Things to Do in Lower Hutt and Upper Hutt!
Wellington’s story began in this lush valley and river landscapes of the Hutt Valley. It’s a place where the sun shines a little longer than Wellington city, so there’s more time in the day to all the amazing activities that the Hutt Valley has to offer. Discover the art and history of the Hutt Valley and explore this outdoor haven in the surrounding regional parks. We’ll go through all the highlights in this list of things to do in the Hutt Valley!
From innovative cultural attractions like art galleries and museums to bustling city streets with cafes and shops to nature escapes and family-friendly experiences, if anything you’ll be overwhelmed the number of things to do in Lower Hutt and Upper Hutt. For more advice on planning your trip to the Hutt Valley, see our Hutt Valley Guide.
1. Play a Round of Golf
The Hutt Valley is here to serve all you golfers out there (or non-golfers if you want to try out New Zealand’s most popular sport for yourself). There are a whopping nine golf courses and driving ranges in the Hutt Valley. See our top picks in 21 Best Golf Courses in New Zealand.
Location: All around the Hutt Valley
© Tourism New Zealand2. Bike the Remutaka Cycle Trail
The Remutaka Cycle Trail, 115km (71 miles) of grade 1-4 trail, begins/end in the Hutt Valley. Petone Wharf is the official start point, where riders can enjoy a cycle along the Hutt River along a disused railway line. The journey takes you through to Wairarapa’s vineyards and along the rugged Wairarapa Coast. Bike rentals and transport can be organised with Cycle Remutaka on Viator and Tripadvisor.
Location: Petone Wharf, Lower Hutt
© Johnny Hendrikus - WellingtonNZ3. Visit the Petone Settlers Museum
Discover the stories of the early Te Ati Awa Maori tribes and the first European pioneers as they settled in the Wellington area. The stunning memorial building of the Petone Settlers Museum is situated in the amazing setting of the Wellington Harbour waterfront. What’s more, entry is free! See more museums in the 12 Free Art Galleries & Museums in Wellington.
Location: Petone, Lower Hutt
© Eigenes Werk on Wikipedia4. See Maori Art at the Hetet Art Space
Watch the master carvers and weavers at work, as well as their amazing Maori art displays at the Hetet Art Space in Waiwhetu. The small gallery is a great place to culture yourself!
Location: 58a Guthrie Street, Lower Hutt
© James Heremaia - Tourism New Zealand5. Go on a Lord of the Rings Location-finding Mission
Throw on your elf ears and put on your Hobbit feet, because the Hutt Valley actually featured several times in The Lord of the Rings movies. Scenes from Rivendell, Helm’s Deep, Isengard and the River Anduin were all filmed in the area. Find the exact locations in our Guide to The Lord of the Rings in Wellington.
Location: All over the Hutt Valley
© Brian on Flickr6. Dowse Art Museum
Get a dose of contemporary art at the Dowse Art Museum in Lower Hutt. As one of the largest public art collections in New Zealand, you’re sure to be entertained for a while! Plus, free entry is always a bonus! See here for more free museums and art galleries around Wellington!
Location: 45 Laings Road, Lower Hutt
© Stuartyeates on Wikipedia7. Walk to the Birchville Dam
Take a short and pleasant stroll to the romantic setting of the Birchville Dam in Belmont Regional Park. It’s just a short drive up the Moonshine Valley in Upper Hutt.
Location: End of Bridge Road, Moonshine Valley, Upper Hutt.
© Cameron Dewe on Wikipedia8. Fill Up Your Water Bottle at the Spring of Life
Head to Petone’s Buick and Jackson Street to sample pure artesian water at Te Puna Wai Ora (The Spring of Life) and at The Dowse Square.
Location: Corner of Buick and Jackson Street and The Dowse Square, Petone, Lower Hutt.
© Peter Pearson on Flickr9. Go Quad Biking
Take an adventure-filled quad-biking expedition along the rugged coastline and to the hilltops of the Remutaka Forest Park. The trip covers 20km (12 miles) of coastline and takes you 900m (2,953 miles) high in the hills of the Hutt Valley.
Location: Wainuiomata, Lower Hutt.
© Quad Biking Expeditions10. Visit Golder Cottage
If you’re a bit of a history nerd then you’ll love checking out Golder Cottage! Get an insight into how the early pioneers used to live in one of the oldest homes in Upper Hutt. Built in 1876, the cottage holds displays of relics commonly found in New Zealand households throughout the 1800s.
Location: 707 Fergusson Drive, Upper Hutt.
© Rudolph89 on Wikipedia11. See Animals at the Staglands Wildlife Reserve
Nature-lovers and families alike will love this animal and bird park in the Akatarawa Valley. See a wealth of animals from farmyard favourites to native birds as part of conservation programs. Get your Staglands Wildlife Reserve entry ticket on Viator and Tripadvisor.
Location: 2362 Akatarawa Road, Upper Hutt.
© Karora on WikipediaMore Things to Do Near the Hutt Valley
- 10 Thrilling Things to Do in Lower Hutt
- 20 Incredible Things to Do in Wellington
- 10 Fun Things to Do in Porirua
That’s it for the best things to do in the Hutt Valley. Find more activities for your travels in the 51 Best Things to Do on the North Island.
Sources:
The information in this guide has been compiled from our extensive research, travel and experiences across New Zealand and the South Pacific, accumulated over more than a decade of numerous visits to each destination. Additional sources for this guide include the following:
- Tourism New Zealand (General travel advice - Updated [2024])
- Department of Conservation (Tracks, hikes, campsites and more - Updated [2024])
- AdventureSmart (Know before you go - Update [2024])
- Tiaki Promise (Care for people place and culture - Updated [2024])
- NZ Māori Tourism (Official Māori Tourism platform - Updated [2024])
- Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency (Road and transport tips - Updated [2024])
- DriveSafe (Road safety - Updated [2024])
- Council websites and freedom camping maps (Local travel advice region by region - Updated [2024])
- Safe Travel (NZ travel advisories - Updated [2024])
- Tourism Export Council New Zealand (Tourism trade association - Updated [2024])
- TIA (Independent tourism association - Updated [2024])
- Visit Wellington (Regional tourism website)
- Destination Wairarapa (Regional tourism website)
- Wellington City Council (Local council website)
- Porirua City Council (Local council website)
- Greater Wellington Regional Council (Local council website)
- Upper Hutt City Council (Local council website)
- Hutt City Council (Local council website)
- Kāpiti Coast District Council (Local council website)
- Masterton District Council (Local council website)
- Carterton District Council (Local council website)
- South Wairarapa District Council (Local council website)
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