Our Team
We’re a team from all over the world, speaking several languages, each with our own stories to tell, brought together by our love of sharing world class hospitality, cultural storytelling and astronomy experiences in the stunning alpine village of Lake Takapō (Tekapo).
We’re courageous, challengers of the status quo, quirky, curious, and playful. We tackle challenges head on, share successes, and nurture each other to be the best possible versions of ourselves.
We love the remoteness, being part of a community of likeminded people, and protecting the night sky. We like sharing our home with tens of thousands of visitors from around the world each year.
We’re astronomers, hosts, cooks, story tellers, high achievers, salespeople, custodians, customer carers, and administrators. We are makers of things and doers of stuff. We’re musicians, motorcyclists, skiers, snowboarders, scuba divers, artists, chefs, athletes, photographers, adventure seekers and much more. We have an active role in the community, with Iwi, the university, education, and other forms of outreach.
When we’re not at work we’re at one another’s homes, with our friends from around town, out taking photographs, swimming, skiing, hiking, flying gliders, cycling, going on 4WD or dirt bike adventures, camping or bunking down around the fire with wine in hand. When it’s time to get out of the village it’s a short trip to Twizel, Mount Cook, Wānaka, Queenstown, Dunedin, and Christchurch.
Put simply we take our mahi seriously but not ourselves. We’re passionate and proud of it.
If you’d like to join us in changing peoples’ lives through the enriching experiences we deliver every day, we’d love to hear from you.
Guiding Staff
We operate astronomy tours at two observatories in Takapō – The Summit Experience and The Crater Experience – using powerful telescopes and storytelling to connect manuhiri with the night sky.
You don’t need to be an astronomy expert to join our team. What matters most is a passion for people, confidence in public speaking, and a willingness to learn.
We also deliver the award-winning Dark Sky Experience – a unique indoor journey into Māori astronomy. Our guides are proud to share this kōrero and quickly become familiar with te reo Māori and the cultural significance of the stars.
Food & Beverage Staff
We run two iconic hospitality venues in Takapō:
Dark Sky Diner – A 55-seat lakefront restaurant and bar serving modern Kiwi classics. With stunning views of Lake Takapō and the Southern Alps, it's a popular spot for locals and visitors alike. Our open kitchen turns out high-quality dishes at pace, and our team thrives in a fun, fast-moving environment.
Astro Café – Sitting at the summit of Mount John, this scenic café is known for great coffee, fresh cabinet food, and some of the best views in the country.
If you're passionate about hospitality – whether it’s crafting great coffee, serving with a smile, or working behind the scenes in the kitchen – we’d love to hear from you. No experience? That’s okay. Bring the right attitude, and we’ll help you grow.