That was the consensus from more than 60 people who toured the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (Niwa) station at Lauder as part of the facility's 50th anniversary celebration yesterday.
Several staff from the station's early days revisited the site for the first time in decades.
"I hardly recognised the place. It's a far cry from what we knew," Colin Lewis, of Christchurch, said.
Mr Lewis was a scientist for the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research at Bluff in the late 1950s and made the move to Lauder when the station was established, to take advantage of the clear skies to research the aurora australis (Southern Lights). He lived there until 1965.
"There were about six staff in those days - I can't believe how it's grown, " he said.
The clear skies are a vital element in the station's work. Principal Niwa scientist for radiation, Richard McKenzie, who is based at Lauder, said the skies were "10 times cleaner than what is generally considered to be clean air".
"This site is one of the clearest in the world."
The contributing factors included the distance from the sea (no salt in the air) and the absence of trees in the area (no airborne seeds). There was also no light pollution.
That made it a pivotal cog in international atmospheric research.
Des Rowles, of Waitaki Bridge, was one of the technicians who was involved in the logistics of establishing the station. He camped on site until buildings were shifted there.
"I don't think I've ever worked so hard before or since that shift to Lauder. I'd just moved here from Britain and it was my first job in New Zealand. It was very much a community decision and everyone pulled together to make it happen. That was very refreshing, coming from Britain, that Kiwi 'can-do' attitude.
"People just got down and did whatever had to be done."
Niwa employs 16 staff at the station, 35km from Alexandra. It houses equipment used to measure CFCs, ozone, ultraviolet levels and greenhouse gases.
Staff carry out work on contract for New Zealand and overseas research organisations and some of the world-class machinery on site has been installed by overseas groups.
The anniversary celebrations, organised by Gordon Keys, of Alexandra, who worked at Lauder from 1963 to 1995, included a series of science lectures and a display at Central Stories in Alexandra.
