About Star Gazing Twizel

Twizel Stargazing (a product of Discovery Tours Ltd) is a Qualmark Endorsed Visitor Activity.

I started Star Gazing Tours as a natural extension to the guiding I have been doing around Aoraki Mount Cook National Park and the Twizel area since 2005. I have a science degree in Ecology (the interaction of living creatures and the physical environment) and have been enjoying sharing my knowledge with visitors over the last 6 years I have been guiding in the area. To be able to give visitors a greater understanding of the stunning scenery around us and to enhance their experience while they are in the area is something I truly enjoy.

I feel extremely lucky to  live in an area where there is so much natural beauty and soon my curiosity moved to the amazing night sky above. What I really enjoy is the fact that stargazing can add to our understanding of our own world and give an even greater sense of wonder of everything about us. During the day I guide tours where I explain the clues in the landscape which tell the story of how our world is formed and constantly changing and now at night I can share my fascination with the stars above and the creation of the universe as we know it. To be able to gaze up at the night sky and see so many features without the need for telescopes is something I want to share with those who are not so fortunate to experience it as often as I can. Most people are lucky to see dark night skies like we experience in Twizel perhaps only once in their lifetime, and perhaps only a handful of times if they are really fortunate.

I look forward to sharing our night sky with you.

Elayne Nilson-Reid