Tour Guide | Dark Sky Project

Ngāi Tahu Group; Lake Tekapo; Remote; NZD 41,000 - 43,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive hourly rate

Job summary

Dark Sky Project in Lake Tekapo, New Zealand, seeks a Mandarin and English-speaking Tour Guide to welcome visitors, share Māori astronomy stories, and deliver unforgettable night-sky experiences. The role combines guiding with driving, located at Takapō lakefront, within Ngāi Tahu Tourism’s Dark Sky Project team.

The ideal candidate has 3+ years in astronomy-guiding or science communication, strong public speaking, and a valid NZ license with related endorsements.

Qualifications

• At least 3 years experience in astronomy-based guiding or related field.
• Public-speaking and tour guiding experience.
• NZ Certificate/Diploma Level 4+ in astronomy or science communication.
• NZDriver’s Licence, P endorsement, Class 2 Licence, or ability to obtain.

Responsibilities

• Guide and drive visitors during night-sky experiences at Dark Sky Project.
• Share local stories and Tātai Aroraki interpretations with guests.
• Ensure safety and guest engagement during tours.
• Perform routine vehicle inspections and maintain driver logs.

Skills

Public speaking

Tour guiding

Bilingual English-Mandarin

Driver licence

First Aid

Education

NZ Certificate or Diploma (Level 4+) in astronomy/science communication (or equivalent)

Job description

Permanent / Full-Time (Min 32 hours per week)

Hourly rate: $29.90 – $31.00

Does the opportunity to be part of a world‑class tourism development excite you?

Are you looking for an opportunity to work for Ngāi Tahu Tourism, one of the largest tourism operators in Aotearoa?

We have a newly created opportunity for a Mandarin and English‑speaking Tour Guide to join our talented team at Dark Sky Project. This unique role combines guiding and driving, welcoming manuhiri (visitors) and delivering unforgettable night‑sky experiences. Using your bilingual communication skills, you'll connect with guests from around the world, share local stories and insights, and help create memorable and engaging experiences under some of Aotearoa's most spectacular skies.

Located on the Takapō lakefront, our world‑class Astronomy Centre brings to life the science of the stars and Tātai Aroraki (Māori astronomy) through immersive and engaging experiences. These experiences are a world‑first and complement the outdoor experiences we deliver to domestic and international visitors to the region.

Our purpose is to make the connection – with our customers, through our people, to our place and to Ngāi Tahu.

We take great pride in warmly welcoming manuhiri to our experiences. Manaakitanga (hospitality) is one of the core values that drives the way we do business. As hosts, we care for our manuhiri and our team as our own whānau.

A little bit about you

We are looking for someone who has:

• At least 3 years relevant experience in astronomy‑based guiding, science communication, visitor interpretation, or tour guiding (required if the qualification below is not held)
• Proven experience in public speaking and/or tour guiding
• Previous experience working in the tourism industry (desirable)
• A New Zealand Certificate or Diploma (Level 4 or above) in astronomy, science communication, visitor interpretation, or an equivalent overseas qualification (required if the above experience is not met)
• A valid New Zealand Driver’s Licence, or the ability to obtain one
• A current P endorsement, or the ability to obtain one
• A Class 2 Driver’s Licence, or the ability to obtain one
• A First Aid Certificate, or the ability to obtain one
• A strong commitment to health and safety
• Care and attention when completing routine vehicle inspections and maintaining accurate driver logbooks
• A genuine interest in learning and correctly pronouncing reo Māori names and terms
• Availability to work shift work, including nights, weekends and public holidays
• Additional language skills, including Japanese, Mandarine are advantageous in supporting our international customer base.

Aside from being a great place to work, we offer competitive remuneration, excellent training, staff discounts across Ngāi Tahu Tourism, and a supportive, values‑based environment. Dark Sky Project is a fun, unique and safe place to work, and we are committed to keeping it that way.

Before starting with us, you will go through a range of pre‑employment checks, including drug and alcohol testing. Health and safety is extremely important to us and is key to protecting our people and our manuhiri.

Want to find out more about us?

Keen?