for the care and education of children and young people in the Lake Tekapo district.
NOVEMBER 2025 – Hospice South Canterbury
Hospice South Canterbury provides specialised palliative care to palliative patients within South Canterbury.
DECEMBER 2025 – Kākāpō Recovery
Kākāpō Recovery combines the efforts of iwi, rangers, volunteers, scientists and supporters to protect the critically endangered kākāpō.
JANUARY 2026 – Lake Tekapo School
Lake Tekapo School helps all of their learners achieve and succeed within a strong local curriculum – academically, culturally, socially and physically.
FEBRUARY 2026 – Lake Tekapo Fire Brigade
This is a volunteer station. All members of the brigade dedicate their own time in order to serve this community.
MARCH 2026 – Burnett Foundation
Burnett Foundation Aotearoa (formerly New Zealand AIDS Foundation & Ending HIV NZ) has been at the forefront of the community response to HIV in Aotearoa.
APRIL 2026 – Tekapo Trails
Their goal is to share trail info with locals and visitors, and build community bonds through creating outdoor recreation chances with trails.
Our Price
$99 per person
$69 per person for Children (5-16 years old)
refund policy
Our tour is weather dependent, any refund will be at Chameleon Stargazing’s discretion.
Where is our stargazing site?
Our stargazing location is a 4-minute drive or 25-minute walking from Lake Tekapo. We don’t provide transportation service, you will need to come to our site by your car or on foot.
It is a perfect spot for stargazing where zero light pollution can be found. With our comfortable outdoor furniture and system heating, you will be able to immerse yourself in the astronomy journey.
Why choose us?
A more personal and intimate stargazing experience
All of our astronomy guides have several years of stargazing guiding experience. They are passionate about sharing their knowledge with you.
Our shared tour capacity is 14 pax, you won’t be pressured to ask questions or worry about consuming too much time looking through the telescope.
Our Celestron CPC Deluxe 9.25-inch telescope and digital telescope eVscope provide stunning views. They are the favourites scientific tools used by experienced amateur astronomers.
We provide outdoor seats, blankets for all the guest, and hot chocolate to keep you warm. At the end of the tour, we sit around the fire to share more stories about stars.
We strive for transparent communication regarding the weather conditions prior to the tour.