Upper Hutt: Culture, Craft and Outdoors

Upper Hutt offers a range of experiences for a stay: Maidstone Park focuses on trails and sports facilities, while Whirinaki Whare Taonga is dedicated to art, culture and history. Craft classes and the offerings at Brewtown round out the picture. Which of these interests appeal to you can help you decide whether Upper Hutt is the right destination for you.

Maidstone Park: Trails, Skatepark and Views

Maidstone Park is Upper Hutt’s most central park and is just a short walk from the city centre. Several bush tracks run between the main park and Kingsley Heights. The park therefore offers both trails and purpose-built sports facilities, without them needing to offer the same kind of experience.

The expanded skatepark was extended in May 2021. For mountain biking, there is a purpose-built 1,100-metre downhill track. Brett Latimer Lookout offers a scenic view of Upper Hutt City and the Hutt Valley. Together, these different spots give you an idea of how a visit to the park can take in trails, sport and views.

Art, History and Crafts

Whirinaki Whare Taonga has five galleries with regularly changing exhibitions. They showcase New Zealand and international art, as well as local art and crafts and historical exhibitions. As the exhibitions change, the centre offers a variety of subjects to discover during a visit. It is a five-minute walk from Upper Hutt railway station and is also on the main bus route.

Upper Hutt also has room for smaller, specialist interests. Lucky’s Tattoo Museum documents the social and artistic history of tattooing through an extensive collection of tattoo art and artefacts dating from the 1940s to the present day. The Potters’ Roost offers beginner classes in wheel throwing and hand-building. Stackhouse Knives offers craft classes ranging from two-hour short courses to five-day courses. The durations vary considerably; for a specific date, it is best to check the current course schedule.

Brewtown and Leisure Activities

Brewtown is a craft beer village with several craft breweries, a range of entertainment options and a boutique distillery. Activities on offer include axe throwing, escape rooms, go-karting, bowling and mini golf. The range extends from craft-focused food and drink experiences to different forms of entertainment. Individual businesses and activities may vary; check current offerings when making specific plans.

More Ways to Explore Upper Hutt City

The wider destination of Upper Hutt City offers more nature and history to explore. Harcourt Park is an access point to the Hutt River Trail, an easy scenic walking and cycling route with access to the river for swimming, fishing and kayaking. Kaitoke Regional Park has day walks through lush forest, as well as opportunities to swim or kayak in the Pākuratahi River. It is also the filming location for Rivendell from The Lord of the Rings.

The 18-kilometre Remutaka Rail Trail climbs gently and is suitable for walking, running or mountain biking. Access is from Upper Hutt via Pakuratahi Forest. Information panels describe the history of the former railway line; restored railway bridges and historic tunnels preserve further traces of its past. The trail combines exercise with railway history, while trails and river activities elsewhere in Upper Hutt City offer a different focus.

A seasonal highlight is Blossom Valley, the annual spring festival at Aston Norwood Gardens in Kaitoke. Hundreds of cherry trees bloom there; the exact timing varies from season to season. If this event is important to your plans, check the bloom dates in advance.

Discover more destinations: Silverstream, Trentham.

Back to the wider travel guide: Upper Hutt City.