Stories — AuthenticAs - Unique Queenstown Adventures

Whiro o Pipiri – Te Tau Hou

This morning, before dawn, I stood on the slopes of Pā Hā Raki in the biting wind. Awaiting the rise of Whiro, alongside Pipiri, marking Takurua and Te Tau Hou – the start of the new lunar year.

What began as study has become a near-daily practice. A way of observing and connecting with the environment through Te Rā, Te Marama, Kā Whetū & Te Taiao - winds, clouds, temperature, birds, animals, plants and people

I’m still learning, it will never end. What I’ve discovered is a way of connecting that surpass anything I ever imagined.

Astro, LifestyleSimon WilliamsMay 27, 2025Comment

What It Means to Be a Qualmark Silver Business

AuthenticAs is now a Qualmark Silver accredited business. Learn what this award means and how it reflects our personal, safety-focused, and sustainable approach to guiding tours in Queenstown, New Zealand.

Astro, AuthenticAs Queenstown, Lifestyle, Travel Photography ToursSimon WilliamsMay 26, 2025Comment

Fall Under Autumn’s Spell

Discover the magic of Queenstown and Arrowtown this autumn with AuthenticAs private guided tours and professional family photography. Experience the golden landscapes, rainbows, and warm southern hospitality while creating unforgettable memories.

Romantic Anniversary Adventures

Pavneet & Simran’s anniversary adventure took them from the tranquil shores of Lake Wakatipu to the breathtaking peaks of Mount Earnslaw. A journey of stunning landscapes, cultural connection & timeless photographs. Celebrate your special moments with AuthenticAs.

A Last Minute Adventure

Kyle & Libby, newlyweds from the USA, turned a rainy setback into an unforgettable Queenstown adventure!

AuthenticAs Queenstown, Lifestyle, Travel Photography ToursSimon WilliamsNovember 22, 2024Comment

Kōaka - Stargazing in Spring

Kōaka (Spring) has well and truly sprung. Without a doubt this is one of the most beautiful times of the astronomical year.

Not Your Average Adventure

Syd's AuthenticAs Adventure in Queenstown was nothing short of magical. From snow-covered landscapes to star-filled skies, this personalized journey combined breathtaking beauty with professional photography, capturing memories that will last a lifetime.

Astro, AuthenticAs Queenstown, Landscape Photography, LifestyleSimon WilliamsAugust 29, 2024Comment

Stargazing Winter 2024

Winter nights in the Southern Lakes have been filled with extraordinary stargazing moments. Our journey through the cosmos, using cutting-edge technology and traditional methods, has made this season unforgettable.

From Starry Nights to Autumnal Bliss

Join us on a journey with Jem, a nurse who found solace and connection in our Starry Nights Adventure back in Winter 2022. Her experience led to life-changing decisions and a move to Queenstown, where she continues to explore the beauty of autumn bliss with her partner.

AuthenticAs Queenstown: Love & Adventure Unite

Journey with us through Queenstown, New Zealand, where love and adventure converge in a tale as unique as yours. Meet Ian and Selena, a couple seeking something extraordinary for their pre-wedding shoot, and if we could include Ian’s parents Mercy & Noel, that would be the icing on the cake.

Here at AuthenticAs we pride ourselves on offering something different, not a run of the mill experience. Instead we can craft our packages individually for you whilst you visit the truly beautiful Southern Lakes district of Aotearoa / New Zealand.

Lifestyle, Portraits, AuthenticAs QueenstownSimon WilliamsFebruary 8, 2024Comment

You never know until you get there

Explore Punamāhaka, (Moke Lake), a stunning lake surrounded by towering peaks, an absolute gem in the Southern Lakes Crown, day or night.

Introducing our new Unistellar eVscope

We're thrilled about using the 8" Dobsonian telescope for our Starry Night Adventures, but its size limits our mobility. To enhance the experience, we introduced the Unistellar eVscope. This camera-like telescope collects photons with a sensor and generates real-time images on our iPad. It's portable, sets up quickly, and tracks celestial objects as Earth moves. The eVscope reveals stunning details of galaxies and cosmic phenomena that are invisible to the naked eye. We can now take our guests on Starry Night walks, capturing memories and offering an immersive experience. The eVscope excels even during bright moonlit nights, transforming our adventures.

A Little Bit Extra

The Little Bit Extra option allows you to add extra time to your Starry Nights tour, which is customized to your preference. For example, if you're interested in astrophotography, you can use the extra time to learn about and practice this skill. Alternatively, if you’re looking for an even more personalized experience, you can use the extra time to capture specific photographs or enjoy more stargazing. Ultimately, the Little Bit Extra option allows for a more tailored and personalized experience for you.

Summer Stargazing

Forget the misconceptions that stargazing in summer isn't possible. Not only is the Summer Southern Night Sky outstandingly beautiful, you can also see the Aurora Australis if you're lucky.

Simon, the Astro Guide at AuthenticAs gives you a run down on what to expect on one of their Starry Nights Adventures during the warmer months

A Total Lunar Eclipse

A Total Lunar Eclipse happens when our planet Earth sits directly between the Sun and the Moon and as such the light from the Sun which usually reflects off the Moon is dimmed. The Moon itself turns a beautiful deep red colour creating absolute magic all across the heavens. As so often happens in modern life, our focus is often on the detail, not the whole picture. Read about Simon’s night time adventure under the Total Lunar Eclipse as he looks upon the whole sky, not just a close up of the Moon itself, and what an incredible show it was.

Day into Night, and the Magical Bit Between

It’s time for one of those stories again. What we do, and the way in which we do it, is intentional. We set out to help people design and immerse themselves in an unforgettable experience here in the Southern Lakes. As we slow down and discover, the moments will be captured in breathtaking photographs.

An unexpected Auroral treat

So many people ask us if we’ll be able to see Tahu-nui-a-raki (The Southern Lights) when they are inquiring about our AuthenticAs Starry Nights Tours. Unfortunately, this isn’t the easiest of phenomena to predict, especially a few months in advance. On Friday night, Jakob & Taryn were treated to a spectacular show, that literally came out of nowhere.

AuthenticAs Family Time

Wai Tāhuna (Queenstown) is often thought of as a high adrenaline, bungy bouncing, jet boat spinning, ski adventuring and snow boarders paradise. This is true, but then what we would like to do is offer up a different side, one that’s not always advertised so boldly- Authentic As - breathtaking photography & guided 4WD tours.

Without a doubt, this beautiful part of the world that we like to call home, is the absolute perfect place to spend some time with your family and connect, to each other and to much more.

Lifestyle, Travel Photography ToursSimon WilliamsSeptember 28, 2022familyy, whānau, Queenstown NZ, Connect to nature, Family TripsComment

30th Birthday Trip With The Girls

People come to Wai Tāhuna (Queenstown) for so many different reasons. One of them, is to celebrate a birthday with their friends. Our amazing little town has so much to offer, it’s perfect, as this group of girls found out as they headed here to celebrate Ash’s 30th. An AuthenticAs Starry Night Adventure proved to be the perfect addition to their packed itiinary.

Solo Traveller - Nick

We love having solo travellers come on our adventures, it allows us to deliver a truly tailored experience so that our manuhiri (visitor) gets exactly what they are looking for. Read about our night under the Stars with Nick, an exceptionally inspiring young man from Melbourne, here in Tāhuna (Queenstown) for a week of snowboarding and adventure seeking.

Fully Booked? More than 4 for a Starry Night Adventure? Booking for tonight?