Unmissable suburbs: HUTT VALLEY

VENTURE OUT OF THE CBD AND INTO WELLINGTON'S LOVELY OUTER REACHES.

Upper Hutt

History geeks go gaga for Golders Cottage. It is one of the oldest homes in Upper Hutt and provides a great insight into the lives of early pioneers. If wildlife is more your thing, Upper Hutt is your gateway to the great outdoors. The Staglands Wildlife Reserve is a wonderful animal and bird park, you can kayak and raft down Hutt River, or you could simply spend the day at Harcourt Park, which has frisbee golf.

Lower Hutt

Home to Dowse Art Museum and one of the largest public art collections in New Zealand and, best of all, it's free. You also don’t want to miss master carvers and weavers showcasing their skills at the Hetet Artspace, an emporium of Māori artwork.

Petone

A lovely 20-minute walk from Lower Hutt. Petone's trendy Jackson St features a collection of hip cafés, art galleries and boutique stores, or for something decidedly unique, taste all-natural spring water from the Te Puna Wai Ora (The Spring of Life) fountain which sits on the corner of Buick and Jackson streets.

HUTT VALLEY IS 14KM FROM CENTRAL WELLINGTON AND BOASTS 3000 HECTARES OF PARKS, RESERVES, BUSH-CLAD HILLS, BEACHES AND WALKWAYS, AS WELL AS THE CHEERY SUBURBS OF LOWER HUTT AND UPPER HUTT WHICH ARE JUST MINUTES APART.

Eastbourne, Lower Hutt © Positively Wellington