Lower Hutt City: River Trails, Art and Hiking

Local highlights range from river access and several named trails to a museum along a trail and decorative art at The Dowse. This lets you consider whether outdoor activities or a cultural focus should shape your stay.

Hiking and cycling along the Hutt River

The Hutt River Trail is an easy, scenic walking and cycling trail along Te Awa Kairangi / Hutt River. It runs from Petone to Te Marua; its starting point is Hikoikoi Reserve on Marine Parade in Petone. The trail provides access to the river for swimming and connects with the Remutaka Rail Trail. If you are travelling with a dog, dogs must be kept on a leash on the Hutt River Trail in Lower Hutt. River access, the trail route and the leash rule are different aspects you can take into account when planning.

Loop trails, suitability and a museum along the route

The Rātā Street Loop is Lower Hutt’s shortest tramping loop trail. The Waterfall Track is suitable for all ages and abilities. Along the Lower Dam Walk in Wainuiomata Regional Park, you can visit a water history museum. Different features stand out when comparing these options: the Rātā Street Loop is notable for its relative length, the Waterfall Track for its suitability, and the Lower Dam Walk for the museum along the route. This lets you choose according to different interests, rather than treating the three trails as similar offerings.

Decorative art at The Dowse

The Dowse has a strong focus on decorative art and houses pātaka Nuku Tewhatewha. The art focus describes the museum’s subject matter; pātaka Nuku Tewhatewha also identifies a specific object housed there. If you would also like to include art in your travel plans, both provide a distinct cultural point of interest in Lower Hutt City.

Getting there by bus

Bus route 145 runs from Waterloo or Melling Station to the Hill Road stop (Stop 9358, near number 133); it operates Monday to Saturday. Check current public transport conditions before travelling.

Wellington as the wider travel destination

The wider travel destination of Wellington includes the Greater Wellington region, which extends along the west coast from north of Ōtaki to north of Castlepoint on the east coast. It has almost 500 kilometres of coastline. Greater Wellington’s eight regional parks cover more than 330 square kilometres and are visited by thousands of people every year. The Wellington Regional Trails comprise almost 300 kilometres of mountain biking, walking and horse riding trails across 40,000 hectares of publicly used land; the network stretches from Wellington’s city centre to the Wairarapa region and the Kāpiti Coast. Also within the wider travel destination of Wellington, the Wellington Museum presents maritime history, Māori and European settlement, and the development of the region and city as the capital since 1865. This lets you distinguish between specific activities in Lower Hutt City and the wider context of the Wellington travel destination when planning.

Discover more destinations: Lower Hutt, Kapiti Coast District, Wellington City, Upper Hutt City, Masterton District, Gladstone, South Wairarapa District.

View the wider travel overview: Wellington.