Dunedin will be the focal point for the region’s first total solar eclipse in more than 850 years, with hotels already booking out two years in advance. At 4.17pm on 22 July 2028, the moon will pass in front of the sun and cast a roughly 100km-wide shadowy band across parts of southern New Zealand, plunging areas from Queenstown to Dunedin into daytime darkness for 2 minutes and 51 seconds.
Despite there being two years still to go, hotels are already fielding booking inquiries, including the Dunedin Leisure Lodge, which by Thursday was fully booked for its “solar eclipse package” that includes complimentary eclipse glasses. The event is expected to draw significant interest from visitors, with Dunedin preparing for what is tipped to be a major tourism moment for the city.
Why is the eclipse drawing so much attention?
The eclipse is drawing attention because it will be the first total solar eclipse visible anywhere in New Zealand since 1965, and the first visible from Dunedin since 1163. Dr Ian Griffin, an astronomer and director of Tūhura Otago Museum, said the last one visible from Dunedin was in 1163, which was before any humans reached New Zealand.
“The last one visible from Dunedin was in 1163, which was before humans reached New Zealand.
“So we will be the first people in Dunedin ever to see a solar eclipse from this part of the world, which is quite exciting.”
Griffin said that if the sky is clear, the darkness will be unforgettable for anyone who sees it.
“That three minutes of darkness, if it’s clear, will be absolutely memorable for anybody who sees it,” Griffin said.
How many visitors is Dunedin expecting?
Dunedin is expecting roughly 35,000 visitors to descend on the city, which has a population of 130,000. On Wednesday, Dunedin’s museum started the clock for the two-year countdown, marking the start of preparations for the eclipse event.
Griffin said he has been preparing for the eclipse since 2013, and even bought his house years ago because it would offer a view of the event.
“I did buy my house all those years ago based on the fact that you could see the eclipse from it,” he said.
How does the timing fit with winter and Matariki?
The eclipse will take place in the middle of New Zealand’s winter, just after the country celebrates Matariki, the Māori new year. Matariki is the name for a cluster of stars known elsewhere as the Pleiades, and it is visible from New Zealand for 11 months of the year before disappearing from the skies for a month in winter and reappearing around the time of the winter solstice.
Dunedin is planning a night-sky festival beginning with Matariki and continuing through to the eclipse, linking the cultural celebration with the astronomical event.
“It’s actually unique anywhere around the world,” Griffin said. “We’ve got the cultural holiday celebrating the night sky, and then will be following it about 10 days later with a fantastic eclipse.”
What is the city saying now?
Dunedin mayor Sophie Barker said anticipation for the eclipse is already being felt across the city and that the event is now firmly approaching.
“This remarkable event is now firmly on the horizon.”
The eclipse is expected to be one of the city’s biggest tourism events in years, with accommodation demand already rising well ahead of 22 July 2028.
