Book this cabin to watch a meteor shower with an astrophysicist

This Tassie stargazing stay hosted by ex-Bachelor Dr Matt Agnew is out of this world.

If your idea of the perfect escape involves dark skies, a meteor shower and a dreamy astrophysicist who once handed out roses on national TV, then we’ve found your ultimate autumn getaway.

Booking.com has just launched the Cosmic Cabin, a once-in-a-lifetime stargazing experience hosted by none other than Dr Matt Agnew – the science-loving heartthrob from The Bachelor who is a full-time space nerd. Set on Tasmania’s wildly beautiful Tasman Peninsula, this exclusive two-night stay will let one lucky Genius member (and their guest) sleep under the Eta Aquariid meteor shower as it peaks across the southern hemisphere skies from 5–7 May.

The best part? It’ll only set you back $18.78 – a cheeky nod to the year the Eta Aquariids were first discovered. But you’ll need to be quick: bookings go live on 17 April at 12pm AEST, and it’s first in, first star-gazed.

So what’s included?

This is no regular cabin stay. Booking.com has pulled out all the cosmic stops, offering:

• A guided tour of the galaxy with Dr Matt himself, complete with telescope time at McHenry Distillery’s private observatory.
• Tasmanian food and wine for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks.
• A professional dark sky photographer to snap your stargazing memories.
• Flights and a rental car to get you there.
• A stay in the eco-friendly, remote Cosmic Cabin.
• A trip to the Port Arthur Historic Site and the Tasmanian Devil Unzoo.

Yep, it’s basically every science-loving, star-chasing traveller’s dream holiday – and it couldn’t come at a better time. According to Booking.com’s 2025 Travel Predictions, Aussies are looking skyward to escape the chaos of everyday life, with 57 per cent of us embracing ‘noctourism’ and planning to visit a dark sky destination this year.

“It’s no surprise that more people are travelling to witness the wonders of the universe, and this unique stay is perfect to experience ‘noctourism’ under the dazzling display of the Eta Aquariids meteor shower,” Matt said.

“I was over the moon when Booking.com invited me to host this stellar stargazing experience at one of their many fantastic holiday homes.”

Why Tassie?

Tassie is glowing up right now when it comes to dark sky tourism. With remote wilderness, crisp autumn nights and minimal light pollution, Tasmania’s south is angling to become an internationally recognised dark sky sanctuary. Oh, and did we mention the potential for aurora australis sightings?

Tourism Tasmania chief executive officer Sarah Clark said Tasmania is the ideal spot for dark-sky tourism.

“Our long winter nights provide the perfect opportunity to rug up, look up, and take in the expansive starry sky, nocturnal wildlife and, if you’re lucky, the aurora australis,” she said.

“To catch a glimpse of the upcoming Eta Aquariid meteor shower experiences like the Cosmic Cabin are a welcomed addition to Tasmania’s many stargazing offerings that allow visitors to marvel at the wonders of the universe.”

How to book

You’ll need to be a Booking.com Genius member (which is free to join) to be eligible to book the Cosmic Cabin. Then, be ready to click fast at 12pm AEST on 17 April to snag your $18.78 stay for 5–7 May. It’s a cosmic deal – and a limited one.

Todd Lacey, Booking.com’s regional manager for Oceania, said searches for Hobart on Booking.com have doubled in the lead up to the Easter and Anzac Day break and they expect interest in dark sky destinations to continue throughout winter.

“The Booking.com Cosmic Cabin exemplifies this growing trend amongst travellers and helps position Tassie as a world-class dark sky destination that rivals those in the northern hemisphere,” he said.

So, if you’ve ever wanted to combine your love of space, nature, and reality TV science hunks – your moment has arrived.

The post Book this cabin to watch a meteor shower with an astrophysicist appeared first on Australian Traveller.