Discover Lower Hutt: gardens, art and riverside trails

If you’re looking for hotels in Lower Hutt, you can plan your trip around three interests: gardens, art and riverside trails. Riddiford Garden is a historic garden park near the city centre, The Dowse Art Museum showcases contemporary art and culture, and the Hutt River Trail offers opportunities to get around on foot or by bike. Information about the wider destination of Lower Hutt City adds other trails and places to visit to these local themes.

Garden park near the city centre

Riddiford Garden covers 3.2 hectares, is near Lower Hutt city centre and is one of the city’s oldest garden parks. Riddiford Garden dates from 1923. Its size, location and age offer different points of reference: its size indicates the extent of the grounds, its proximity to the city centre places it within Lower Hutt, and its year of origin provides a historical context.

If gardens are among the things you’re interested in on your trip, you can treat Riddiford Garden as a destination in its own right, alongside the museum and riverside trails. It combines the appeal of a garden park with a specific location near the city centre, making it distinct both from an art museum and from a route for outdoor activities.

Riverside route or forest loop

In Lower Hutt, the Hutt River Trail runs continuously along both sides of the river. The trail offers both gravel and sealed paths for walking or cycling. This makes it possible to include the route in your travel plans for different types of activity; the two path types also provide a practical indication of the surface. Trail conditions can change due to infrastructure works, so it’s advisable to check them before setting out.

The Rātā Street Loop offers a different kind of outing: it is Lower Hutt’s shortest tramping loop and passes through native forest. Its loop format and forest setting distinguish it from the riverside Hutt River Trail. This lets you choose between a river route for walking and cycling and a loop through native forest without treating the two as the same kind of experience.

Art and a local taonga

Visitors can experience contemporary art and culture for free at The Dowse Art Museum. Nuku Tewhatewha, an important local taonga, is on display there. A visit therefore combines contemporary art and culture with a specific local object. Admission is free; as visitor arrangements may change, check the current conditions before your visit.

In the wider destination of Lower Hutt City, The Dowse also has a strong focus on decorative arts. This adds another art form to its focus on contemporary art and the taonga on display. For your travel plans, The Dowse is a cultural destination, while the garden park and trails appeal to other interests.

More options in the wider destination of Lower Hutt City

In Lower Hutt City, the Hutt River Trail runs along Te Awa Kairangi / Hutt River from Petone to Te Marua. It is an easy, scenic walking and cycling trail that starts at Hikoikoi Reserve on Marine Parade in Petone and connects with the Remutaka Rail Trail. These endpoints and the connection provide a broader framework for planning your route. The trail also provides access to the river for swimming.

Dogs must be kept on a leash on the Hutt River Trail in Lower Hutt. If you use the trail, this is one of the practical conditions to keep in mind when visiting. It is separate from the option of swimming in the river: both relate to the trail, but they address different aspects of planning your stay.

Other trails in Lower Hutt City also have their own attractions. Along the Lower Dam Walk in Wainuiomata Regional Park, you can visit a water history museum. The Waterfall Track is suitable for all ages and abilities. This gives you two different options: a museum visit along a walking track and a track expressly suited to a wide range of visitors.

To get there, bus route 145 runs from Waterloo or Melling Station to Hill Road stop, Stop 9358, near number 133, Monday to Saturday. Check current public transport conditions before travelling.

For the wider travel overview: Lower Hutt City.