Dark Skies Tourism: The Aoraki Mackenzie Story

Lydia has been the Tourism Manager for the Mackenzie Region since the beginning of the pandemic. Prior to this, she was with Ngāi Tahu Tourism where she was Marketing Manager for Dark Sky Project alongside other brands. Based in Takapō (Lake Tekapo), Dark Sky Project is New Zealand’s largest astro-tourism operator who are widely regarded as pioneers in dark sky tourism, even coining the term ‘astro tourism’. In both roles Lydia’s enjoyed a close working relationship with the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve Board who were responsible for obtaining, and now keeping, the region’s accreditation and leading dark sky kaupapa.