Welcome to stonehenge Aotearoa,

New Zealand’s unique open air astronomical observatory. We look forward to seeing you here during our regular opening hours and for special events.

You can visit the henge anytime we are open, without having to make any appointment.
A map of the Stonehenge Aotearoa structure and a short audio-visual explaining how the stones work are included in the visit.

Learn about the cycles of nature, movements of celestial bodies and archeoastronomy: how our ancestors have understood the phenomena in the sky, how they used these phenomena and what role the sky played in their cultures.

Book a guided tour during the day

Find out more about private guided tours

to learn about the henge and its link with the past, with ancient civilisations and Māori starlore, Polynesian navigation and archeoastronomy.

Our regular programme is:

Visit the Henge

10:00AM – 4:00PM

We are open from Wednesday to Sunday and every day on school holidays

From May to July – Saturday, Sunday and on Queen’s Birthday
From 1st of August to 22nd of December – Wednesday to Sunday and Labour Day.
From 28th of December to 31st of January – We are open every day!
From February to April – Wednesday to Sunday and Anzac Day.

Take a Star safari to the henge at night

Find out more

would you live on Mars?

Visit our mars exhibition

Our Mars exhibition was officially opened by US Embassy New Zealand’s Deputy Chief of Mission Kevin Covert. The exhibition is a project of the New Zealand Astrobiology Network’s Executive Director Haritina Mogoșanu and was possible with a generous grant from the US Embassy New Zealand, who is the principal sponsor, the Phoenix Astronomical Society (NZ) and support from Milky Way Kiwi. Here are some photos from the opening, courtesy of the US Embassy. Entry to the exhibition is FREE if you purchased a ticket for Stonehenge Aotearoa.
Panel 1

What can you do here?

ANytime – take a self guided tour

Come and see the henge during daytime without any appointment. See our opening hours at the very end of this page.

Every Friday and Saturday, we take you on a Star Safari – a night tour of the henge, and — weather permitting, we open our powerful telescopes and gaze at the dark Wairarapa sky.

What’s on

JOin us
for a guided tour during daytime
Guided tour during daytime.
By appointment. Bookings essential!
Find out more
Book now
Venture
on a star safari
Every Friday and Saturday we host a night guided tour of the henge followed by stargazing, weather permitting.

Bookings essential.

Find out more
Book now

visit our mars EXHIBITION – opens 15 November
The exhibition is free with entry to Stonehenge Aotearoa
Find out more
events at the henge
We hold 5 key events each year: the equinoxes and solstices, marking each of the four seasons and Matariki Dawn observances.

Throughout the year, we hold many other events. Check out our upcoming events

The telescope viewing is weather-dependant. When the sky is cloudy, we provide a full tour of the henge at night. Check the weather updates on the Star-Safari page.

upcoming Events and courses

Saturday, 19 June, 4:15PM Tales of the Winter Solstice

Come learn about the traditions occurring around the shortest day of the year! The programme consists of watching the sun set over the heel stone (weather permitting) followed by a presentation by Richard Hall of the tales and history of the Winter Solstice over both time and cultures

Continue reading “What can you do here?” →
Panel 3

Learn

Win a year of astronomy for your school! Click here to find out more.

We offer science courses in stargazing, introduction to astronomy, telescope courses and astrophotography. These are held mostly every Saturday from 2:00PM to 6:00PM and are followed by a Star Safari by the Henge with our astronomy educators.

Our Mars exhibition opened on the 15th of November 2020. This is the first permanent Mars exhibition in New Zealand. We look forward to seeing you here for all these events.

VENTURE WITH US BEYOND EARTH!

Continue reading “Learn” →
Panel 4

Community Events

Part of our special events we organise music concerts, fairs, and we welcome our community for functions, weddings, anniversaries, memorials and family festivals.

Continue reading “Community Events” →