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A town with three forest parks, a massive stretch of sandy coastline and top-of-the-line vineyards is not exactly the worst place to take a locum job.
The New Zealand community of Wairarapa has it all—it's within an hour's drive from the busier city of Wellington and in the heart of the Classic New Zealand Wine Trail, among expansive fields of grapevines, dirt paths, forested wilderness and more.
The beautiful, serene town has attracted its fair share of wealthy public figures and celebrities—just recently, director James Cameron reportedly paid $20 million for two large rural properties in the southern region, with a view of Lake Pounui. His love for the pristine land of the country likely began during the filming of his epic motion capture film Avatar.
While you could very well spend your entire visit to Wairarapa exploring the outdoors with no guided itinerary in mind, there are a handful of sights and attractions that you should add to your agenda.
Stonehenge Aotearoa is a full-scale working adaptation of England's Stonehenge, but not a replica. It is designed specifically for its location in Wairarapa and combines scientific knowledge with ancient Egyptian and Babylonian astrological customs. A wonderful spectacle, the site is only one of the many treasures you'll see on your visit to the rural Wairarapa countryside.