Visitors Invited to Help Protect Tasmania’s Night Skies Through Citizen Science

Tasvanlife has jumped onboard a citizen science program developed in partnership with the Wilderness Society’s Eyes in the Dark project. The initiative invites travellers to actively contribute to research supporting the creation of Tasmania’s first Dark Sky Sanctuary, with a focus on the globally significant Southwest Sky Country.

Sitting far from major population centres, Tasmania’s southwest is recognised as one of the least light-polluted places on the planet. These pristine night skies offer world-class stargazing and are increasingly valued for their environmental, cultural and tourism significance. Light pollution is a growing global issue, and Dark Sky Sanctuary status is an internationally recognised conservation designation that helps protect night environments while supporting low-impact, nature-based tourism.

The program integrates seamlessly into a Tasmanian road trip. Travellers booking a Tasvanlife campervan collect a simple, portable device at pickup. As they travel and camp across the state, particularly in remote southern regions, participants record observations of the night sky. This data is then shared with the Wilderness Society to help establish baseline measurements of sky quality across Tasmania.

The program also acknowledges the deep cultural connections of Tasmanian Aboriginal people to milaythina wurangkili / liwari — Sky Country and night — adding an important layer of meaning to the visitor experience.

If you aren’t hiring a van, but are still keen to get involved these devices are also available for hire from Paddy Pallin’s Hobart Store, or The Wilderness Society’s Launceston Campaign Centre – simply drop in and pick one up.

Destination Southern Tasmania welcomes initiatives that align conservation outcomes with meaningful visitor experiences and support sustainable tourism across the region.