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For millennia people have gazed in awe at Stonehenge and other great stone circles, often totally unaware of how these structures were used. Now a full-scale working adaptation of Stonehenge has been built right 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, Stonehenge Aotearoa is a window into the past where the visitor can rediscover the knowledge of their ancestors. It incorporates ancient Egyptian, Babylonian and Indus Valley astronomy, Polynesian navigation, and Celtic and Maori starlore. Built on the same scale as Stonehenge on Salisbury Plain in England.
Stonehenge Aotearoa is not a replica. It is a complete and working structure designed and built for its precise location in the Wairarapa region of New Zealand. In this awe-inspiring place, people young and old can explore the mysteries of our past and learn how early cultures, including New Zealand Maori, used the Sun, Moon and stars for life and survival.
See www.stonehenge-aotearoa.co.nz for current opening hours and special events. Private tours are available at any time by arrangement.
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Based on a large sheep and beef farm, Gladstone Horse Treks offers horse trekking to suit all levels. We operate small groups of no more then five guests.
With over 2500 acres to explore we have a range of rides for all levels.
Book here! Simply choose a date from the calendar below and click on it to book.
Vineyard Retreat
The Gladstone Vineyard Retreat is beautifully appointed self-catering accommodation set above the old winery overlooking the vines.
The retreat offers accommodation for two people. The queen-size bed, fully fitted kitchen, separate sitting area, woodburner, SkyTV, DVD, Free Wifi and CD player provide for a comfortable stay all year round. Double bath, bathrobes, hairdryer and toiletries are also provided.
Outside, the large deck overlooking the vineyard gives commanding views to the local hills, an ideal spot to sit and relax over a barbecue dinner with a glass of wine.
Book here! Simply choose a date from the calendar below and click on it to book.
Five-star, luxury accommodation for a maximum of 6 guests in a private wing of the lodge. All the comfort of a hotel but the personal touches of a homestay; set in spacious grounds with rural outlooks of rolling hills, friendly alpacas and the Tararua ranges.
Breakfasts (incl) feature freshly baked bread, home toasted muesli, fresh fruit, free range eggs, gourmet sausages, locally cured bacon and espresso coffee/teas. Home baking and a selection of teas and coffee are always available for guests.
Book here! Simply choose a date from the calendar below and click on it to book.
The first and foremost vineyard at Gladstone in the Wairarapa, New Zealand.
Gladstone Vineyard is a family business with an international reputation for distinctive, high quality wines of finesse and complexity.
Wine tours and tastings explain the biological viticulture which we have used over the last 4-5 years. This has produced fantastic results, which shows in the world class wines that are available for tasting.
Pinot Noir, our flagship wine has won gold medals consecutively for 7 years, and our white wines show elegance structure and length.
Green Jersey has over 200 bicycles including e-bikes, tandems, quadricycles, kids bikes, trailers, rickshaws and tricycles available for hire!
Martinborough is a peddlers paradise with cellar doors (there are 20!) and a wide range of food producers within short cycling distance of the town centre, so pack yourself a picnic and stop where you like.
Green Jersey will even collect and deliver your wine to your accommodation as part of their bike hire! They also offer a shuttle service.
Check out the wide variety of bike styles for hire below - there's one for you!
STOP 1: Rimutaka Summit State Highway 2 Featherston
From September 1915 until April 1918 about 60,000 infantry reinforcements marched over the Rimutaka Range to Trentham Camp. The Wairarapa Patriotic Association provided a meal for up to 2,000 men as they passed the summit.
Setting off before dawn and accompanied by the camp's brass band, the soldiers would reach the summit by mid-morning. The next night they would stage a simulated night attack in the Mangaroa hills, before the final morning's march to Trentham.
STOP 2: Featherston Military Camp State Highway 2 Featherston
Featherston Military Camp was a temporary home for over 60,000 soldiers in training between January 1916 and November 1918. The barracks housed 4500, with a tent camp (Canvas Camp) holding about 3,000.
Infantry would spend about two months in camp, while mounted rifles and artillery did almost all their training at Featherston. The camp opened in January 1916 and over 60,000 men trained here. The hospital area was south of SH2 bounded by Main Road and Camp Road, opposite the barrack camp.
Here's a good map to see the layout of the military camp in relation to current roads.
STOP 3: Memorial Gates, Martinborough At the end of Kitchener Street Martinborough
This beautiful little town has World War One Memorial Gates in the town square. The memorial lists 50 dead from the area.
Unveiled in 1921, the gates joined the existing South African War Memorial (in the centre). A World War Two memorial was added opposite the Pain & Kershaw building.
STOP 4: 42 Sackville Street Martinborough
A small house built from half of a Featherston Camp hutment. Although modified, the house retains much of the original look.
STOP 5: Papawai Camp Fabians Rd, near junction with Papawai Rd Greytown
Set up in 1915 after training began at Tauherenikau Camp, the camp was next to Papawai Rifle Range where soldiers undertook their musketry (shooting) courses. 500 men could stay at the camp in tents.
STOP 6: Memorial Square, Carterton State Highway 2 Carterton
The square and its central memorial were dedicated in 1921, commemorating 114 Carterton area men.
STOP 7: Maungaraki War Memorial Te Whiti Road Gladstone
The little memorial, with 24 World War I and 10 World War II names, is for the Gladstone-Te Wharau and Longbush areas.
Past the plaque is an avenue of 36 scarlet oaks, forming part of the memorial which was unveiled in 1953.
STOP 8: Tinui War Memorial/Anzac Cross Te Ore Ore Road (Masterton to Castlepoint Road) Tinui
On 25 April 1916 the World’s first ever ANZAC service was held at the Church of the Good Shepherd. After the service the Tinui community erected a wooden cross on top of Mt. Maunsell (Tinui Taipo) as one of New Zealand’s first memorials to the Gallipoli Campaign.
The Anzac Cross was replaced by an aluminium version in 1965. The village now hosts a large Anzac Day service and a walk to visit the cross.
The original village memorial was moved to the War Memorial Hall in 1954.
STOP 9: Wairarapa Soldiers' Memorial Queen Elizabeth Park Dixon Street Masterton
This memorial was unveiled on 16 September 1923. The 441 names on the panels include men and one woman from Woodville to Palliser Bay rather than just Masterton town and district.
The four sided marble memorial is surmounted by a bronze statue of 'The last ANZAC' by Frank 'Guy' Lynch, modelled on his brother Joseph.
Other major campaigns are inscribed around the memorial and World War II names were added to the cenotaph.
STOP 10: Mauriceville War Memorial Opaki-Kaiparoro Road Mauriceville
The memorial was unveiled in 1928 with 20 local names but was removed about 1939 for improvements to the school grounds. It was re-installed in 1955 with additional World War II names.
STOP 11: ANZAC Bridge, Kaiparoro State Highway 2 Makakahi River Bridge Kaiparoro
The one-way concrete bridge crosses the Makakahi River just north of Pukaha National Wildlife Centre. It was built in 1922 by Alfred Falkner, father of one of six local soldiers commemorated on the bridge. There is a walkway from Millers Reserve, south of the bridge.
The two-way bridge on SH2 replaced the ANZAC Bridge in the 1950s.
A selected exhibition open to all artists living in Wairarapa.
Selector - Karl Chitham, Director, The Dowse Art Museum.
Awards:
- Rosewood Premier Award: $2,000
- The Whole Nine Yards Highly Commended Award: ...