# Upper Air Observatory, New Zealand: what it is and when to go > Upper Air Observatory is an observatory in New Zealand (Waitakere City). Interests: Stargazing. The best time to visit is May to September. In December there are 14 h 31 of daylight, and in June, 9 h 30. Here is what it is, where it lies, when to come, how to get there and what else is nearby to turn it into a trip. - Address: https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/nueva-zelanda/upper-air-observatory/ - Reviewed on: 2026-10-02 - Language: en ## In a nutshell - **What it is:** Observatory · Stargazing - **Where:** New Zealand - **You can go:** May to September. - **Nearest airport:** AKL Auckland, 28 km as the crow flies - **Run by:** MetService - **Coordinates:** -36.79439, 174.61915 ## What it is and where Upper Air Observatory is an observatory in New Zealand (Waitakere City). It is in [Waitakere City](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/nueva-zelanda/waitakere/), where this site lists 38 more places to see, 8.7 km from the centre. Its coordinates are -36.79439, 174.61915; the nearest main airport is Auckland International Airport (AKL, Auckland), 28 km as the crow flies. How to get around New Zealand (train, car, bus) is covered in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/nueva-zelanda/#moverse). - [Where it is](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=-36.794394%2C174.619153) - [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=-36.794394%2C174.619153) - **Run by:** MetService It is one of the [Stargazing](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/nueva-zelanda/estrellas/) places in New Zealand. In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) it is already on your trip map next to the places you save yourself, and it goes into a day's plan with one tap. ## When to go Months when you can visit Upper Air Observatory: **May to September**. | Mes | Época | Hours of daylight | | --- | --- | --- | | January | Better not | 14 h 15 | | February | Better not | 13 h 21 | | March | Better not | 12 h 17 | | April | Better not | 11 h 03 | | May | Possible | 10 h 02 | | June | Possible | 9 h 30 | | July | Possible | 9 h 43 | | August | Possible | 10 h 35 | | September | Possible | 11 h 47 | | October | Better not | 12 h 58 | | November | Better not | 14 h | | December | Better not | 14 h 31 | In December there are 14 h 31 of daylight, and in June, 9 h 30. Daylight hours are calculated from the site's latitude for the 15th of each month; when planning a full day on foot they matter as much as the weather. When to go to New Zealand in general, with its festivals and peak seasons, is in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/nueva-zelanda/#cuando-ir). ## Before you go to New Zealand To enter New Zealand there are 8 things to sort out before you leave, starting with “Car, ferry and huts, booked well in advance”: they are all, with their deadlines, in [the New Zealand checklist](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/nueva-zelanda/#antes-de-salir). Currency: New Zealand dollar (NZD); plugs: Type I · 230 V · 50 Hz (two flat pins in a V: adapter essential); emergencies: 111. In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) you tick off the checklist inside your trip, and each item reminds you when it is time to do it. ## What is nearby - [Tōtara Inlet](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/nueva-zelanda/totara-inlet/): Inlet of the Waitematā Harbour, New Zealand · 1.9 km - [Clarks Lane Footbridge](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/nueva-zelanda/clarks-lane-footbridge/): Footbridge in Hobsonville, Auckland, New Zealand · 2.5 km - [HMNZS Otago](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/nueva-zelanda/propeller-of-hmnzs-otago-f111/): 1958 Rothesay-class frigate · 2.9 km - [Westgate Pedestrian and Cycle Bridge](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/nueva-zelanda/westgate-pedestrian-bridge/): Bridge in Auckland, New Zealand · 3.1 km - [Mill House](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/nueva-zelanda/mill-house/): Historic house in Hobsonville, Auckland, New Zealand · 4.1 km Distances are as the crow flies. Everything else is in [the New Zealand guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/nueva-zelanda/). ## More in New Zealand: Stargazing - [Mount John University Observatory](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/nueva-zelanda/mount-john-observatory/): astronomical research observatory in New Zealand - [Stardome Observatory](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/nueva-zelanda/stardome-observatory/): astronomical observatory in New Zealand - [Space Place at Carter Observatory](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/nueva-zelanda/carter-observatory/): historic observatory in Wellington, New Zealand - [Ward Observatory](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/nueva-zelanda/ward-observatory/): observatory in Whanganui - [Beverly-Begg Observatory](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/nueva-zelanda/beverly-begg-observatory/): observatory in New Zealand - [Nankivell Observatory](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/nueva-zelanda/nankivell-observatory/): astronomical observatory in New Zealand Every New Zealand place under Stargazing, each with its season, is on [its page](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/nueva-zelanda/estrellas/). ## Frequently asked questions ### What is Upper Air Observatory? It is an observatory in New Zealand. ### When is the best time to visit Upper Air Observatory? May to September. In December there are 14 h 31 of daylight, and in June, 9 h 30. ### How do you get to Upper Air Observatory? The nearest main airport is Auckland International Airport (AKL), 28 km as the crow flies. From there, [directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=-36.794394%2C174.619153) opens the route on the map, and how to get around New Zealand is explained in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/nueva-zelanda/#moverse). ### How do I add it to my trip? With one tap. In Kokai it is already on the New Zealand map, next to the places you save yourself: add it to a day's plan, give it a time and, if you like, get a reminder when you pass nearby. ### What else is around here? Nearby you have [Tōtara Inlet](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/nueva-zelanda/totara-inlet/), [Clarks Lane Footbridge](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/nueva-zelanda/clarks-lane-footbridge/), [HMNZS Otago](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/nueva-zelanda/propeller-of-hmnzs-otago-f111/). The rest is in [the New Zealand guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/nueva-zelanda/). Data from [OpenStreetMap](https://www.openstreetmap.org/node/10555405168), licensed under the ODbL, and from [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/), CC0. Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in [credits](https://kokai.app/en/aviso/#creditos).