UPPER HUTT

Akatrack Walkway
Walk in the peace and quiet of a world where there is less noise and more green. A 5-6 hour walk suitable for active people of all ages. Operates from 1 October until 1 May. $195.00 per person, includes transport, accommodation, dinner, bed and breakfast. Phone Liz and Keith Budd 526 4867.

Ascot Cinemas and Cafè
68 Queen St. Four cinemas ranging from 40 seats to 126. Open daily 9.30am til late. Available for hire. Phone 528 5590 or www.ascotcinema.co.nz.

Bluebank Blueberry and Emu Farm and Fernlea Pottery
Stroll through the wild flower meadow, have a close encounter of the ‘emu kind’, pick your own pesticide free blueberries, or browse in the shop. Open 7
days mid December - Easter 10am - 5pm, closed Monday, Tuesday from after Easter to mid December. 1301 Akatarawa Rd, phone 526 9540.

Blue Mountains Harley Motorcyle Tours Experience and Harley Tours Café
25 Avian Rd. Open Thursday - Sunday 10am - 4.30pm and public holidays. Special occasions, birthdays, scenic rides. Phone 527 8851.

Book Binding Craftsman and Repair Specialist
Akatarawa Rd, north of Karapoti Park. Old and rare books restored by Bill Tito. 100 year old bookbinder’s guillotine still in use. Visits by arrangement, phone 526 6977.

City Centre
The Mall and Main Street retail stores, coffee shops and restaurants are all within easy walking distance of car parks.

Civic Centre/Library
Award winning Civic Centre complex, administration building and library on Fergusson Dr.

Cottage Hill Herb Farm
2 Bridge Rd Akatarawa. Herb nursery and shop. Admission fee applies to gardens. Open Wednesday, Saturday 10.30am - 5pm. Admission fee applies to gardens. Phone 526 4753.

Efil Doog Garden of Art
Efil Doog Sculpture Park has a collection of contemporary NZ sculpture. The rhododendrons are at their best October - November. The art gallery hosts a fine collection of original early NZ paintings by important artists. Open October - April Wednesday - Sunday 10am - 4.30pm. Phone 526 7924.

Expressions Arts and Entertainment Centre
836 Fergusson Dr. Two exhibition spaces, Mount Marua Gallery, Vector Gallery
with multi purpose display capability, Genesis Energy
Theatre, Riverstone Recreation sport and recreation hall, hospitality areas, café, bar, catering and conference facilities. Phone 527 2168.

FollyFoot Cattery
116 Mangaroa Hill Rd. Phone 526 6172.

Get in the Hole – Mini Putt
Glow in the Dark Mini Golf, Railway Ave, just around the corner from Maidstone Max and Mitre 10 Mega. Only a 3 minute walk from Upper Hutt railway station. An 18 hole miniature golf course with a scientific twist played under black light. Open Tuesday - Thursday 2 - 7pm, Friday 2 - 9pm, Saturday 10am - 9pm, Sunday 10am - 7pm. Closed Mondays.

Golder Cottage
Built in 1876, restored and now a ‘unique time capsule’. Open Saturdays 1.30 - 4pm, other times by arrangement, phone 528 2932, 526 9484 or 528 9855.

H20 Xtream
Lane pool, fun pool with wave machine, 25 seater spa, steam room, sauna, rapid river. Enjoy the exciting experience. Open 7 days. Phone 527 2113.

Harcourt Park
Recreational park featuring azalea and rhododendron gardens, adventure playground, paddling pool, open air stage, picnic areas. The Akatarawa and Hutt Rivers have excellent trout fishing, picnic, barbecue and safe swimming. Rafting, canoeing, kayaking and tubeing are water sports you can enjoy.

Kaitoke Country Gardens
SH 2 at Kaitoke. Excellent venue for functions and weddings. Also a café and a la carte restaurant, 14 acres of native bush, gardens. Phone 526 6639.

