Lower Hutt

Get in

There are only four roads into and out of Lower Hutt. Three are part of the state highway system, and these all lie on the western bank of the Hutt River, with the fourth, Eastern Hutt Road, connecting Lower Hutt to Upper Hutt via Stokes Valley.

See

Belmont Regional Park is a great place to wander around. If you've got all day then the walk up to Belmont Trig is very tiring yet enjoyable, with outstanding views in clear weather. For a short walk, go from the end of Cornish Street, in Petone, up to the defunct Korokoro Dam. Petone, the first colonial settlement in the Wellington area. Visit the early settlers museum and see the Jackson Street walk of fame.

Do

The Hutt River is easily accessible for most of its length. It is even able to be fished for trout - a fishing licence is required. Petone beach and especially the Eastbourne beaches are popular with swimmers and those who enjoy water sports. Lighthouse Cinema is a boutique cinema where you can watch a movie in comfortable surroundings with a nice glass of wine or a coffee. Walk the fire breaks on the Eastern Hills for great views of Wellington Harbour and the Hutt Valley. Best access is from Te Whiti Park in Waiwhetu, or Summit Road in Epuni. Take good shoes and plenty of water, the tracks are very steep in places.

Buy

The major shopping and business is in the Lower Hutt city centre between the Melling and Ewen Bridges over the Hutt River.

A vegetable market operates at the Riverbank car park on Saturday mornings. This is easily the cheapest place to get your fruit and vegetables. There is plenty of car parking available. The main entrance is off Rutherford St, just north of Countdown Supermarket. Take a walk along Jackson Street in Petone. A once half-derelict shopping street that has revived and reinvented itself in the past ten years. Think of something and you can probably get it new, second hand or have someone make it for you. It's that kind of street. Full of quirky one-off shops (eg a knife shop, a shop that sells nothing but cook books, a South African deli, a shop where kids of all ages can paint to their hearts' content, a noodle factory.)

Eat

Supermarkets are found in Stokes Valley (New World), Lower Hutt Central (Countdown x2, New World, Pak'nSave), Petone (Countdown and Pak'nSave) and Wainuiomata (Countdown).

Fish and chips : Dennis Fish Supply; 103 Randwick Rd, Moera Moera Fish Supply; 161 Randwick Rd, Moera. For homemade chips. Tom's Takeaways; 123 Randwick Rd, Moera

Vegetarian : Nature Vegetarian Food, 519 High St. Fantastic meat substitute dishes.

Pies : Real Meat Pies, 68 Whites Line East, Waiwhetu. Best pies in Wellington. Try the award winning Roast Lamb & Mint Sauce. Normal business hours only.

Miscellaneous:

Drink

The best range of pubs is on Jackson Street in Petone. Choose between several, including:

Murphy's Law. The ubiquitous Irish pub. Firemans Arms. Good beer, good food. Speights Ale House. Restored Victorian pub with excellent restaurant and Speights beer on tap.

Most of the tap water in Lower Hutt comes from the aquifer under the city. The water's pH is adjusted to prevent pipes corroding, but it is otherwise supplied untreated. Te Puna Wai Ora (the spring of life) at the intersection of Jackson and Buick Streets in Petone provides free water from the public supply to the general public.

Stay safe

The Hutt River occasionally floods the riverbank carparks and the area around Melling Bridge, near the railway station. Be prepared to park somewhere else during or after very heavy rain, as the river does rise quickly.

Suburbs such as Naenae, Taita, Pomare and Stokes Valley tend to have reputations as lower socioeconomic zones due to these areas having been developed with a lot of state rental housing. However this is mostly a reputation that arises through a misunderstanding of the cultural differences between the wide variety of ethnic backgrounds of the inhabitants.

Go next

Further up the valley is Upper Hutt.