Points of Interest
The Matariki Tiki-Tour is being hosted by EDSM, the Elite Dangerous Star Map. You can sign up for free to the tour to track your progress.
The route around the stars of Matariki isn't linear. We jump around a bit. The order was taken from the Māori University, Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, along with the icons for each star. You can find more info and resources on their Matariki page.
Alpha Centauri
We start in Alpha Centauri so that Commanders without a Sol permit can work towards it on the journey.
Before you embark, make sure you have
A planetary vehicle and some cargo space could also come in handy.
Points of interest - click to expand
Alpha Centauri contains a Salvageable Wreckage zone about 4000ls from the main star, right next the the gas giant, Lagrange. In this location you can collect Wreckage Components. They are considered illegal salvage items and so can only be sold at stations with a black market. Check Inara for the closest station that will trade in them.
Road to Riches - click to expand
While not a long journey, you can increase the credits you collect by following this route on the way to Matariki - Alcyone from Alpha Centauri. This route has been plotted using the Road to Riches tool from https://spansh.co.uk/
Matariki - Alcyone
Matariki is the star that signifies reflection, hope, our connection to the environment and the gathering of people. Matariki is also connected to the health and wellbeing of people. Matariki is the Mother of the eight other stars in the Matariki cluster. Matariki means the Eye's of God, in this case Tawhirimatea, the god of the winds.
Waypoint 1
Points of interest - click to expand
There's not a lot to see in the Matariki system, just a single star and no orbiting bodies, although you may come across a carrier or two there. According to Wikipedia, Alcyone is a multiple star system, although Elite Dangerous only shows one star.
One thing to note is that the view of the Pleiades in the Southern Hemisphere is inverted to what you see in the Northern.
Pōhutukawa - Asterope
"There yonder is Pōhutukawa suspended above, a constant reminder for my treasured ones that have gone. May you shine as stars in the night, and sparkle within the repository of memories forever more."
Pōhutukawa is the star connected to those that have passed on. She is the oldest star in the cluster and carries the dead across the sky during the year.
Waypoint 2
Points of interest - click to expand
Pōhutukawa is home to the Copernicus Observatory, a Coriolis Starport under the control of the player faction, the Anti Xeno Initiative. It's a good place to stop to sell any Cartographic data and repair before heading into some of the more populated areas.
Waitī - Maia
"Waitī above, Waitī below, flowing are your waters as sustenance for the land, as vitality for mankind, as a food basket for the people. The current of the river swirls and eddies, the lakes ripple, and the source of Tāne-te-waiora overflows, ‘tis life!"
Waitī is connected with all fresh water bodies and the food sources that are sustained by those waters.
Waypoint 3
Points of interest - click to expand
There is a lot to do and see in Waitī /Maya. As well as having 50 celestial bodies in the system, the farthest being over 300ls from the main star, there are a number of settlements to visit. If you're working to unlock Felicity Farseer, you will need to get your 1 ton of Meta Alloys from Darnielle's Progress . Think about getting it on the return leg though. It's an invitation for interdiction.
You will want to visit Obsidian Orbital and scan the tourist beacon near it, and also check out and scan the Listening Posts in the system.
Finally, if you're up for a bit of a hike, about 300,000ls from the main star, Maia B is a black hole.
Waitā - Taygeta
"Behold the great expanse of Kiwa that gleams green and blue beneath you Waitā. Draw up the many of Ikatere, dive out to sea, and collect from the seaside as food for the multitude ashore. The charm of Tangaroa has begun! ‘Tis the great current, the long current, the boisterous ocean, the calm ocean."
Waitā is associated with the ocean, and food sources within it.
Waypoint 4
Points of interest - click to expand
In Waitā / Taygeta, head to the landable planet Taygeta 4. Its rings make for some great photo opportunities. Beware the gravity though. It's a 3.2G world so a lot of vertical thrust and even vertical boosting may be in order.
