Astro Cafe

Absolutely loved Astro Coffee! The coffee was incredible – rich, smooth, and just what I needed after the hike. And the view? Next-level. Sipping a great cup of coffee at the top of the hill was simply breathtaking. The atmosphere is unbeatable – cozy, relaxed, and full of good vibes. Highly recommend making the climb – it’s 100% worth it!

It costs $8 to drive up to Mt. John Observatory. We waited in line for nearly half an hour to drive up, as only one car is allowed up when another comes down. However, the view from the top is absolutely stunning. This café is blessed with one of the most beautiful natural backdrops—it’s truly breathtaking. I didn’t make a purchase this time, but I did take a look at the prices. The food is noticeably more expensive than in town, though the coffee prices are still reasonable. Next time, if I come in the morning, I’ll definitely grab a coffee. With a view like this, it’s well worth it.

Perched above the lake with sky for ceiling; carrot cake moist and warm-spiced, pies flaky with honest mince, and coffee pours bright. Windows wrap the horizon, telescopes wink next door. Service is breezy, not pushy. Road up is gravel; come calm. On windy days doors slam and tea cools fast, still the view taste like extra sugar.

Price for Coffee and Cake: Quite high, but the taste just average. View: depends on your luck. We up on hill around 9am, a little bit rain & cloundy, seeing clear view, but just within 10 min, so much cloudy and rain. You can not count on the weather forecast. Noted: 8nzd ticket fee/car for pass through up hill.

The views were lovely but the cafe is just lacking in every way. Food there isn't worth half of what it costs and the options are poor. My partner ordered a vegan sandwich which was just onion relish in a sub and cost $16. What was even more disappointing is that it had melted cheese stuck to the side (notice it on the picture on the bottom of the sub) so they obviously cook all the vegan and non vegan stuff together. If I you can't eat dairy you should be worried about cross contamination here. I would advise just bringing your own sandwiches up. It is also incredibly busy and hard to get a seat, it could be the busiest place I've been to in NZ. They are really missing out on an incredible opportunity to offer a great service in a fantastic location.