A full-scale working adaptation of Stonehenge has been built here in Aotearoa, allowing all New Zealanders to experience the wonders of stone circles for themselves. Situated in the Wairarapa countryside, a short distance from Wellington.

New Zealand’s very own Stonehenge, in the heart of rural Wairarapa, stands on a knoll above river flats with the grey-blue of the Tararua Ranges on the western horizon. It seems an odd place for something so fundamentally English but when I understand its job, and that of the one on Salisbury Plains, the idea that these structures can be built anywhere makes sense.

To discover the secrets of Stonehenge Aotearoa and other stone circles we recommend that you book into one of our story-telling guided tours which provides a complete experience and is tailored to weather conditions. Our tours include tales from antiquity of the solstices, equinoxes and signs of the zodiac.  You will discover how stones, posts and shadows were used to unlock mysteries of the earth and sky which formed a cornerstone to the rise of civilization.

The work of Kay and Richard follows the insight of the nineteenth-century elders in recording their knowledge in writing, by making that knowledge available in published form. Young and old people of today and tomorrow may look and learn to see the heavens from a Maori perspective.

Approximately 150 members of the Phoenix Astronomical Society were involved at one time or another in the building of Stonehenge Aotearoa.

However, there was a core group of enthusiasts that were there every weekend, rain or fine, throughout construction.  These are our Beaker People,  Graham Palmer, Chris Cahill, Alan Green, Geoffrey Dobson, Richard Hall (project manager) and Kay Leather (construction team manager). 

The henge is enclosed in a 60m x 60m square set in a 10-hectare farmlet. The gardens are gradually spreading along the driveway, around the buildings and henge surround.

Stonehenge Aotearoa is available for private functions - weddings, birthdays, and special occasions by arrangement.

For the general visitor, there is a map, a 15-minute Audio Visual that takes you around the henge and explains everything, and there are also displays on the planets  After that you follow the garden path through the gardens to explore the henge. 

For those who want more, you can book a guided tour during the day with Richard Hall. You can even do one that ends with the sunset. For the star lovers, there is a Star Trek Laser Tour of the night sky. These tours must be booked either through email or phone.