Waipuna-ā-Rangi - Electra
"Welcome the misty rain! Welcome the drizzle! Welcome the showers! Welcome the heavy drenching rain! Fall from the spring of the sacred sky, give drink oh Waipuna-ā-rangi, the land grows and the people flourish."
Waipuna-ā-Rangi is connected with the rain.
Waypoint 5
Points of interest - click to expand
Electra has seven planets, the first three of which are landable. It is also home of the Cavalieri star port controlled by the player faction The Hive. It's a must visit to see the Noob Hammers. When you go there you will understand what a Noob Hammer is.
Tupuānuku - Pleione
"Tupuānuku shoot up, and grow down, to be plentiful. May the mound dedicated to Rongo be forever fertile, that which was formed from afar. The bounty of Nukutū is scooped up in great numbers, till the soil, cultivate, harvest the year of copious abundance."
Tupuānuku is the star connected with everything that grows within the soil to be harvested or gathered for food.
Waypoint 6
Stargazer asteroid space port
Points of interest - click to expand
There is a lot to see in Pleione. Firstly, if you haven't been to a star port in an asteroid, visit the Stargazer port in the asteroid belt. Pleione 3 and 4 are in a binary orbit, both with rings and are close together for some stunning visuals. Also be sure to visit the Squirrels Nest Bar in the rings on Pleione 3, and scan the nearby satellites for data. The view from the bar can be stunning.
Tupuārangi - Atlas
"Thriving is the forest, lush is the forest, bountiful is the crown of the forest upon which the children of Tāne settle, there indeed is the great fowling tree. Tupuārangi you shall make the forest plentiful; the birds are rich with fat, the berries are fertile, sustenance!"
Tupuārangi is connected with everything that grows up in the trees: fruits, berries and birds.
Waypoint 7
Ururangi - Merope
"Ururangi pacify the unseeing god, lest the wind blows violently, blasting and fierce hitherto. But instead let it be a breeze, a gentle caressing wind so I may be revitalised and refreshed."
Ururangi is the star connected with the winds.
Waypoint 8
Points of interest - click to expand
Merope has a couple of settlements, two surface port and a star port. It's most interesting features are a Gas Giant with a huge ring system, and three Thargoid Barnacle sites on Merope 5C. Use your Detailed Surface Scanner to scan the planet and go and visit at least one barnacle site. Be sure to scan the two tourist beacons there as well.
Hiwa-i-te-Rangi - Celaeno
"Great Hiwa, long-established Hiwa, skilled Hiwa, wise Hiwa! Hiwaiterangi this is the wish of the desiring heart, this is the determination of the longing heart. Spread out in plenty the multitude of immense opportunities. Hold fast to succeed, hold firm to good fortune! Go forth into the world and prosper!"
Hiwaiterangi is the star connected with granting our wishes, and realising our aspirations for the coming year.
Waypoint 9
Points of interest - click to expand
If you haven't come across or been interdicted by Thargoids yet, and are feeling brave, here's one of the last chances to go and find some. First bring up your galaxy map and plot a route to Sol, or anywhere else so that you have it ready should you need to jump out in a hurry. Then using your Full Spectrum System Scanner, look at all the signal sources and look for any non-human sources with a threat rating of around 4. Travel to them and drop out of supercruise and you will find yourself being welcomed in a most friendly manner by the Thargoids (not). I personally did it, took a few pics quickly and ran away.
There is also a listening post and relay station within the rings of Celaeno 1, a ringed lava world.
Sol
Our final waypoint is Sol, our solar system where Matariki is observed. We will be completing our expedition by dropping out of supercruise above New Zealand (Aotearoa). You can see most of the South Island, but the North Island is covered in cloud. This is apt as Aotearoa literally means "Land of the long white cloud"
If you need the permit to access Sol, check here
Waypoint 10
Points of interest - click to expand
Check the crashed site on Mercury, but beware of the sentries