Kaitoke Regional Park
Rain forest of around 2000ha, excellent picnic, barbecue
and camping facilities. White water rafting, canoeing, tubeing. The water works, dam and storage areas are here along with the renowned swing bridge. Contact the senior ranger 526 7322.

Karapoti Valley and Akatarawa Forest
Popular area for trail and mountain bikers, trekkers, sightseers bush walkers. Site of the Karapoti Mountain Bike Classic. The junction of the Karapoti and Akatarawa Rivers is a great starting point for kayaking, rafting, trout fishing. Good hunting and tramping in the rugged terrain. Contact senior ranger 526 4133.

Lord of the Rings Film Locations
Helm’s Deep and Minas Tirith. A fortified ravine in Rohan. It remained a stronghold during battles. Minas Tirith was on one of the Two Towers which stood at the western end of the White Mountains. It was a guard against Sauron’s evil forces. Filmed in Dry Creek Quarry at the bottom of Hayward’s Hill Rd, SH 58.
The Great River Anduin. Flows north between Misty Mountains and Mirkwood down the eastern border of Rohan past the mountain range enclosing Mordor and through Gondor to the Bay of Belfalas. The fellowship passed down the river after leaving Lorhlorien. Filmed from the Hutt River, Moonshine Bridge to Poets Park.
Isengard. Gondorian fortress at the southern end of the Misty Mountains facing Rohan. The stronghold of evil wizard Saruman in the Two Towers. Filmed in Harcourt Park, Akatarawa Rd.
Rivendell. Also known as Imladris, a refuge and rallying place for elves. Filmed in Kaitoke Regional Park, Waterworks Rd.

Maidstone “Take It to the Max”
Park St. Skate park and children’s play area adjacent to the city centre.

Maidstone Park
Bush walks, playgrounds, miniature railway (phone 528 4938), picnic areas and sports facilities.
Bookings for group picnics can be made for any of the picnic areas in Trentham Memorial Park, Harcourt Park and Maidstone Park through the Parks and Reserves Department of the Upper Hutt City Council, phone 527 2169.

Moonshine Bridge Picnic Area
Picnic and recreation reserve. Ready access to river for swimming, fishing, canoeing, etc.

Mountain Biking
Upper Hutt is the mountain biking capital, with many exciting tracks in the city. Home to the Karapoti Classic and starting point of the Big Coast. Try the new Maidstone Max downhill track at Maidstone Park. Contact the Upper Hutt i-Site Visitor Centre 527 2141.

Orongomai Marae
Just south of Maidstone Park on Railway Ave. Visitors welcome. Phone 528 9639.

Pakuratahi Farm Animal Sanctuary
A safe haven for neglected and abused farm animals, a place where the animals are allowed to live out their lives to a natural age. Phone 526 3630.

Pa Whakataka Site
Pa site and lookout on prominent clifftop above where the Mangaroa River meets the Hutt River, opposite the first hole at the Te Marua Golf Course.

Racing Wellington and Trentham Gardens
Internationally known horse racing complex, one of the two leading courses in the North Island.

Rimutaka Ranges/Forest Park
Entrance behind kart track and Upper Valley Gliding Club. Incline Track takes you over the ranges to Cross Creek. Native and exotic forest, historic tunnels, bridges and rail yards from the old Wairarapa train route. A popular mountain biking area. Contact the senior ranger 526 4133.

Royal Wellington Golf Course
One of the country’s premier golf courses. Golfers welcome. Phone 528 4590.

Silver Stream Steam Railway
NZ’s largest collection of working steam locomotives. The railway line was rebuilt on the original 1875 route which followed the foothills around Silverstream. See also the 1868 Waiora Cottage and 1906 Trentham Racecourse Station. Eastern Hutt Rd, open weekends and public holidays, train rides Sundays 11am - 4pm. Phone 563 7348.

Silverstream Golf Park
County Lane Silverstream. All weather floodlit driving range, cafeteria, pro shop, coaching and nine hole course. Phone 527 8389.

