Space Place at Carter Observatory

Very informative and friendly staff. Unfortunately, the planetarium movie “Dark Matter” and after talk were more suitable for higher education classes. Loads of “reading” signs about stars, space etc. They do have a small hands-on room for “wee ones”. The library was impressive. We also were able to view some interesting stars, nebula and the moon from the outside telescope. I would not recommend this for families with young children.

We had an incredible time at Carter Observatory in Wellington! This place is a must-visit, especially for kids aged 10+. The staff were super friendly, knowledgeable, & really added to our experience. We loved learning about the stars & even got to try out some cool interactive displays. The only downside was some of the other families letting their kids get a bit too rowdy – throwing balls, climbing on displays, & hogging activities while others waited. A bit of supervision would go a long way! Despite that, we had a blast & even put our newfound knowledge to the test at home with the "Find South Trick." when we got home. 10/10 would recommend to anyone looking for a fun and educational experience!"

Wow! Great place to visit with little people (aged 3 and 18m) we thoroughly enjoyed our visit and the show aimed at preschool aged children was great... an excellent introduction to Space and planets 🌎

Nawww, I've only recently discovered. They've made an upgrade. Good interactive spaces, great for the curious. Take the kids. The dome night theatre was spectacular & mesmerising. Thank you 😊

Great observatory and we attended the "Astronauts" show. To our surprise, the show was top-class compared to the other shows we had attended in Australia. The general gallery is also worth visiting and spending time for the space enthusiasts.

Don't miss the "Sundial of Human Involvement" just outside Space Place! Unlike traditional sundials, you become the gnomon. By standing on the correct date marked on the ground, your shadow tells the time.

Shout out to our planetarium guide at the 8:30 show last night (Wednesday Dec 3). Greeted us when we arrived. Shared his genuine enthusiasm for the stars and the mission of Space Place. The exhibits space is small/medium, but the quality was quite high and captures the teenagers with us (no small feat!) with the right level of engagement and knowledge share. You can easily spend a couple hours with the planetarium show. I live in Los Angeles and while Griffith Observatory is quite famous, the exhibit quality for kids, teens and adults is superior if you take the time to read the material and enjoy the video/interactive set ups.

A truly special experience. Space Place is fascinating for kids and adults alike, with interactive exhibits that spark curiosity and imagination. The planetarium show was a real highlight. Staff were welcoming and great with kids, and the gift shop had some very cool science-themed items. A unique and memorable visit.

Quick visit to look at the sun through a telescope. Don't miss the solar clock outside the observatory. Located in the Botanical Gardens.

Sadly, the observatory/planetarium was closed when I went so I was unable to check out the programs and shows. However, they do have a "Human Sundial" out behind the observatory which is really neat. There is an informational sign explaining how it works and on a sunny day like I day I visited, it was pretty accurate as well! There are some other auxiliary telescope buildings on the grounds near by that you can walk to, but they were closed/locked, so I am not sure about the access/visitation of those.

Great for the kids, not sophisticated enough for the adults... Not bad, but I can't rave about it either. Nice exhibits and theater experience, but it definitely needs an upgrade to digital or HD. Glad we saw it, but couldn't really recommend...