19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Evening of food, rail and stars
Lindsay Sinien, 36 (left), and Jurij Boccioli, 35, both of France, board the Stargazer train to Taieri Gorge last night. PHOTO: PETER MCINTOSH
Most of us have heard of Stars in Their Eyes, Dancing with the Stars, and RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars.
Now there is dining with the stars — and it is happening here in Dunedin.
Dunedin Railways has partnered with Tūhura Otago Museum and the Dunedin Astronomical Society to take passengers on two exclusive Stargazer train journeys through the Taieri Gorge, to have a gourmet meal beneath Otago's star-studded sky.
Then, if the weather is good, they will be able to disembark at Hindon and explore the cosmos, unhindered by street lights, with the help of seasoned astronomers and state-of-the-art telescopes.
If it proved to be too cloudy, Tūhura Otago Museum science communicators would also lead two interactive astronomy activities, which aimed to unlock some of the mysteries of the universe.
About 120 people boarded the train at Dunedin Railway Station last night for the first sold-out tour.
Lindsay Sinien, of France, said her partner Jurij Boccioli bought tickets for the ride as a surprise.
"We love stargazing, so he booked the journey as a romantic surprise for me."
Asked if an engagement ring might make a sparkling appearance during the trip, there was nervous laughter all around before Miss Sinien said, "No, not tonight — I don't think".
The duo were looking forward to seeing the Milky Way, a distant galaxy, and maybe some of the planets in the solar system.
The second Stargazer tour will be held on June 27, and has also sold out.
