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Astro Cafe
Mt John ObservatoryAbout
Astro Cafe, Mt John Observatory (drive along Godley Peaks Rd (off the highway, just south of Tekapo Village) until you come to the gate), [20]. 9am - 6pm (summer) or 10am to 5pm (winter). *** Described in Lonely Planet as "possibly the best place on the planet for a coffee". *** Stunning views, lovely walks, and delicious coffee and food! If you're lucky, you may catch an astronomer floating about to give you a short tour of the observatory, or perhaps show you a star (or the sun!) in the daytime through special telescopes. Drive time from Tekapo is only 15 minutes, or you can walk up, starting by Alpine Springs Hot Pools (walks take between 45 mins to 1.5 hours each way). This is definitely a spot not to be missed. Please note that the road is closed outside of cafe operating hours to protect the Observatory, so check the opening times first! Being up so high (1,000 metres above sea level) we occasionally need to close the road due to high winds or snow. Note, the narrow road cannot carry vehicles larger than 22-seater buses, and as the observatory is private-lease land, any commercial / tourist ventures must get permission from Earth & Sky before coming up.
