Award-winning zipline and eco-tourism company, EcoZip Adventures, has officially launched Star Flight —a pioneering ziplining and stargazing experience set within the breathtaking Kaikōura Dark Sky Sanctuary.
In September 2024, Kaikōura became one of only 22 locations worldwide to receive the prestigious Dark Sky Sanctuary designation, awarded exclusively to areas with exceptionally pristine night skies. Free from light pollution, the sanctuary offers visitors a mesmerising view of the cosmos, with countless stars, celestial wonders, and a remarkably vivid Milky Way on display. In collaboration with renowned New Zealand astro- and adventure-photographer Rachel Gillespie, EcoZip is offering guests an extraordinary evening adventure, soaring beneath a canopy of stars.
In complete darkness, participants will experience the exhilaration of gliding through the night sky on a series of impressive ziplines, ranging from 250 to 620 metres in length. EcoZip’s Co-founder and Managing Director, Gavin Oliver, describes the experience as both spellbinding and almost dreamlike, explaining: “Without the usual visual reference points of height and distance, dark sky ziplining is completely surreal, allowing you to focus entirely on the kaleidoscope of colour provided by the cosmos.” In addition to ziplining, guests will pause at specially selected points to allow Rachel to describe the night sky, pointing out constellations and planets, and bringing celestial marvels to life. She will also use her photographic skills to demonstrate how guests can capture a unique astral souvenir.
Partnering with Rachel Gillespie, Oliver adds, is “a huge privilege,” noting that “Rachel’s exceptional talent and ability to make the night sky accessible to all will undoubtedly electrify the experience for our guests.”
Depending on the time of year, visitors may witness distant galaxies, meteors streaking across the heavens, or even the ethereal glow of a passing comet.
Scheduled to coincide with the new moon, the optimal period for stargazing, Star Flight will take place one evening per month, from April to October, with a special June event planned to celebrate Matariki, the Māori New Year. Dates for 2025 are already available to book, with the 2026 season to be released soon. To maintain an intimate and immersive atmosphere, each 3.5-hour experience is limited to just eight guests and is expected to quickly sell-out.