Location: Lower Hutt
Top Things to do in Lower Hutt
Top 10 Things to do in Lower Hutt, North Island
Lower Hutt (Māori: Awakairangi) is a city in the Wellington Region of the North Island of New Zealand. It is administered by the Hutt City Council and is one of the four cities that constitute the Wellington metropolitan area.
Restaurants in Lower Hutt
1. Rimutaka Forest Park
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 12 reviews
Reviewed By 767lindat - Lower Hutt, New Zealand
Wonderful place to take the family for a picnic/bush walk. River is safe for the little ones to swim and paddle. Numerous bush tracks of different grades to walk/tramp. Also a camping ground if staying for the weekend.
2. Te Whiti Riser
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
3. Pencarrow Lighthouse
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 7 reviews
At the storm-lashed entrance to Wellington Harbour, New Zealand’s first lighthouse tells stories of early settlement, shipwreck, and one very strong woman. The pilgrimage to Pencarrow Lighthouse makes a memorable day trip from Wellington city or the Hutt Valley. Starting from pretty Eastbourne, it’s a return walk of around four hours, or 1.5 hours on a bicycle (bike hire is available at the gate during summer). The rugged stretch of coastline leading to Pencarrow Head offers spectacular scenery complete with whirling birds and rocky beaches strewn with flotsam. On a blowy day, it’s easy to imagine the danger facing ships passing through the treacherous heads. Interpretation panels illuminate tales of trials and tragedy. The lighthouse has its own captivating story to tell, for not only was it the country’s first permanent lighthouse, it was also home to its first and only female lighthouse keeper – Mrs Mary Jane Bennett.
Reviewed By CarolDM1900 - Montpelier, United States
JUST TO NOTE: reviewer Julie P's posted photos appear to be of the red-striped Cape Palliser Lighthouse, further up the coast, and not the Pencarrow Lighthouse, which is white and located on a cliff overlooking the entrance to Wellington Harbor. That said, views from the high promontories all along this coastline, colorfully and aptly dubbed "The Storm Coast" for the bus tours run by P & O Cruises, are pretty breathtaking. So either way, Cape Palliser or Pencarrow Head, you can't go wrong. There are actually two lighthouses at the harbor entrance: an upper one, built of cast iron in England and shipped in sections for installation atop the cliff east of the harbor entrance in 1859; and a lower one, a secondary lighthouse dating from 1906 on the beach below. The upper one is properly thought of as the main one -- or, if you will, as THE Pencarrow Lighthouse. The footpath leading up to the main light from the coastal road is dotted with interpretive signs giving interesting information on its building, its operation, its light-keepers, and its historical significance. There's a little side track that will take you to the spot where the two-year old daughter of George and Mary Jane Bennett, keepers of an earlier lighthouse on that spot, was buried in 1852. George himself drowned in the harbor in 1855, leaving his widow as the keeper until 1865, when she left for England with her remaining children. The views of Cook Strait, the high mountain ranges of the South Island 50 or 60 miles distant, and the south coast of greater Wellington between Baring Head and Devil's Gate are impressive. If you're lucky, you may also see schools of dolphins leaping in the strait, or even the occasional whale. Because there is a vast lakes area (the Parangarahu Lakes, comprising Lake Kohangapiripiri and Lake Kohangatera) in the interior, connected to the lighthouse trail by well-signed hiking tracks, you can walk quite far inland to get stunning pictures of Pencarrow Light from afar, delightfully showing its prominence in a large, natural context. You can also use those tracks to re-connect with the coastal road further up Cook Strait, then walk back around the promontory from the other side for some splendid views pictures of the two lighthouses in a ruggedly beautiful setting. If you are interested in experiencing and/or photographing those larger views, you may wish to read my recent review of East Harbour Regional Park, under the title "Heading to Old Pencarrow Lighthouse? Explore Vast Lakes District Right Nearby." There are considerable distances involved here, and no real shelter, so if you decide to come to Pencarrow, be sure to get up-to-the-minute weather information. Conditions can change very rapidly, as attested by the number of shipwrecks recorded right here, including the 1968 sinking of the ferry "Wahine" with the loss of 51 lives. Fierce winds can arise suddenly, and temperatures can plummet as weather degrades. But on a balmy day, with gentle winds and lots of sunshine, a visit here just cannot be beat. Make sure bring water, as none is available at the lighthouse. Highly recommended.
4. Baylands Brewery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2 reviews
We are a craft beer brewery based in Petone.
5. Korokoro Dam
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 27 reviews
Reviewed By 490juliaw - Lower Hutt, New Zealand
I met a friend and we did the one hour loop track,. We met at the Oakleigh Street entrance at Maungaraki. It had a large carpark and a large display board showing all the tracks. We chose the easy Korokoro Dam loop track, it was a gentle walk down to the waterfalls and we hung out at that area for a while. We heard tuis and warblers and there were ducks and teenage ducklings on the water at the dam. It took us 45 minutes including a few stops on the way looking at the trees.
6. Wainui Lookout
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 20 reviews
Reviewed By soulcarenz - Wellington, New Zealand
Great we'll formed walkway now up a gently climbing incline with bonus of great views at the top good for leisure walk or can be full workout
7. Percy Waterfall
8. Avalon Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 22 reviews
Reviewed By lalanthak - Wellington, New Zealand
Avalon park is really good for the kids. It is full of crowd on weekends where as less no of people during weekdays. Park is well maintained and this is a great facility for a picnic or having a outdoor birthday party of a kid. Good thing is play area and entrance are FREE.
9. Queensgate Shopping Centre
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 57 reviews
Queensgate Shooping Centre is Wellingtons premium shopping destination with over 140 stores. Located just 20 minutes North of Wellington City it is easily accessible via train or bus.
Reviewed By cpcog - Wellington, New Zealand
It is a good place for shopping. There are different brands, from local to international. you can get most things you want. The food court there offers quite a lot of options for you. The price is reasonable. Clean and comfortable. you can access there easily by bus. you can spend hours inside.
10. Gurudwara Sahib
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 1 reviews
