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!

After an unexpected free day opened up during our vacation, we wanted someone to guide us around the Queenstown area and show us the region’s hidden gems—places less accessible and often overlooked by larger tours. Simon was incredibly responsive, creating a custom itinerary for us on very short notice. The next day, we found ourselves in his 4x4, surrounded by Queenstown’s breathtaking scenery, from remote backcountry mountains to lush rainforests. Simon not only guided us but also took stunning photos of both us and the scenery, allowing us to fully immerse ourselves in the experience without worrying about capturing the memories. Between stops, Simon shared his deep knowledge of Maori culture, providing fascinating backstory and helping us appreciate the Maori people’s connection to the beautiful landscapes we were exploring. To top it all off, his photo turnaround was impressively quick. He shared previews the very next day, and we received the full album within a week. Simon exceeded all expectations—his expertise, friendliness, and attention to detail made this one of the most memorable experiences of our trip!

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

Simon's knowledge of the area , history and culture was amazing and interesting and he knew great spots for photos we were able to visit plenty. Simon was in contact regularly leading up during to weather conditions as he want to ensure the experience was not hampered by conditions. The photos and conversations were great.

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.

Half a year of calling ourselves Queenstown Locals yet we never ran out of new places to visit and explore. Hubby knows how much i love capturing moments and he’s been slowly learning to tolerate my demands 😂. We were fortunate enough to experience an Autumnal Bliss Photoshoot with a 3 hour adventure with our friends . Learning and discovering more of our beautiful new Home. Half a year of living here and still getting awestruck with the beauty of Queenstown through the stories,the guidance , the viewing spots we did not know existed and the best company ! Thank you so much (again and again ) @authenticas ✨!! We don’t just have photographs , we have captured moments we could revisit over and over again. Hubby and I will treasure this forever. 🥹☺️