Absolutely amazing experience! Simon created an unforgettable night of learning under the stars for my daughter and I!

There are only a very handful number of times in life when you feel deep appreciation for the life you’re living, and to be fortunate enough to witness something so surreal and transcendent ! We felt that way on a cold Summer night on January 3, when Simon dazzled us with his Starry Nights experience. Simon is a walking almanac on all things celestial, and he was able to articulate Astronomy to my 11 year old as well as he could to us. He kept us warm with his Parkas and hot chocolate ! The fantastic pictures he took of us were an unexpected icing on the cake!

Amazing stories and good communication! We had a interesting night looking at the stars. Good explanation and well planned.

This experience was incredible! Simon was so knowledgable and passionate. He’s also very talented with astrophotography. We now have wonderful beautiful portraits under the New Zealand night sky and photos of some of the stars and clusters we saw. Would absolutely recommend and do again!

Very fast response, good information and straight forward to book. 5 stars service! Knowledgeable and friendly, we learned so much about stars, environment and maori culture. Outdoor safety was taken in consideration. Nice car, hot chocolate and cookies too! High quality photography. Would highly recommend and do it again. Totally worthy! Can’t wait to be back and do other tours w Authentic as.

It was literally THE BEST! Simon was such an expert on the night sky. He had so much information to share but did it in a way that was not overwhelming or above your head. Through the iPad hooked up to the telescope, we saw many nebulae, stars, and nearby galaxies. The photos of my partner and me under the stars were just the icing on the cake! A highlight of our year, thanks, Simon and Emma!

My husband found AuthenticAs Star Gazing while we were in Queenstown. We contacted Simon and he picked us up from our hotel that night at 9:30 p.m. We drove to Coronet Peak. It was a fairly clear night but with a full moon. It was an incredible experience with Simon pointing out the stars in the sky and providing warm down parkas and binoculars. He also talked about the Maori culture. We were emailed several photos that are truly amazing. We highly recommend this experience. Thanks Simon!

Simon provided not only scientific knowledge but also cultural knowledge on how the universe was created and how the Maori's used the stars. Supplied hot chocolate and home made cakes to keep me warm. Took shots of the night sky to help share and remember the experience. Highly recommended Simon's tours whether star gazing or one of his others. Well worth it. Thank you Simon. Syd

Amazing experience and customized for our family. Simon was so accommodating and made it real special for us. Don’t let the price dissuade you as it’s totally worth it. And the pictures taken after were superb. I would do it again and highly recommend it for anyone visiting NZ. The telescopes and his knowledge make for an unreal experience.

What an experience! Our family opted for the stargazing photo tour with "a little extra.” Simon delivered an experience we will remember for a lifetime. Simon's attention to detail and deep knowledge of astronomy and photography made the experience memorable. If you decide to go stargazing with Simon, make sure you opt for “A Little Extra!” The little extra optional upgrade made a world of difference in our experience. To say we are happy with our choice to utilize AuthenticAs would be an understatement. Thanks AuthenticAs!!!

Worth every cent and more. Simon’s dedication to ensuring it was a comfortable evening in the elements was fantastic and his knowledge of the night sky was second to none. His ability to combine his astrophysicist knowledge with traditional Māori learnings was fascinating. Don’t hesitate. Book this trip, it was amazing. You won’t regret it.

Simon was the best! This experience exceeded our expectations. First, he was so proactive with looking at the weather patterns and worked with us to ensure we would get the best experience while we were there - and indeed we did. Not only did it work out to have the clear skies but we also left with strong knowledge of our solar system and all that lives within it. The guide shared extensive knowledge of the indigenous people of this land, which made the experience even more special. The culture, the science, and the attention to details to ensure we had the best experience made this a highlight of our trip. Our kids 21 and 19 also loved it. Oh, and did I mention how amazing the photos are? We loved it all! Thank you, Simon.

We went out for a night of stargazing and astrophotography with Simon. It was a brilliant night. We were lucky with the weather and had a clear, cloudless sky. Simon taught us a lot about the stars and solar system and how indigenous cultures in the region advance our ideas, and how to find what I needed to improve my astrophotography. He made it easy and fun, and the images he took of us are gorgeous. Also, he provides excellent hot chocolate and an additional warm coat for when the temperature drops. I couldn’t recommend this enough. It was fun and informative.

Who would have thought that a Solo Star gazing tour would have a huge impact in my life. 😌 2 1/2 years ago I decided to do a solo trip to the South Island as part of my Healing Journey and Grief Therapy. I was blessed to meet a couple who made me inspired, amazed and humbled. I met Simon and Emma . ♥️ Simon didn’t just talk about the stars,the milky way ,the galaxy. He made me understand and love it so much that i look at the stars and night sky differently now. Its his knowledge,passion ,heart ,kindness and sincerity that made it an “experience” instead of merely a tour. I still remember the feeling of seeing The Milky Way for the first time after my eyes have adjusted to the darkness in 12 Mile Delta. I still remember how i was amazed by the respect and love Simon showed when he asked permission in front of that lake and it felt like nature answered. I treasured Every moment of that trip . “Let’s find Hope in Sparkles” - when Emma mentioned this during our conversation in instagram , i knew in my heart that i’ll be meeting someone who is heaven sent to be part of my Healing Journey. I wanted to do a Normal Review but it wouldn’t feel sincere if i don’t share the main reason why i did the Stargazing trip in the first place. If you love the stars, the galaxy,the milky way ,nature or just wanna learn more and experience its magic then you have the best couple to do the trip with. If you were like me who just wanted to feel a loved ones hug by looking at the stars and the night sky .Believing they are up there looking after us … give this trip a go. 😌 I hope you will find Hope in Sparkles ,just like i did. ✨ Thank you Simon and Emma. 🥹 Gratitude is an Understatement. ✨♥️ Much Love always, Jemjem

It exceeded expectations by miles, we were so impressed, even my dad and brother who weren’t so interested before we left were completely absorbed in the experience before we left. It was the highlight of our Queenstown trip. Simon really made it interesting blending culture and science. Can’t wait to do other experiences like this is the future.