Hutt City

From World travel guide

Lower Hutt (sometimes erroneously called Hutt City after its local council's self-chosen name) is found in the lower Hutt Valley, near Wellington, in the North Island of New Zealand.

1 Understand
2 Get In
3 See
4 Do
5 Eat
6 Buy
7 Eat
8 Drink
9 Sleep
10 Get out
11 External links

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Understand

Although it is a separate city, Lower Hutt is often considered a suburb of Wellington, and forms part of greater Wellington. The city includes the communities of Petone, Eastbourne and Wainuiomata.

The early settlers that came to Wellington in 1840 first settled by the beach at Petone and then moved up the Hutt Valley, looking for suitable land for farming. Much of the flat land in the lower valley has now been urbanised, though the steep and relatively undeveloped valley hillsides, which are much more suited to forestry, as well as the many trees in private residential gardens, gives the city a rural feel.

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Get In

There are only four roads into and out of Lower Hutt. Three are part of the state highway system, and these all lie on the western bank of the Hutt River.

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By Boat

Take a cross harbour ferry from Wellington's Queens Wharf to Days Bay in Eastbourne.

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By Bus

There is a regular bus service between Wellington and Lower Hutt.

The Airport Flyer bus, which travels half hourly from the Wellington Airport, through central Wellington, is an express bus service. It stops at major bus stops only, including the Queensgate (Lower Hutt) bus interchange and travels through Lower Hutt to Upper Hutt. This service has space for luggage in the bus, by the front seats.
The Eastbourne bus travels from Courtenay Place in central Wellington to Eastbourne, on the other side of the harbour. Some buses travel via Jackson Street in Petone and via the Queensgate (Lower Hutt) bus interchange. At peak time there are express services direct to Eastbourne. Ask the driver before boarding if you are not certain.

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By Car

From Wellington, State Highway 2 travels along the Hutt Road from the Ngauranga Interchange to Petone and Lower Hutt.
From Upper Hutt, State Highway 2 travels the length of the lower Hutt Valley alongside the Hutt river. There are major intersections and bridges that provide ready access to most Hutt Valley suburbs. At most times of the day, this means it is about a half-hour trip from downtown Wellington to any Lower Hutt suburb, a distance of less than 30 km. During rush hour, the journey can take an hour or more.
State Highway 58 runs from the Paremata roundabout on State Highway 1 in Porirua, travels over the Haywards Hill and joins State Highway 2 at Manor Park Upper Hutt and Lower Hutt.
The Eastern Hutt Road travels from the Silverstream Bridge, at the southern end of Upper Hutt, along the eastern bank of the Hutt River. It provides ready access to the northern suburbs of Stokes Valley, Pomare and Taita.

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By Train

Suburban rail services between Wellington and Lower Hutt run half-hourly for most of the day and evening. Off-peak services, between 9.00 am and 3.30 pm, have reduced fares. There are also all-day and week-end passes that will allow unlimited travel on all Wellington suburban rail services.

There are two different lines:

Hutt Valley Line - Operates half-hourly most of the day, with express services at peak times. From Wellington services stop at Kaiwharawhara, Ngauranga, Petone, Ava, Woburn, Waterloo(or Hutt Central), Epuni, Naenae, Wingate, Taita, Pomare, Manor Park, and travel on to the Upper Hutt stations of Silverstream, Heretaunga, Trentham, Wallaceville, Upper Hutt. All units stop at Waterloo, which is the main Lower Hutt station and a bus interchange. Express peak-time Upper Hutt units next stop is Taita, then all stations. Taita units stop at all stations in the lower valley. Transfers take place at Taita station.
Melling Line - Operates Monday to Friday during the day only. Stops at all stations from Wellington to Petone then up a branch line to Western Hutt and Melling stations. This service provides the closest stop to the Lower Hutt town centre, which is 10-20 minutes' walk from these stations.
The express Wairarapa Connection - Operates daily morning and evening services on the same route as the Hutt Valley suburban line. It stops only at Petone and Waterloo stations in Lower Hutt. There is a minimum fare equivalent to a full fare Wellington - Upper Hutt trip on this service between any intermediate Hutt Valley Line stations, to discourage intra-Hutt Valley travel on this express service.