Frequently Asked Questions

UPDATE 5 Nov 2024: The Backyard Universe is closing down on 30 November 2024 because the owners/operators are retiring. You can still book places on the remaining Fleurieu Stars tours this month. But no new bookings are being accepted for private group night sky tours, nor for passenger transport. Thank you to our many tour guests and supporters for the last eight years.

.

.

.

.

AccessibilityGift vouchersNight toursParking your carPaymentsWeather
– – –
Terms & conditions for tours and trips, cancellations policy, and privacy policy

This tour happens outdoors in the dark on a flat compacted gravel area, and you walk about 50 metres from your car parking along a flat compacted gravel driveway to the telescopes. Baby prams and wheelchairs traverse it without problems. There is a “long-drop” toilet in a shed near the telescopes but it’s not wheelchair friendly (yet). The toilet shed is big enough to contain a pram or wheelchair.

We provide wooden bench seating for guests, but you’re welcome to bring your own portable chair or a sit-on walking frame. Your kids may prefer to lie down on your picnic blanket instead.

If you’re booking directly with us you will be asked if anyone in your booking has difficulty standing up or using a stepladder. You also get the option to include a certified carer (Companion Card holder) in your booking for free. Note: some of our booking agents are unable to ask you these questions due to the deficiencies of their systems 🙁

We’ve got telescopes that can be setup for use from a seated position, a height-adjustable telescope stool, and if someone in your booking struggles to walk any distance then we can get you to drive close to the telescopes for drop-off & pickup. Previous “difficulty in standing up…” reasons on tours have included: arthritis, multiple sclerosis, post polio syndrome, chronic hip knee or ankle problems, paraplegia, strokes, and people recovering from surgeries. If your booking indicates these kinds of issues we’ll contact you before tour day to discuss details and any specific preparations we can do for you. And incidentally if you were healthy when you booked and then get injured, let us know. Your recently broken ankle won’t be the first one we’ve met!

Children under 5 years old also get free entry to Fleurieu Stars tours. In our experience babies will sleep through the tour if they’re (1) warm and sheltered from wind, and (2) they can hear or feel their parent. Bring their pram or baby carrier with you. Toddlers usually fall asleep during the tour. Preschoolers vary: some will fall asleep immediately, others will stay awake and be fully participating (including asking us profound and interesting questions…).

We use free-standing stepladders with grab rail on these tours. Ideal for getting your eye into exactly the right alignment with telescope eyepieces, and for holding up small children at the right height for the telescopes.

Assistance Dogs and Guide Dogs in harness or on leash are welcome, but for everyone’s safety all other animals are prohibited during tours. Please leave them at home or inside your car.



Return to top of page

AccessibilityGift vouchersNight toursParking your carPaymentsWeather
– – –
Terms & conditions for tours and trips, cancellations policy, and privacy policy

– – –
Terms & conditions for tours and trips, cancellations policy, and privacy policy

To redeem one of our night sky tour gift vouchers please contact us. Expired gift vouchers are NOT refundable.

Return to top of page

AccessibilityGift vouchersNight toursParking your carPaymentsWeather
– – –
Terms & conditions for tours and trips, cancellations policy, and privacy policy

Please dress like you’re going to the South Pole regardless of the weather forecast. It’s easy to remove layers to cool down if you’re too hot. It’s impossible to warm up using any clothing that you left at home…and all of our night tours are outdoors.

Return to top of page

AccessibilityGift vouchersNight toursParking your carPaymentsWeather
– – –
Terms & conditions for tours and trips, cancellations policy, and privacy policy

  • Fleurieu Stars has off-street car parking space at the tour venue. Due to limited turnaround space it is NOT suitable for large buses, nor for vehicles towing a large trailer or caravan.

Return to top of page

AccessibilityGift vouchersNight toursParking your carPaymentsWeather
– – –
Terms & conditions for tours and trips, cancellations policy, and privacy policy

y

How to pay your deposit for a private tour. To pay for our various public tours, book now or use the booking links on the tour descriptions.

Return to top of page

AccessibilityGift vouchersNight toursParking your carPaymentsWeather
– – –
Terms & conditions for tours and trips, cancellations policy, and privacy policy

The weather at our tour venues can be completely different from Adelaide or Victor Harbor or McLaren Vale. The Fleurieu Peninsula has a lot of micro climates and localised weather phenomena.

Our night tours are all “Weather Permitting”. Our telescopes don’t like strong winds and they can’t see through clouds or rain. On the day of the tour we will be reading the weather & cloud forecasts for the evening, and examining latest weather satellite images. If conditions are unfavourable the tour will be cancelled, and we will try to notify you via a message to your mobile phone before 2pm on the day of tour. Conversely if weather is favourable we will notify you to confirm your tour is ON. If you haven’t heard from us by 3pm, phone or message us.

If we cancel your booked night tour, we will try to offer you an alternative tour date if possible. Otherwise you will receive a refund of any payment we’ve already processed.

If clouds interrupt a night tour in progress, we’ll wait for them to clear and then resume the tour. Or look at something else in a different direction. We have occasionally started tours later than scheduled if we know sunset clouds are going to clear away. Or earlier than scheduled if we know a clear evening will become cloudy later. We’ll notify everyone of the changed starting time in the tour confirmation message.

Return to top of page

AccessibilityGift vouchersNight toursParking your carPaymentsWeather
– – –
Terms & conditions for tours and trips, cancellations policy, and privacy policy