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Catch cosmic sights stress-free with the best night sky tours in Perth!
The City of Light—that’s what astronaut John Glen thought when he saw Perth twinkling from space. Honestly, you don’t have to orbit or leave Earth to see why.
For instance, we’ve thought of the same thing when we went on a city-wide stargazing trip for a week. The coast, the outback, the CBD—almost every spot we legged to had the Milky Way in all its shimmering, non-polluted glory.
That said, cosmic fails tend to await those who DIY their starcursions. Luckily, we know some top-tier night sky tour providers who have the gear, know-how, and patience to answer stuff like, ‘Is that the Orion’s Belt?’
Australian Pinnacle Tours
From australianpinnacletours
Address: Barrack Street Jetty
Contact Details: +61 8 6270 6060
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Sat – 7 am to 5 pm
- Sun – 7 am to 3 pm
Prices:
- Adult: $225
- Concession: $205
- Kid: $130
When a mate roped me into joining Australia Pinnacle’s Stargazing Tour, I asked what the big deal was. ‘Koalas, kangaroos, and stars,’ was his reply, and next thing I knew, I was chucking sunnies in my bag.
We kicked off from Perth in the arvo, around 2ish, and headed straight to Yanchep National Park first. That’s where the wildlife popped up.
The next stop was the Pinnacles Desert, which reminded me of Mad Max, minus the explosive cars and water-hoarding overlords. Golden hour made this location so magical, almost ‘moon-like’ if we’re taking appearance.
Of course, the stars grabbed the spotlight eventually—just imagine the Milky Way reigning over limestone rock formations. Light pollution was also non-existent, and the viewing deck there made the session a cruise.
Oh, and shout-out to Chris for being a passionate and informative guide. This legend ensured we hit the highlights at the right time, like visiting the wildlife park when it was uncrowded and reaching the coast just in time for the sunset!
Tips:
- Scan the QR codes in their brochures. Sometimes, they’ll lead you to discounts.
- The tour provider is in charge of your dinner, but don’t forget to bring snacks. It’s a long trip.
- Downloading a stargazing app will enhance your experience. SkyView and Night Sky are what we typically use.
- There’ll be lots of walking. Wear your comfiest kicks.
- No need to pack lamps or torches. They’ll be provided by the company.
Perth Observatory
From perthobservatory
Address: 337 Walnut Rd, Bickley
Contact Details: +61 8 9293 8255
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Fri – 10 am to 4:30 pm
- Sun – 1 pm to 4 pm
Prices:
- Adult: $50
- Concession: $40
- Kid: $30
Budget-friendly and right on Perth’s doorstep, the Night Sky Tours of Perth Observatory didn’t make us think twice. Case in point: we booked a mid-June trip, and it was quite literally stellar.
Sure, the nearby Perth Hills gave off a touch of light pollution, but it wasn’t enough to dim the Southern Hemisphere’s glow. Star clusters, dying stars, and nebulae were just a few of the cosmic views we copped, thanks to the observatory’s high-tech telescopes.
The museum was worth the wander, too. Between the meteorites, the astro snaps, and the Atlas Coelestis (a star atlas published in 1729), there were plenty to gawk at.
Plus, the observatory doesn’t sleep on variety. For example, you can book a Chinese-exclusive tour, private sessions, and moon-based excursions (the stargazing trips are done on moonless nights).
Best of all, you can adopt a freaking star, with prices starting at $470. That’ll likely top your mate’s quirky mug!
Tips:
- You’ll score discounts, exclusive merch, and more perks by joining their loyalty programme.
- The venue can be hired for private events.
- Be on the lookout for limited-time tours, like the Halloween Night Sky trip. Announcements for those are posted on their Insta.
GoGo Active Tours Pty Ltd
From gogoactivetours
Address: 18 Loder Way, South Guildford
Contact Details: +61 491 475 606
Operating Hours: Daily – 10 am to 6 pm
Prices: $79 per person
Website
GoGo’s Evening City Lights Tour could easily be this list’s most unique experience, and you can probably guess why. You see, instead of driving to desert areas or observation decks, they helped us cruise down Swan River to see the city skyline after dark.
The sweet part was how stable and cosy the kayaks were. We even paddled alongside a pregnant mum and some kiddos who looked like they weren’t even breaking a sweat.
Granted, the tour is only open in summer and done in the CBD’s southern section, so we didn’t see the Milky Way at its clearest and stariest. What we got, though, was some chill time, especially post-paddling when they poured wine and set up riverside picnic camps.
The 2-km route we took also snuck in lots of historical sites, such as the Mend Street Jetty and South Perth Foreshore. To top it off, the guide shared some cultural and geographical facts about them.
Tips:
- You must bring your own hat, sunscreen, water bottle, and other weather protection kit.
- Wear shoes you don’t mind getting wet, preferably wetsuit or reef shoes.
Lumineer Adventure Tours
From soundoflovewithluca
Address: 64 Jersey St, Jolimont
Contact Details: +61 481 822 123
Operating Hours: Daily – 9 am to 9 pm
Prices: $174 to $249 per person
Website
If you’re looking for a Pinnacles Desert stargazing experience powered by computerised gear, Lumineer Adventure Tours is the right pick. They hand out cutting-edge astronomy tech, like scopes and binoculars sharp enough to eyeball planets and Saturn’s rings.
Then there’s the historic side. Australian Aboriginals are often credited as the first astronomers, and you’ll learn their methods on this trip, all while listening to their Dreamtime stories.
Dinner is handled by their crew as well, with wine and Indian Ocean sunsets as the deal-sealer. The meal is your textbook Aussie BBQ, though you can still holler ahead for special dietary requests.
On top of that, a Lancelin pit stop is in the books. Ever sandboarded before wandering around Hover Bay? If not, this part is sweet, sweet news…unless you have face-planting tendencies.
Tips:
- If you’re bringing kiddos under 3, ring them up to arrange it. You can’t book it directly.
- Don’t forget to bring your warm clothes. Pinnacles Desert is cold at night.
- Since sandboarding is part of the itinerary, it’s not a bad idea to pack some goggles.
Gravity Discovery Centre
From gdcobservatory
Address: 1098 Military Rd, Yeal
Contact Details: +61 8 9575 7577
Operating Hours:
- Tue to Thu – 10 am to 4 pm
- Fri to Sun – 10 am to 8 pm
Price:
- Adult: $51
- Kid: $33
Most of our kids already consider themselves ‘star experts’ after a single trip to the Gravity Discovery Centre. Well, can’t say we’re too shocked since, one, they’re kids, and two, the tours here focus on dishing out space knowledge.
In fact, this is the only option in this list that opens with a 20-minute presentation. No need to worry about dull moments either, as their astronomers can honestly pass as comics, from what we’ve seen.
That said, the centre’s laser-guided stargazing experience is its most entertaining. The observatory is far enough from Downtown Perth’s light pollution, and there’s specialised equipment offering a better look at celestial bodies and cosmic events.
A night for Aboriginal astronomy can also be arranged for those interested in Dreamtime stories and indigenous constellations. However, it’s only held once a month, so be on the lookout for announcements.
Tips:
- Beyond the tours, the centre hosts other ‘star-studded’ events, like the Night Sky Party. Follow them on Insta for the scoop.
- Wanna get married under the stars? Good news—they host weddings. Email at [email protected] for the deets.
- If you want the full Gravity Discovery Centre experience, consider joining a daytime tour, like the Solar System Walk and wildflower showcase in spring.
