Cactus Stargazing
in the Desert
Highlights
After our successful 2022 event, we are thrilled to be back to the Australia’s largest cactus garden, Cactus Country.
Embark on a captivating stargazing tour led by an Astrophysicist with exploration of the Southern Sky—planets, galaxies, stars, constellations and galaxies—while soaking up the garden views surrounded by thousands of cacti and succulents in a 12-acre desert oasis.
Make the most of your visit and stay overnight
Stay at Ulupna, a picturesque retreat on 180 acres of beautiful Australian bushland just three hours north of Melbourne and only 10 minutes from Cactus Country.
Self-contained cabin with full kitchen and AC.
$200 per night (sleep 4 people). $20 per extra.
Located on Ulupna Island – nestled between the Ulupna Creek and the Murray River – only a 5-minute drive to natural river beaches perfect for a refreshing swim, BBQing delicious local saltbush lamb, and enjoying the tranquil atmosphere, watch kangaroos snack on the nearby grass and find koalas in the trees – Fluffy Butt and River are the most beloved regulars.
Please contacts us and we will assist you to arrange your stay.
Location
Cactus Country, 4986 Murray Valley Hwy, Strathmerton VIC 3641, is located in the charming town of Strathmerton in Victoria, in the picturesque Murray River region. The easiest way to get to Cactus Country is by car. Strathmerton is an easy three hour drive from Melbourne, one hour drive from Echuca Moama, 45 minutes from Shepparton and 35 minutes from Yarrawonga.
About your Guide
Dimitri Douchin PhD is a French astronomer who has been living for a decade in Australia, where he received his PhD in astronomy and astrophysics at Macquarie University in 2015.
Boasting 10 years of experience as a guide in Lake Tekapo (NZ), Macquarie University Observatory, Emirates One & Only Wolgan Valley, and Sydney Observatory, Dimitri - together with his fiancee Caroline - is the co-founder of Blue Mountains Stargazing and Jervis Bay Stargazing.
Dimitri is also working in research at Western Sydney University as a cultural astronomer, collaborating with local Aboriginal communities to recover any archaeological and astronomical heritage in the mountains.
You can watch his first Ted Talk here.
Cancellation Policy
Please contact us at least 24 hours before the event to cancel or postpone your booking. Our tours are non-refundable. We will issue vouchers for our stargazing experiences in the Blue Mountains and Jervis Bay.
In the event of cancellation due to cloudy skies, we will notify you by email at 2 pm on the day and will offer you a full refund.