Sensory-Friendly Planetarium & Gallery Tour

You are warmly invited to the Space Place at Carter Observatory!
Join us for a sensory-friendly group booking at Carter Observatory. We’ll explore the wonders of the southern sky and the observatory’s galleries in a relaxed, low-stimulus environment.

Quiet-hour protocols will be in effect
When you come to the event you can expect:

• Reduced lighting and reduced ambient noise throughout the galleries.
• Clear labels on all sensory interactive displays.
• Galleries you can walk through at your own pace and take your time to explore. No guided tour of the galleries that move you on too quickly.
• A private planetarium show with gentle narration and smooth “fade” transitions (no sudden movements or loud effects).

What’s Included in the private planetarium show
The show will be led by a member of the Space Place team and includes:

• An introduction to the southern sky and its constellations;
• Using Māhutonga (Crux) to find the heading toward Tonga (South);
• An overview of the Solar System featuring standout planets; and
• A journey through the Milky Way and beyond.

General admission prices apply

• Adult general admission - $16.00
• Community service, student, gold card holders - $14.00

We have a group booking but you must pay general admission to enter Space Place. Check out this social story if you want to see what purchasing a ticket might look like when you arrive.

Getting to the the event (car, bus, cable car, or walking)

• Wilson parking is available at 1 Upland Road. There are limited parking spaces outside Space Place reserved especially for mobility permit holders.
• The nearest public bus stop is on Upland Road opposite Glasgow Street. You can find bus route information here
• You could also catch the cable car up to the observatory if you're feeling adventurous.
• If the weather is nice and you prefer walking, there are many pathways up to the observatory through the botanical gardens.

Arriving at the event
We will have a greeter at reception to give you a warm welcome to the event. We are an autistic led community, if we can do anything to increase your comfort levels during the event please let us know when you arrive.

Code of Conduct:
By attending any event, or using any affiliated digital platform of the Autistic Professionals Network Wellington, constitutes agreement and adherence to our adopted Code of Conduct.