Space Place at Carter Observatory is an observatory, science museum and planetarium that is located in the Wellington Botanic Garden near the Kelburn terminus of the Wellington cable car.
The observatory was opened in 1941 primarily as a base for astronomical research, although nowadays it is considerably more accessible to the public and includes a planetarium and science museum.
The planetarium features a varied programme of shows including some designed specifically for children, although the live presentation of the southern sky over New Zealand can be interesting if you’re from the northern hemisphere and not familiar with the southern night sky.
Like any science museum, Space Place has interactive galleries including displays about black holes and the Apollo missions of the 1960s. It is also fascinating to visit the Matariki theatre where you can learn about Māori astronomy and how Māori navigated the Pacific Ocean using the stars.
If you visit the Carter Observatory on a clear night you are able to look through the giant Thomas Cooke telescope.
