Discover Silverstream: Parks, Playgrounds and River Trails

Silverstream combines parks and playgrounds in the suburb with trails along Te Awa Kairangi (Hutt River), as well as other nature and cultural attractions in the surrounding area. If you’re looking for hotels in Silverstream, these different features can help you choose where to stay: some options are in the suburb itself, while others are nearby or in the wider destination of Upper Hutt City.

Parks and Playgrounds in Silverstream

Silverstream Park is directly across from Silverstream Village. It offers space for picnics and shade from trees. The playground has opportunities for climbing, playing, sliding, swinging and jumping. Dunns Park is also in the suburb of Silverstream and has a playground too. Its open spaces are partly flat and partly hilly. The two parks therefore offer different features: Silverstream Park combines picnic areas, shade and a variety of play options, while Dunns Park is distinguished by its flat and hilly open spaces.

Trails and River Access

Silverstream Amenity Reserve is on Te Awa Kairangi, also known as the Hutt River. The reserve offers space for picnics and access to the river on foot. On the Hutt River Trail, the section from Silverstream to Moonshine is 4 kilometres each way. An approximate walking time of two hours is given for the return trip. This lets you consider the distance and stated total walking time together without confusing the return-trip time with the one-way distance.

The Silverstream section of the trail is popular for dog walks and picnics. It also provides good access for fly fishing via the service road on the eastern bank. The trail information describes different uses of the same section: a walking route between Silverstream and Moonshine, picnic opportunities and access for fly fishing.

Nearby Nature and Railway

Near the suburb of Silverstream, Silver Stream Railway regularly operates former New Zealand Government Railway locomotives as well as industrial steam and diesel locomotives. They run along a restored section of the former railway line between Wellington and Upper Hutt. Silverstream Forest offers the public unrestricted access to a network of trails through pine and native forests when pine harvesting is not taking place. The trails are used for walking, running and mountain biking.

Also near the destination is Silverstream Scenic Reserve. Together with the adjoining Keith George Memorial Park, it features challenging walking trails through bush and forest. Woodhill is in Silverstream and is a privately owned historic Category 1 property. It is considered a significant example of the later work of James Walter Chapman-Taylor in the Heretaunga-Silverstream area.

More Things to Explore in Upper Hutt City

In the wider destination of Upper Hutt City, Harcourt Park is a starting point for the Hutt River Trail, an easy scenic walking and cycling route with river access for swimming, fishing and kayaking. Whirinaki Whare Taonga is a free public arts centre there, with five galleries and changing exhibitions. Visitors can experience art, culture, history and entertainment there.

Brewtown in Upper Hutt City offers another focus: the craft beer village includes several craft breweries, entertainment venues and a boutique distillery, and is within walking distance of Upper Hutt railway station. Entertainment options include axe throwing, escape rooms, go-karting, bowling and mini golf. Individual businesses may change. Upper Hutt City thus offers cultural attractions and entertainment alongside the parks, river and nature that define Silverstream itself.

For the wider travel overview: Upper Hutt.