Would you believe us if we told you that you could have a sky full of stars right here, earthside, without jetting off into outer space? That’s not all – you don’t even need to fly to the far Northern Hemisphere. Let’s cut to the chase: here’s where you can find the blackest, clearest skies for the ultimate stargazing experience at these Dark Sky Reserves near Singapore.
But before we get into it, one thing to note is that virtually all of these locations are pretty remote, and require a fair bit of travelling to get to – necessary, because you’ll want to be as far away from civilisation and its light pollution as possible.
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A Dark Sky Reserve is a designated area that protects the exceptional qualities of its night skies and nocturnal environment. The International Dark Sky Association (IDA) is behind the certification of these areas, with specific criteria that need to be met.
In these Dark Sky Reserves, the minimisation of light pollution is of top priority – something that’s nearly impossible in cities and developed areas. There have to be regulations that reduce artificial light, supported by the local community, with astro-tourism facilities.
Apart from Dark Sky Reserves, there are other kinds of designated areas under the IDA classifications: Dark Sky Communities, Dark Sky Parks, and Dark Sky Sanctuaries:
| Type | What it is | Location Type | Best For |
| Dark Sky Reserve | A large, protected area with a dark “core” and a managed surrounding “buffer” zone. | Usually, national parks or rural regions | Stargazing in scenic natural environments with some infrastructure |
| Dark Sky Park | A publicly or privately owned park with exceptional starry skies and a commitment to night sky conservation. | National/state parks, observatories, or recreation areas | Families, campers, amateur astronomers |
| Dark Sky Community | A town or city that adopts lighting ordinances and encourages public awareness to reduce light pollution. | Inhabited places (villages, towns) | Casual visitors, local residents, cultural tourism |
| Dark Sky Sanctuary | The most remote and pristine dark sites in the world with the lowest levels of light pollution. | Isolated, often fragile ecosystems | Serious astrophotographers and remote adventurers |
At the time of writing, there are 21 Dark Sky Reserves, 19 Dark Sky Sanctuaries, 38 Dark Sky Communities, and 115 Dark Sky Parks in the world, spanning 22 countries and more than 160,000sqkm of night sky.
Most of these places are found in North America and Europe, but there are plenty of upcoming Dark Sky Places closer to home, right here in Asia. A little further afoot are Australia, New Zealand, and even Africa, where you’ll find designated Dark Sky Places in Namibia and South Africa.
The single largest Dark Sky Reserve in the world is the Wood Buffalo National Park International Dark Sky Reserve at 44,907sqkm. However, you won’t find this on the IDA list, as it was minted by the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC), who use a different set of criteria and processes, with a focus on Dark Sky Preserves in Canada.
Second to that, and the largest according to IDA’s list, is Greater Big Bend International Dark Sky Reserve, which straddles protected areas in both the USA and Mexico. It covers an area of almost 39,000sqkm, or approximately 373,300,000 soccer fields.
Image credit: Ronald Tagra via Adventures Unlimited
The Endau-Rompin National Park in the state of Johor is the largest protected area in the southern half of Peninsular Malaysia. It’s not an official Dark Sky Reserve, but you’ll find the darkest skies in this part of the world here.
Add to that the sights that you can look forward to by day, including Upeh Guling, one of Malaysia’s most gorgeous waterfalls, Tasik Biru with its crystal clear blue waters, and sightings of endangered Malayan tigers, tapirs, Sumatran rhinos, and Asian elephants, and you’ll have a road trip to remember.
Do note that it’s recommended to drive a 4WD vehicle within the park – you can park at the Johor Parks office at Bekok and use a local transport provider to head into the park. If you’re driving your own 4WD, you’ll have to register your vehicle and purchase a permit to enter the park; a 4WD round trip between Bekok and Selai is charged at RM270 (~S$82.19) for 5 guests. Check out this Hikers For Life page for more information on camping and other fees.
How to get there: 3h drive from Singapore
Best time to visit: March-October
Where to stay: Camp in the park (from RM3, ~S$0.91), Rompin Rainforest Lodge (from RM200, ~S$60/night)
Image credit: Mike Plunkett Photography
Move over, Bali, it’s Lombok’s time to shine. You’ll need to trek up Mount Rinjani for the best views, but we promise it’ll be worth it. The Rinjani-Lombok Geopark is a UNESCO-global geopark, on an island that sits in the infamous Ring of Fire; there’s Segara Anak – a crescent-shaped sulphur lake that’s also a spiritual place for the locals.
