How to watch The Luminaries online: stream the entire miniseries from anywhere now

watch the luminaries online stream
(Image credit: BBC)

Based on Eleanor Catton's epic, complex Man Booker Prize-winning novel of the same name, The Luminaries is an other-worldly murder mystery love story that follows Anna Wetherell (Eve Hewson) as she voyages alone to New Zealand's South Island in search of a new life during the 1860s West Coast Gold Rush, only to be dragged into a vortex of love, greed and fickle fortune. Read on as we explain how to watch The Luminaries online and stream every episode, no matter where you are in the world right now.

How to watch The Luminaries

US release date: Sunday, February 14

Time and TV channel (US): 9.30pm ET/PT on Starz 

Stream without cable: get Starz with FREE Amazon Prime trial (opens in new tab) 

Watch Luminaries FREE online: BBC iPlayer (opens in new tab) (UK-only)

Watch anywhere: use a VPN - try 100% risk-free  (opens in new tab)

At the end of the journey Anna meets Emery Staines (Himesh Patel), who's heading to New Zealand to dig for gold, and they forge an instant, transformative connection, one that they're unable to explain but are overwhelmed by. 

However, they're almost instantly torn apart by fate, which itself is ably assisted by the scheming, domineering Lydia Wells (Eva Green), a one-woman force of nature who runs The House Of Many Wishes, a fortune parlor that has become a Mecca for gold-diggers.

An opportunist and an entrepreneur, Lydia knows exactly how much power she wields over the gold-seekers, and blinded by greed and her secret love for ex-convict Francis Carver (Marton Csokas), she's grown accustomed to getting whatever she wants whenever she wants it. 

But, not being driven by fame and fortune, Anna alone has no desire to be favored by Lydia, who you cross at your own peril. Follow our guide below as we explain how to watch The Luminaries online and stream every episode of the miniseries from all over the world - including absolutely FREE for anyone located in the UK on iPlayer.


watch the luminaries free online

How to watch The Luminaries online FREE in the UK

BBC iPlayer (opens in new tab)

All six episodes of the miniseries are available to watch on BBC iPlayer (opens in new tab), with the entire run of The Luminaries having aired on BBC One in 2020. 

iPlayer is a completely FREE service – however, you should be in possession of a valid UK TV license before using it, as these now cover digital content consumption, too.

Not in the UK right now? Don't worry. You can just use a VPN (opens in new tab) to alter your IP address so you can stream your favourite TV shows and films online just like you would at home - only from anywhere.

How to watch The Luminaries online from outside your country

For anyone abroad right now wanting to watch The Luminaries, you’ll likely be unable to watch the miniseries due to annoying regional restrictions.

Luckily, there’s an easy solution. Downloading a VPN will allow you to stream The Luminaries online no matter where you are. It's a simple bit of software that changes your IP address, meaning that you can access on-demand content or live TV just as if you were at home.

Use a VPN to watch The Luminaries from abroad

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watch The Luminaries online

How to watch The Luminaries online and stream every episode in the US

Starz (opens in new tab)

Starz (opens in new tab) is the exclusive network in the US for The Luminaries, with episodes being aired every Sunday night at 9.30pm ET/PT from February 14.

Starz is a premium cable and satellite channel that boasts first-run original television like Power and Outlander, alongside a big helping of Hollywood movies fresh out of the cinema.

You can add the channel to your existing TV package, if you like - or if you're looking to cut the cord, you have a couple of alternative options for streaming Starz.

You can get a subscription directly from the network itself via its online platform (opens in new tab) - but you could also consider getting it through Amazon Prime Video (opens in new tab)

Amazon is worth considering as you can get both a FREE 30-day Prime trial (opens in new tab) and then a FREE 7-day Starz trial on top of that. In both cases, you can cancel at any time, with Prime costing $12.99 a month and Starz an additional $8.99 a month - but only if you decide to keep them.

Other ways to watch Starz and stream The Luminaries 

Getting Starz through the network itself currently costs $5 a month for the first 6-months - but there's no indication what it costs thereafter.

It's either an oversight or just plain shabby on the service's part, and hopefully they'll clarify things soon, so potential subscribers can sign up with confidence.

And remember, if you do pony up for a streaming service, you can watch it wherever you are - all you need to do it download a good VPN (opens in new tab) and follow our instructions above.

watch the luminaries new zealand

How to watch The Luminaries online FREE in New Zealand

TVNZ OnDemand (opens in new tab)

The Luminaries aired in New Zealand in 2020 and as such, you can stream every episode at your leisure through the TVNZ OnDemand (opens in new tab) streaming service, which is completely FREE to use and available on a wide range of devices. 

If you're outside New Zealand and want to watch the miniseries on TVNZ, you can use a VPN (opens in new tab) to tune in from anywhere.

watch the luminaries online australia

How to watch The Luminaries online: Australia release date and streaming

Similarly, we're still waiting on details of a possible release Down Under. 

But if you're currently in Oz from a country where The Luminaries is already out, remember you can use a good VPN (opens in new tab) to regain access to all the same services and content you'd normally watch (and pay for) in your country of residence.

watch the luminaries online canada

How to watch The Luminaries: Canada release date

There's no word yet on when The Luminaries might get a Canada release, but your best bet for the time being could be to harness the powers of a VPN (opens in new tab) to virtually transport yourself to a country that is showing it. 

Aatif Sulleyman

Aatif is a freelance copywriter and journalist based in the UK. He’s written about technology, science and politics for publications including Gizmodo, The Independent, Trusted Reviews and Newsweek, but focuses on streaming at Future, an arrangement that combines two of his greatest passions: sport and penny-pinching.