Speedway
Family entertainment from October through to April at Te Marua.

St John’s Church
This 1863 church of St John the Evangelist and historic graveyard give considerable information on Upper Hutt’s early history. Phone 528 5588.

Staglands Wildlife Reserve
Akatarawa Valley between Upper Hutt and Waikanae. Walk amongst the many different native and introduced birds, animals and trout as you enjoy the beautiful natural surroundings. Explore the old settlers’ village then relax and unwind in the café. Phone 526 7529.

Te Marua Golf Club
A challenging golf course, pro shop and clubhouse. New members and visitors welcome. Phone 526 7020.

Te Marua Lakes Lookout
As the road rises away from Upper Hutt on the Te Marua to Kaitoke stretch of SH 2, you’ll encounter a new section of road just completed in 2005. Half way up the initial incline you’ll encounter the Te Marua Lakes Lookout, so named because it provides a stop-off to view the spectacular scene of the Hutt River valley and the twin lakes, known as Stuart Macaskill Lakes, built to provide backup water for the urban area downstream. The specially constructed timber platform is just a short walk from the roadside carpark and provides a high vista to the north and west.

The Art Place
95 Main St, Upper Hutt. Open daily 10am - 4pm, free admission. Contact Mary, phone 939 2115.

The Blockhouse
McHardie St. Built to protect the settlers during the Maori Wars of the 1860s. Shows loopholes for the guns and is very well preserved. Viewing by arrangement, phone Bruce 526 8097.

The Blueberry Farm
1229 Akatarawa Rd. Is a 26 acre certified organic paradise located only 30 minutes outside Wellington in the Akatarawa Valley. Open 10am - 5pm, Tuesday - Saturday in January and Friday - Sunday until May. Phone 526 6788.

The Printing Museum
Silverstream Retreat, Reynolds Bach Dr. Preserving our printing craft for tomorrow. Phone 934 6509.

The Short Straw Café
50 Johnsons Rd Whitemans Valley, phone 528 7884. Be one of the first to visit the Wellington region’s first café built from straw bales.

Totara Park
For a pleasant 2 hour climb to the summit of Cannon Point, take the track which commences at the end of Tulsa Gr.

Trentham Grandstands
The grandstands at Trentham are recognised as architecturally significant and are a credit to the Wellington Racing Club committee of the era (1920s).

Trentham Memorial Park
The major portion of this park has been developed into recreational areas for sport and for use as showgrounds. The area around the bushline is popular for picnics. Magnificent trees, including one of the few remaining stands of tawa which originally covered the Upper Valley. Ample car parking provided.

Upper Valley Gliding Club
Trial flights available. Look for the AA sign just past Twin Lakes lookout at Kaitoke, north on SH 2. Open Thursday, Saturday, Sunday, public holidays or by arrangement. Phone 526 7336 or 565 0947.

Walkways

Akatarawa Area WRC
Akatarawa Rd off SH 2, Upper Hutt. Old Karapoti Rd. Walk along Akatarawa River west. Formed road used by trail bikes and trucks.

Belmont WRC
Regional Park LCP
Various entrances from Korokoro, Normandale and Belmont off SH 2. New entrances will be opened as the park is developed. Please inform farm manager of your intentions at house 3kms beyond the end of Hill Rd. Closed for lambing Aug - Sept.

Cannon Point Walk WRC
Tulsa Gr via California Dr car park SH 2, 1.8kms north of Upper Hutt. Easily accessible yet alpine. Walk 2 hours return through regenerating scrub and beech forest. Panoramic views of Hutt Valley.

Ecclesfield Reserve RFBPS
Blue Mountains Rd off Whitemans Rd Silverstream. Walks various through 5ha of beech forest. Bird and nature reserve.

Hutt River Trail
A riverside walk which linking Upper Hutt to the sea.

