Heritage Stargazing

Additional Wednesday night sessions (10 & 17 July 2025) have been added as part of KidsFest. These can be booked here. 

Experience stargazing from the restored Observatory Tower (1896) at Te Matatiki Toi Ora The Arts Centre.

View the Southern Sky through the Victorian-era Townsend Teece Telescope, under the guidance of Townsend astronomers from the University of Canterbury. 

Join a tour of a heritage observatory

Te Matatiki Toi Ora The Arts Centre and the University of Canterbury welcome you and your whānau to join a short stargazing experience in the heart of the city.

The Townsend Teece Telescope (1864) was donated by English settler James Townsend to Canterbury College (now the university) in 1891.

The College received a £420 donation from The Astromonical Society of Christchurch, alongside funds originally earmarked for a medical school to build the Observatory Tower, completed in 1896.

After the University of Canterbury had moved to Ilam, and the site became The Arts Centre, the university continued to operate the observatory with regular Friday night public viewings.

Then came the February 2011 earthquake. The tower collapsed, and the telescope was damaged. Now both have been meticulously restored.

Become part of the long history of astronomy at The Arts Centre

• Every Friday night during winter (weather dependent*).
• Bookings essential: $10 adults / $5 children (5-17 years) 
• Tours last 30 minutes, between 7.30-9.30pm. 
• You must be able to climb 75 steep stairs and be comfortable in confined spaces. There is no lift available as this is a heritage building. 
• Please wear sensible shoes and a warm coat. 

These sessions are designed for families, couples and individuals. If you have a larger organised group of adults, youth or children, please enquire about a special group booking. Email us now

*Note that if the weather is poor (cloudy, wet or windy), your session may be cancelled by 5pm. You will be notified by email and/or text, and receive a refund. The observatory dome cannot be opened if it is wet or windy as the telescope is a valuable antique; therefore the observatory dome may be closed at short notice during your session, but the astronomers will still show you the telescope and dome, and lead a talk about astronomy in the exhibition room.  

Images: (1) Moon, (2) Jupiter and (3) Jewel Box star cluster. These images were taken with a camera attached to the Townsend Telescope by Townsend Observer Vincent Thompson.