Here's what’s open in McLaren Vale and Fleurieu Coast today. A great way to support local.
Overview
Stargazing & astronomy tours.
Treat yourself or your family or your group to a truly inspiring and personalised tour of the cosmos. We do a multicultural tour of the constellations with our laser pointer. We'll show you the magnificent night sky through our large, powerful telescopes. You'll see stars, clusters, planets, nebulae, galaxies and more with one of Australia's most experienced astronomical guides.
This is a 90 minute guided tour you won't soon forget!
Check booking page for our public tour dates, starting times, and locations. We're also available for private group tours by arrangement.
The Backyard Universe offers multicultural stargazing tours on the Fleurieu Peninsula in South Australia.
Discover the stories behind the beautiful scenery and night skies with friendly and experienced local guides.
We can offer customised astronomy & geology activity and tour packages for conferences, private groups and school camps.
We also run door-to-door shuttle bus services for the southern Heysen Trail and Fleurieu Peninsula; including transfers to & from Adelaide airport and the Kangaroo Island ferries.
Location &
Directions
Fleurieu Peninsula tour locations:
-- Wirrina Cove
-- McLaren Vale
-- Port Elliot (October to March)
Cancellation policy
See our website for tour terms & conditions:
https://www.thebackyarduniverse.com.au/legal.htm
Cancellation Policy (from website):
-- Cancellation of tours by Guests:
Guests who cancel their tour more than 24 hours prior to tour commencement will be offered either an alternative tour date (if possible) or a refund.
No refund will be given for guests who cancel their tour less than 24 hours prior to tour commencement or who fail to turn up for their booked tour for any reason or who leave their booked tour early for any reason. These guests may be offered an alternative tour date (if possible) at our discretion.
-- Cancellation of tours by us:
Our stargazing & astronomy tours are all “Weather Permitting”. Telescopes are not much affected by cold but they don’t like strong winds and they can’t see through clouds or rain. We will ascertain the expected weather/cloud conditions for the evening. If conditions are unfavourable the tour will be cancelled and we will try to notify you via SMS before 4pm on the day of tour.
Cloud Forecasts at our public venues are unreliable before the actual date of the tour so there's no point asking us "is the tour still happening?" until the day.
If we cancel your booked stargazing tour we will try to offer you an alternative tour date if possible. Otherwise you will receive a refund of any payment we've already processed; or the option to convert to a Gift Voucher.
Tours will also be cancelled by us if there are fewer guests booked than the minimum number required to operate. If you are one of the first to book you may receive a "pending order" message instead of a "confirmed order". We won't confirm your booking (or retain your payment) until we receive enough bookings to operate the tour.
Tours may also be cancelled if factors beyond our control make it impossible unfeasible or dangerous to operate the tour as advertised. If this occurs we will try to offer you an alternative tour date if possible. Otherwise you will receive a refund of any payment we've already processed.
