Hotels in New Zealand’s southern city of Dunedin are already fully booked for July 2028, two years before a rare total solar eclipse is expected to transform the region into one of the world’s most sought-after astronomy tourism destinations.
The eclipse, due to take place on 22 July 2028, will be the first total solar eclipse visible anywhere in New Zealand since 1965 and the first seen from the Dunedin area in more than 850 years. At 4:17 pm local time, the Moon will pass directly in front of the Sun, casting a shadow approximately 100 kilometres wide across parts of the South Island. Communities within the path of totality, including Queenstown and Dunedin, will experience 2 minutes and 51 seconds of daytime darkness.
Accommodation providers are already experiencing unprecedented demand. Dunedin Leisure Lodge has sold out its dedicated solar eclipse package, which includes complimentary eclipse-viewing glasses, while other hotels across the city are also reporting strong advance bookings.
The event is expected to deliver a major boost to the local tourism economy. City officials estimate around 35,000 visitors will travel to Dunedin, home to approximately 130,000 residents, to witness the celestial phenomenon. According to the Dunedin Astronomical Society, the total number of eclipse visitors could be even higher, reaching around 50,000.
Dr Ian Griffin, astronomer and director of Tūhura Otago Museum, highlighted the extraordinary rarity of the event. “The last one visible from Dunedin was in 1163, which was before humans reached New Zealand,” he said. “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 has been preparing for the eclipse since 2013, joking that he even chose his house because it offers a view of the event.
The path of totality begins in the Indian Ocean before crossing central Australia, passing north of Alice Springs and Sydney, then continuing across southern New Zealand through areas including Milford Sound, Queenstown, Central Otago and Dunedin. Dunedin will also be among the last major populated locations on Earth to experience totality before the Moon’s shadow moves out over the Pacific Ocean, making it one of the world’s premier viewing sites.
The eclipse will occur eight days after Matariki, the Māori New Year, creating what Dunedin officials describe as a unique opportunity to combine Indigenous cultural traditions with astronomy. The city is planning a night-sky festival beginning with Matariki and continuing through the eclipse celebrations.
The rush to secure accommodation reflects a growing trend in eclipse tourism. Similar surges in hotel and short-term rental demand have already been recorded ahead of the total solar eclipse crossing Spain and Iceland in August 2026, as travellers increasingly plan years in advance to witness one of nature’s rarest spectacles.
