Kina Stargazing & Milky Way Cam

A Stargazer's Vantage Above Tasman Bay

This live camera sits at Kina, on the sheltered coast of the Tasman Region in New Zealand's South Island, gazing south across farmland toward Wakefield and the ranges beyond. WISP Tasman, the local operator behind the feed, positioned it to take advantage of one of the country's lowest light-pollution corridors.

The Southern Sky in Ultra-High Definition

Streaming in 4K, the camera resolves the dense star fields of the Milky Way's galactic core, along with regular meteor streaks and the odd satellite train crossing the frame. A slower shutter setting deepens the visible color in the sky, revealing hues that the naked eye alone struggles to pick out.

A Region Built for Dark Skies

The wider Nelson-Tasman area is prized among astrophotographers for its clean maritime air and minimal urban glow, with the nearby Abel Tasman National Park and Kaiteriteri coastline adding to the region's reputation as one of the South Island's premier dark-sky destinations.

Chasing the Aurora Australis

During periods of elevated solar activity, the camera occasionally catches the Aurora Australis painting the southern horizon in shifting bands of color — a rare treat made possible by the region's high sun-hour count and correspondingly clear, dry air.