And perhaps most thrilling of all is Mount Rinjani and the various shorter peaks that dot the landscape – they’re active volcanoes that might erupt at any time. Since it’s a geopark, you’ll be guaranteed the darkest skies to be found on the Indonesian island; go on a multi-day trek for a full immersion. For the less adventurous, you might consider putting yourself up at one of their many beach resorts, so you can stargaze over the Indian Ocean or Bali Sea.
How to get there: Fly from Singapore to Lombok (2 hours 40 minutes)
Best time to visit: April-October
Where to stay: Tetebatu Homestay (from S$12/night), Puncak Rinjani Lodge (from S$35/night), Svarga Renjana Villa (from S$133/night)
Image credit: Flutechill via Flickr
Khao Sam Roi Yot, if you ask the locals, means ‘mountain with 300 peaks’. The National Park is just south of Hua Hin, and was Thailand’s first coastal national park. One of the highlights here by day is Phraya Nakhon, a cave with a pavilion in it that was built in 1890. At certain times of the year, a hole in the roof of the cavern allows the sun to shine directly onto this pavilion, making for a spectacular sight.
Stargazing in Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park is as easy as deciding on a spot to hunker down for the night. You have a wide range of locations within its borders to choose from, including open meadows, beaches and campgrounds – no mountain-climbing involved.
How to get there: Fly from Singapore to Bangkok (2 hours), then a 3-hour drive to the park
Best time to visit: November-February
Where to stay: Camp on Laem Sala Beach or Sam Phraya Beach (from THB150, ~S$5.92/night), Dhevan Dara Beach Villa Kuiburi (from S$61/night)
Image credit: The Asahi Shinbun
Less than an hour away from Tokyo is Kozushima Island, an entire island dedicated to the experience of stargazing. After sunset, this Dark Sky Island is shrouded in darkness, transforming into a planetarium the size of close to 24,000 football fields.
Join a local stargazing tour, and try to spot the Canopus star – the second-brightest star in the sky, which can rarely be seen from the Japanese mainland. If you visit in the colder months, keep an eye out for the Geminids meteor shower, and the Winter Triangle – an imaginary isosceles triangle formed by 3 of the brightest stars in the winter sky.
How to get there: Fly from Singapore to Tokyo (7 hours), then a 45-minute flight or 4-hour high-speed jet ferry to Kozushima
Best time to visit: September–November
Where to stay: Yamashita Ryokan Annex (from S$178/night), Vacation House Familia (from S$227/night)
Image credit: Explore Okayama
The easiest place to get to on this list, or the furthest away from the wilderness, is Bisei Town of Ibara City, Okayama. It’s an actual township where you’ll find the Bisei Astronomical Observatory, housing a 1m-wide telescope, which hosts stargazing parties every weekend. Apart from the cold winter months, some restaurants serve dinner under the stars too.
Fun fact: Bisei Town enacted Japan’s first light pollution prevention ordinance way back in 1989, where all outdoor lights have to be turned off after 10pm. Since then, other measures to prevent light leakage from lighting include the installation of IDA-certified light pollution prevention LED lights.
How to get there: Fly from Singapore to Osaka (6.5 hours), then a 2-hour train ride to Bisei
Best time to visit: September-February
Where to stay: Hoshizora Pension Comet (from S$123/night), Kinoyama camping ground
Image credit: DarkSky International
North of Nagoya, in Fukui prefecture, you’ll find Minami-Rokuroshi, Asia’s first Urban Dark Sky Place. Beyond that, these foothills of Hakusan were also named the best location for star-watching in Japan by The Star Watching Network.
While you’re here, sign yourself up for butter- or ice cream-making workshops at a dairy farm, visit a dinosaur museum – Fukui is the dinosaur capital of Japan – hike up Hakusan, or simply disconnect and relax in an open-air onsen.
How to get there: Fly from Singapore to Osaka (6.5 hours), then a 3-hour train and bus journey to Minami-Rokuroshi
Best time to visit: November-December
Where to stay: Nagai Ryokan (from S$177/night), Hotel Harvest Skijam Katsuyama (from S$210/night)
Image credit: @koreanet_official via Instagram
For those of you who want to combine a stargazing trip with a visit to Korea, we’ve got you. Just 4 hours from your choice of Seoul or Busan is Yeongyang Firefly Eco Park. As the name suggests, this park is a firefly conservation area; the steps they’ve taken to maintain the area’s natural darkness has made it an ideal place for looking into the galaxy too.
