Nestled in the heart of the Wellington Region of New Zealand along the eastern coasts of Wellington Harbour, a famous city is Lower Hutt.It is a beautiful heaven with several treasures, cycling trails, nature sanctuaries, stunning coastal views, and panoramic walking under the shadow of nature. Just 15 minutes from the capital city of New Zealand, you can explore the fantastic seaside villages and experience their local cultural legacy. Begin your Remutaka cycling trail from Petone, travel to New Zealand’s neighbourhoods and landscapes, and reach Pencarrow Coast and New Zealand’s first lighthouse by experiencing all the majestic beauty. Discover the native wildfires, boutiques, art, and delectable cuisines of Lower Hutt.
About Lower Hutt
Image Credit: HenryCrun15 for Wikimedia Commons
Lower Hutt is a picturesque city in the Wellington Region of New Zealand. It is within the Wellington urban area and a significant business centre for the highly urbanized Hutt River valley.
Lower Hutt is a vibrant city with dense green landscapes and several natural wonders. Here, you’ll find spectacular regional parks, including East Harbour, Remutaka, and Belmont, offering beautiful walking and biking trails with the beauty of nature that place you in the region’s heart.
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Top Things To Do In Lower Hutt
Lower Hutt is where the sun blazes a bit longer than Wellington City, so the Hutt Valley offers more daytime hours to do amazing things. Also, it is a home of lush valleys and river landscapes. You can discover beautiful art galleries, exhibition museums, cultural attractions, cosy cafes and shops to make your day memorable with your friends and family. You’ll explore this outdoor paradise and learn about the history of Hutt Valley by exploring its regional parks and historic galleries. To witness the most popular attraction, go through all these highlights of top things to do in Lower Hutt.
1. Begin Your Remutaka Cycle Trail
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Lower Hutt Valley is a paradise for adventure lovers as it has the long Remutaka Cycle Trail. It is about 115 kilometres and has four grades, from easy for beginners or families and advanced for experienced cyclists, as it has narrow paths and rough treks. It begins and ends in the same spot at Hutt Valley, and Petone Wharf is the beginning point of this trail, where riders can experience cycling along the Hutt River and several railway lines. The trails take you through the rugged Wairarapa Coast along the Wairarapa’s vineyards. For those who don’t have cycles or bikes, Cycle Remutaka organizes bike rental facilities, so take advantage and get one of the best cycling experiences.
Location: The Esplanade, Petone, Lower Hutt 5012, New Zealand
2. Explore The Petone Settlers Museum
Image Credit: Ulrich Lange for Wikimedia Commons
For history lovers, the Petone Settlers Museum is a great place to explore, as this stunning memorial building was built by British settlers in its early stages. These days, it has been transformed into an extensive exhibition museum depicting early settlers’ history and has various interactive programs for children. Learn about the first European pioneers and early Te Ati Awa Maori tribes as they settled in the Wellington region. It’s situated along the Wellington Harbour waterfront, and you can visit here absolutely free as it charges zero entry fees. Explore the 12 free beautiful art galleries and historical artefacts and learn while playing through its interactive programs in this museum of Wellington.
Location: 130 Petone Settlers Museum, 160 The Esplanade, Petone, Lower Hutt 5012, New Zealand
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3. Explore The Scenic Birchville Dam
Image Credit: Cameron Dewe for Wikimedia Commons
If you are looking for serene walking trails under nature with pleasant weather and romantic scenes, head to Birchville Dam, located in Belmont Regional Park. The dam offers panoramic views with dense greenery, making a relaxing atmosphere for picnicking and spending quality time with your friends and family. It is also an excellent place to click pictures with scenic views and is home to various species of birds and butterflies that you can witness by walking on trails under the trees. Due to the lush greenery, the atmosphere is a bit colder near the dam. Anyone can easily reach the dam just a short drive from Moonshine Valley in Upper Hutt.
Location: Craigs Flat, Moonshine Valley 5018, New Zealand
Opening Hours: 6 am–10 pm from Monday to Friday
4. Visit Staglands Wildlife Reserve & Cafe
Image Credit: Sarang for Wikimedia Commons
After exploring the historic exhibitions museum and experiencing thrilling rides, head to the Staglands Wildlife Reserve & Cafe, a beautiful open-air zoo and farm with exciting rides, a rustic log cafe, and feedings. Located in Akatarawa Valley, Upper Hutt, this wildlife sanctuary is heartily loved by animal lovers and nature fanatics. You can witness many species of birds and animals, from native birds to farm animals. Peacocks, deer, and Eels are the most common wildlife easily seen here. The zoo mainly focuses on giving interactive experiences to visitors with exotic birds and farm animals. You can not see big cats like lions & Leopards here as these are the predator animals. So, visiting this reserve and cafe in Lower Hutt is also great.
Location: 2362 Akatarawa Road, Akatarawa Valley, Upper Hutt 5372, New Zealand
Opening Hours: 09:30 am to 05:00 pm
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Exploring the hearty city of the Wellington Region in the winter is a great idea for planning your ultimate weekend getaways. You can explore several beautiful art galleries, exhibition museums, cultural attractions, cosy cafes, and shops while spending a memorable day with your loved ones. So plan your trip to New Zealand with our guiding tour packages, explore the spectacular regional parks, and enjoy thrilling walking and cycling trails with breathtaking views of eastern coasts. This beautiful heaven can be a perfect holiday destination for your journey.
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Cover Image Source: Greater Wellington Regional Council for Wikimedia Commons
Frequently Asked Questions About Lower Hutt
What is Lower Hutt famous for?
Lower Hutt is famous for its beautiful art galleries, exhibition museums, cultural attractions, cosy cafes and shops, making it a great place to explore and a paradise for nature lovers and adventure fanatics.
Is Lower Hutt a good area?
The quality of living at Lower Hutt is considered one of the best residencies as compared to any other city in New Zealand. It has a relatively high quality of living, making it a good area to live.
Is Lower Hutt worth visiting?
Lower Hutt is a beautiful haven with several unexpected scenic walking and cycling trails, hidden treasures, panoramic coastal scenes and wildlife sanctuaries including Staglands Wildlife Reserve & Cafe.
How did Lower Hutt get its name?
All the cities in Lower Hutt and Upper Hutt in Australia have got their names from their presence on the Hutt River, which was named after Sir William Hutt of England. Both Lower Hutt and Upper Hutt are a great tourist attraction.
What is the best time to visit Lower Hutt?
The pleasant weather from December to February are the months that have a warm climate, making it the busiest time of the whole year making it the best time to visit Lower Hutt.
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