Sold Out!!! Our 2024/25 Night Sky Tour Season (Sept – June) Is Now Bookable
Adult: $40.00
Concession: $30.00
Child (Ages 5 to 17): $25.00
Tours Start: 7:30 pm
Duration: 1½ to 2 hours
Brace yourself for a cosmic adventure as we unveil the captivating mysteries of the winter sky. As the temperatures drop and the stars shine brightly overhead, our team of passionate volunteers will guide you on an awe-inspiring adventure through the celestial wonders that grace the winter sky. Leave behind the hustle and bustle of everyday life as we transport you to a realm of breathtaking beauty and cosmic revelations. Astronomers consider winter the best time for viewing the southern skies, as the cold weather provides clear conditions to observe the galactic centre passing overhead, revealing many deep-sky treasures that may not be visible in the summer.
Come and explore the breathtaking night sky with our impressive collection of telescopes. Our knowledgeable volunteers will guide you on a grand tour of the most captivating celestial wonders in the Southern Hemisphere, including nebulas, dying stars, enormous star clusters, and the Moon and planets when visible.
In the event of clouds or rain on the night of your tour, our dedicated volunteers at the Perth Observatory will provide an amazing guided tour of the facility and an astronomical presentation. Regardless of the weather, we always offer hot chocolate at the end of the night. So, put on your warmest coat, beanie, and boots, and join us on the hilltop for a unique experience. We’ll all gather in the foyer of the main building at the end of the night to enjoy hot chocolate and biscuits together.
2024 Schedule
| Tour Dates | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 01/06/2024 | 02/06/2024 | 07/06/2024 | 08/06/2024 |
| 09/06/2024 | 14/06/2024 ** | 15/06/2024 ** | 16/06/2024 ** |
| 28/06/2024 | 29/06/2024 | 30/06/2024 | 04/07/2024 |
| 05/07/2024 | 06/07/2024 | 07/07/2024 | 11/07/2024 |
| 12/07/2024 ** | 13/07/2024 ** | 14/07/2024 ** | 26/07/2024 |
| 27/07/2024 | 28/07/2024 | 02/08/2024 | 03/08/2024 |
| 04/08/2024 | 09/08/2024 ** | 10/08/2024 ** | 11/08/2024 ** |
| 23/08/2024 | 24/08/2024 | 25/08/2024 | 30/08/2024 |
| 31/08/2024 | |||
** – Moonlit Nights
Types of Tours
General Tour Info
Time
Aim to arrive 15 minutes early to minimise inconvenience, especially on the evening sessions.
Dress Appropriately
Our star viewing sessions are outdoor activities, in the bush and in the dark and can be cold.
Young Children
Children must be supervised by an adult at all times. Children under 5 are free, but it’s recommended that children be at least 8 years of age to attend telescope viewing events, as the ability to take instructions, understand the information given and patience for the duration of approximately 90 minutes viewings is necessary.
Smoking
Is totally prohibited in the Observatory grounds and buildings.
Litter
The Observatory is in a National Park and is part of the Department of Parks and Wildlife, which requires visitors to take their litter when they leave.
General Tour Info
Concession Ticket Definition
Concession* is defined as one of the following:
- Current and former defence and emergency personnel
- WA Seniors Card holders
- Seniors and Australian Health Care Card Holders who hold one of the following:
- Blue Government Card or White Senior Card
- Pension Card
- Repatriation Health Card (Gold)
- Health Care Card specifying reason as “age”
- Veterans Affairs Card
- For overseas seniors, Proof of Age Cards or Passport showing age as +65 years old
- Students
- Any Australian student card with a valid sticker or date – student must be studying in Australia
- WA Parks Foundation members
Who's a Concession
Wheelchairs Accessibility
Please note that step or platform ladders may be required to access the eyepieces of some of our telescopes. While we do offer a pantograph telescope for individuals in wheelchairs, please keep in mind that this telescope requires a range of head and upper body movement to use, and positioning the wheelchair with precision in the dark may be necessary.
If you or someone in your group requires the use of the pantograph telescope, please indicate this in the notes field when booking your tour, and we will ensure that it is prepared and available for use on the night.
Wheelchair Accessibility
If you plan on having dinner before your tour, there are several great dining options in the area. In Gooseberry Hill, Embers Restaurant offers a delightful experience, while Lesmurdie boasts the Village Pizza Kitchen and Buns & Co. For a wider selection of dining options, Kalamunda is the largest town in the Perth Hills and offers a diverse range of restaurants including:
- The Vault
- Kishi Bar
- Taco Maria
- Kandel Pan And Grill
- Kalamunda Tap House
- Kalamunda Hotel
- The Best Drop
Dinner Options
Book Now
To make a booking for your Winter Night Tour, simply enter the number of people attending and select the desired date from the booking calendar. Dates with green backgrounds indicate available spots, while red backgrounds denote fully booked tours and yellow highlights today’s date.
Once you have selected your desired tour date, click the “Book Now” button to proceed to the checkout section, where you can complete your payment. You will receive a confirmation email once your booking is complete, and on the night of the tour, our host will ask for the name under which the booking was made and mark you off on the booking sheet.
