the wellingtonista

Going by Tom's cry for help below I thought I'd think outside the Rimutakas and suggest an interesting trip into the Wairarapa and (pause for effect) BACK IN TIME!!! Hidden somewhere between Caterton and Martinborough lies Stonehenge Aotearora. This should not be confused with the piles of rocks on the Salisbury Plain. The Kiwi version is made from honest-to-Gods concrete, and hippies, while welcome, are made to eat science. The circle is not a even a replica of the more famous version but instead a working stone circle for our position on the earth and it incorporates many Maori seasonal festivals including Matariki. Most interesting is the science that lies behind these circles (which are found all over the world from Asia to Africa). And there is a large dose of theological history for those of you who liked the facts in The Da Vinci Code more than the crap story. Also there is the chance for you to leave the circle as a virgin! You have to book for a tour but it is fully worth it. Our tour was taken by astronomer and historian Richard Hall who was the circle's project manager and author of How to Gaze at the Southern Stars. Tours open to the public are held at 2pm on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays. Entrance Fee: $12 adults, $6 children