Hutt River Walks WRC
Pedestrians have right of access along Hutt River stopbanks except at Manor Park and Wellington Golf Courses.

Keith George Memorial Park UHCC
SH 2 by Silverstream Bridge Upper Hutt. Track 30 minutes loop through native bush.

Kaitoke Regional Park WRC
Pakuratahi Forks off SH 2, 15kms north east of Upper Hutt. River Terrace Walk 15 minutes through podocarp forest. Track to wheelchair standard (assistance necessary in some parts). Swing Bridge Walk 1-2 hours return through podocarp and beech forest. Weir Walk 15 minutes return along access road to weir where water is drawn off to supply Wellington region. Sealed road is suitable for wheelchairs. Phone the ranger 526 7322.

Maidstone Park UHCC
Park St off Fer¬gusson Dr (SH 2) Upper Hutt. Various walks up to 1 hour return through beech forest, with good views of Upper Hutt.

Rimutaka Incline GWRC/DOC
Pakuratahi Valley Wellington
and Cross Creek Wairarapa. The 16m incline, once a world famous rail link (Upper Hutt to Featherston), now part of popular camping, fishing, walking, picnic area. Remnants of railway equipment and remains of buildings can be seen. To get to the incline from Upper Hutt, drive past Kaitoke Hill north on SH 2. On the right is a metal road signposted ‘Rimutaka Incline Walk’. About 1km along this road is a car park at the start of the walk. Track 5-7 hours each way along disused rail link. Great views, historic sites.

Rimutaka Trig Track GWRC
Rimutaka Hill summit, SH 2. Track 45 minutes return to trig through sub alpine plants. Great views of Upper Hutt Valley and Wairarapa.

Tararua Forest Park DOC
Southern end. Marchant Rd off SH 2 at Pakuratahi Bridge. Many tracks lead into difficult terrain. Seek advice before entering the park. Kaitoke-Smith Creek Shelter Track 2 hours each way.

Trentham Memorial Park UHCC
Holdsworth Ave off Moonshine Rd, Upper Hutt. Walk 15 minutes return through native forest. Access to Hutt River and walk up to Harcourt Park, Akatarawa Rd.

Tunnel Gully GWRC
Plateau Rd off SH 2, 2kms east
of Te Marua. Tane’s Track and Walks up to 2 hours return through bush. Mt Climie Walk 4 hours return along formed road to Climie Summit.
Other information may be obtained from the administering agencies. They are:
• DOC – Dept of Conservation
Phone 472 5821
• Rimutaka Forest Park
Phone 564 8551
• Tararua Forest Park
Phone 0-6-364 3111
• LCP – Landcorp
Phone 471 0571
• RFBPS
Royal Forest and Bird
Protection Society
PO Box 40875 Upper Hutt
• UHCC
Upper Hutt City Council
Phone 527 2169
• GWCC
Greater Wellington
City Council
Phone 801 4000
• GWRC
Greater Wellington
Regional Council
Phone 384 5708, 384 4162
• Forestry Recreation Depot
Phone 526 4133

Parks & Reserves

Bowling Club, Kurth Crescent Ecclesfield Reserve
Bird and nature reserve.

Duncraig Street
Small reserve grassed at Dun-craig St frontage; used by children.

Dunn’s Park
Vehicle entrance from Prouse Gr and this park and Tapestry Reserve have well used footpath links to other streets. The flat grassed area contains specimen trees and there is playground equipment.

Heretaunga Park
An active reserve providing for soccer and cricket. The Mawai-hakona Stream passes through this park. There is a children’s adventure house on the reserve. The stopbank, planting and the natural features of stream and wildlife provide a very attractive area.

Tapestry Park
The top flat area has been recently planted with large specimens of silver birch and liquid amber.

Wyndham Road
A passive natural hill reserve to be further developed in the future.

Willow Park
Foot access between Tapestry Gr and Blue Mountains Rd. An attractive footbridge over a stream and some small planted areas.