Although the best time to visit for clear skies is between September to October, firefly season runs from June to August.
How to get there: Fly from Singapore to Seoul/Busan (6 hours), then a 4-hour drive to Yeongyang
Best time to visit: September-October
Where to stay: Uljin Baegum Springs Hotel (from $92/night)
Image credit: Discover Leh Ladakh
At 4,500m above sea level, Hanle Village in Ladakh, India, enjoys almost zero light and air pollution. It’s also what’s known as a rain shadow place – that is, it’s never cloudy, and virtually never rains here, making it an optimal location for stargazing.
This small village of 1,000 people houses a 17th-century monastery, as well as the Indian Astronomical Observatory, which is the highest of its kind in India. Be warned, however, that this is not a trip for everybody. There are only homestays here; the nearest city of Leh is 270km away, and you’ll have to acclimatise to the high altitude.
The running water in the village is said to start freezing over by October, so be prepared for extra harsh conditions should you want to visit in the winter months.
How to get there: Fly from Singapore to Leh via Delhi (9 hours), then a 7-hour drive to Hanle
Best time to visit: May-September
Where to stay: Holiday Inn Hanle (from S$69/night), Padma Guest House (from S$69/night)
Image credit: Visit NSW
It’s said that the skies above Warrumbungle National Park are so dark, you won’t even need any equipment to see the stars with. It’s Australia’s only Dark Sky Park, and home to a volcanic landscape that’s dramatically stunning by day, and absolutely worth a hike.
P.S.: Warrumbungle National Park has more than 120 species of birds, and there are hiking trails for everyone from beginners to multi-day treks. If you’re lucky, you might even get to see the Southern Lights from the park.
How to get there: Fly from Singapore to Sydney (8 hours), then a 6-hour drive to the park
Best time to visit: March-April, October-November
Where to stay: Camp at Camp Blackman, Balor Hut Campground or Ogma Gap Campground, Warrumbungles Mountain Motel (from S$101/night), Dark Sky Eco Retreat (from S$695/night)
Image credit: Murray River Lakes and Coorong
Australia’s longest river, Murray River, is believed by the Aboriginal Australians to be created by the tracks of the Great Ancestor as he pursued a wily Murray cod. Today, the region’s rich soils produce some of the country’s best wine; the Murray-Darling Basin is responsible for almost 40% of Australia’s agricultural production. You can definitely rest assured that you’ll wine and dine well on a trip to the River Murray Dark Sky Reserve.
Some of the darkest spots in this park include the Big Bend Cliffs, Swan Reach, which is only accessible by 4WD, or Shell Hill Reserve. If you would rather not drive, join a dark sky tour that’ll take you to the tallest Murray River clifftops.
Best time to visit: June-August
Where to stay: Camp at Melanda campsite (AUD5,~S$4.19/camper) or Swan Reach Conservation Park, rent a house, Swan Reach Hotel (from AUD100,~S$83.81/night), Riverview Rise Retreats (from S$543/night)
Image credit: DarkSky International
This entry on the list brings you to Winton, a tiny town in Outback Queensland that’s got a population of just over 1,000 people. 24km outside of the town, which birthed the famous “Waltzing Matilda” ballad, is The Jump-up, a name the local people gave to the mesa plateaus of the region.
This area has also produced the most dino fossils in the country, and is home to the world’s largest collection of Aussie dinosaur fossils at the Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum.
How to get there: Fly from Singapore to Brisbane (7.5 hours), then take a domestic flight, bus, or train to Winton, and 25-minute drive to The Jump-up
Best time to visit: June-August
Where to stay: North Gregory Hotel (from S$109/night), Rangelands Outback Camp (from S$1,212/night)
Image credit: @wairarapa via Instagram
The Northern Hemisphere has Stonehenge, and down in the South, there’s Stonehenge Aotearoa, found in Wairarapa Dark Sky Reserve. This mod-age stone circle, built in 2005, gives us a glimpse into how ancient Polynesians studied astronomy.
While you’re here, in a certified Dark Sky Reserve which at its darkest measured at 21.86 out of 22mac/arc sec2 on the TESS-W dark sky meter, go on a star safari. You get access to a hilltop observatory and powerful telescopes, with guides who will walk you through the entire celestial display. Plus, they can teach you how to take the best photos of the sky with your phone or camera.
How to get there: Fly from Singapore to Wellington (10.5 hours), then a 1.5-hour drive to Wairarapa
Best time to visit: June-August
Where to stay: The Martinborough Hotel (from S$175/night), The White Swan Hotel (from S$179/night), Whitimanuka Retreat (from S$517/night)
Image credit: RNZ
The Maori name for Stewart Island is Rakiura, which translates to “glowing island” – thanks to the Aurora Australis which is visible from the island. Between the Southern Lights and the gazillions of stars which light up the skies of this Dark Sky Sanctuary, one might say the Maoris definitely gave Stewart Island the right name.
If you thought the skies at Wairarapa were dark, those here were measured at 21.93mac/arc sec2.
Pin these locations on your map: Ackers Point Lighthouse, Horseshoe Bay Beach, Moturau Moana Gardens, and Butterfield Beach. Don’t forget to download an aurora forecasting app on your phone to check the likelihood of auroras.
How to get there: Fly from Singapore to Invercargill via Auckland (13 hours), then a 15-minute flight or 1-hour ferry to Stewart Island
Best time to visit: June-August
Where to stay: South Sea Hotel (from S$101/night), The Bay Motel (from S$155/night), Kaka Retreat (from S$183/night)
Image credit: Visit New Zealand via Facebook
One picture that everyone who visits New Zealand’s South Island will take is that of the Church of the Good Shepherd in Lake Tekapo. It’s equally breathtaking by day or night, but much less well-known is the fact that these very Tekapo night skies are just one part of the larger Aoraki Mackenzie Dark Sky Reserve – the largest of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere.
Not only does it hold the honour of being one of the largest in the world, Aoraki Mackenzie Dark Sky Reserve is also a Gold Tier reserve, meaning that it has some of the darkest night skies. Join a tour with the famed Dark Sky Project to go on an epic stargazing adventure and learn more about dark sky preservation from the pros.
How to get there: Fly from Singapore to Christchurch (10.5 hours), then a 3-hour drive to the reserve
Best time to visit: June-August
Where to stay: Haka House Aoraki Mount Cook (from S$95/night), Distinction Mackenzie Country Hotel Twizel (from S$158/night), The Hermitage Hotel Mount Cook (from S$375/night)
Stargazing at Lake Tekapo.
Image credit: New Zealand
Since you’ll be going stargazing at night, you’ll want to make sure you are dressed in layers – even if you’re in the tropics. Have some extras on hand too, just in case the weather should be chillier than expected. Hand warmers, blankets, and insulated bottles of hot drinks should definitely be on your packing list if you’re going stargazing in a temperate climate.
On the flip side, have insect repellent on hand if you’re in the tropics, or visiting the parks in the warmer months. Depending on how long you intend to be out, other handy items to have with you include stools, ground mats, and a sleeping bag or tent if you’re staying the night.
If you’re not joining a photography tour, you might want to bring along a portable tripod to put your phone or camera on, in order to get the best photographs of the night sky. Don’t forget to pack along extra batteries or portable chargers too.
To avoid light pollution, have a red flashlight on hand; this will also not be too glaring on your eyes in the uber dark conditions in the Dark Sky areas.
P.S.: Do check park regulations on consuming food and drink in the park – you’re sharing the space with creatures of the wild, after all, and wouldn’t want to attract unwanted attention.
Astrophotographers at Aoraki Mackenzie Dark Sky Reserve
Image credit: Hermitage Hotel
You’ll be surprised that most of the latest smart phones on the market are more than capable of taking amazing photos of the night sky. Of course, it’s not as easy as pointing and tapping a button; here are some steps you can take:
For the more enthusiastic smartphone astrophotographer, here’s a guide by NASA on taking photos of the night sky on your phone.
If you’re holding a DSLR or mirrorless camera, a fast wide-angle lens (14-28mm, f/2.8 or faster) is preferred. A lower ISO of 1600-3200, and a shutter speed of 15-25s is recommended. Follow the 500 rule: 500 ÷ focal length = max shutter speed, and make sure you set your camera’s focus to infinity.
Shoot all your photos in RAW for greater flexibility in post-production. Where possible, try not to have your camera’s screen on, as every bit of artificial light will get in the way of shooting a great photo.
As much as these Dark Sky Reserves near Singapore are naturally blessed with the perfect conditions for stargazing, it’s not 100% guaranteed that the skies will always be clear. Many of these spots are painful to get to, but with the spread of civilisation and its encroaching light pollution, it’s no surprise that we’ll have to go an extra mile to seek out the darkest of skies.
For more travel content:
Cover image adapted from: The Asahi Shinbun, Murray River Lakes and Coorong, RNZ
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