Upper Hutt

From World travel guide

Upper Hutt is a city in the upper Hutt Valley, near Wellington, in the North Island of New Zealand. .

1 Understand
2 Get in
3 See
4 Do
5 Buy
6 Drink
7 Sleep
8 Get out
9 External links

Understand

Although it is a separate city, Upper Hutt is often considered a suburb of Wellington, and forms part of greater Wellington.

Upper Hutt should not be confused with the nearby Lower Hutt (sometimes erroneously called Hutt City).

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Get in

There are five roads into and out of Upper Hutt. State Highway 2, which runs the length of the upper Hutt valley, is known as River Road as it runs along the banks of the Hutt River, effectively bypassing the city itself.

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By bus

There is a regular bus service between Wellington and the Hutt Valley.

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 as far as Upper Hutt Station. This service has space for luggage in the bus, by the front seats. http://www.stagecoach.co.nz/flyer/flyerinbound.html
Hutt Valley buses travel from Petone Station via the Queensgate (Lower Hutt) bus interchange to Upper Hutt every 15 minute during weekdays and half hourly in the evenings and at weekends. http://busandtrainnetwork.gw.govt.nz/

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By car

From Wellington, State Highway 2 travels along the Hutt Road past Lower Hutt and the intersection with State Highway 58 at Haywards/Manor Park to the Silverstream Bridge.
From the Wairarapa, State Highway 2 travels over the Rimutaka Hill to Upper Hutt.
There are major intersections and bridges along River Road that provide ready access to most Upper Hutt suburbs. At most times of the day, this means it is about a half-hour trip from downtown Wellington to Upper Hutt, a distance of about 40 km. During rush hour, the journey can take an hour or more.
The Eastern Hutt Road provides an alternative route between Lower Hutt and Upper Hutt via Stokes Valley.
Moonshine Hill Road provides a rural alternative route from State Highway 58 at the western end of Haywards hill at Judgeford to State Highway 2 at the Moonshine Bridge in Upper Hutt.
Akatarawa road provides a scenic drive between Waikanae and Upper Hutt. The road is single lane for about 30 km, and may take an hour of cautious driving at 30-50 km/h, well below the 100 km/h speed limit. There are a number of places of interest along this road, including Staglands wildlife park.

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By train

Suburban rail services between Wellington and Upper Hutt run half-hourly for most of the day and early evening. Late evening services run hourly on most days but half-hourly on Friday. 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 services:

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, 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.
Wairarapa Connection - Operates daily morning and evening services. Stops at Petone, Waterloo and Upper Hutt, then all requested stations from Mangaroa, just before Hutt Valley the entrance to the Rimutaka Tunnel, through to Masterton in the Wairarapa. 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. Wairarapa travellers can transfer to the Hutt Valley Line at Upper Hutt, or be picked up or set down at Waterloo and Petone.

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See

Bartons Bush in Trentham Memorial Park is the last remaining stand of native bush that once covered the whole of the Hutt valley.
California Park in the suburb of Totara Park and the Wellington Fault that runs through the middle of the park and the suburb. To find this feature drive the loop around California Drive. When you come to the wide section with the large grassed traffic islands in the middle realise you are driving on an earthquake fault.
Harcourt Park, the main entrance is about 500 m up Akatarawa Road from the State Highway 2 intersection. You can also see the Wellington Fault escarpment right by the main carpark. There is an information board here about how the park was formed by the Wellington Fault. This park was one of the scenes for shooting the Lord of the Rings films.
Silverstream Railway, a short section of the original 1870s Wellington-Wairarapa line has been preserved. Steam trains operate on Sundays. Malcolm Campbell is Upper Hutt's most famous train enthusiast with a love for all things "rail".

Take a scenic drive up Akatarawa Road to Staglands wildlife park.

At the top of the Rimutaka Hill you can take a break in your trip to the Waiarapa and climb up to the Rimutaka Trig and see the Wairarapa instead. Choose a calm sunny day as this part of the country can be very windy.

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Do

Tunnel Gully and the Rimutaka Incline walkways. Walk or mountain bike the old railway route over the Rimutaka ranges.

The Hutt River is easily accessible for most of its length. It is even able to be fished for trout - a fishing licence is required.

Mountain bike the Karapoti! Every year mountainbikers from around the country and around the world come to take on the Karapoti Challenge - a classic mountain bike race. Mud, steep hills and crazy people. http://www.mountainbike.co.nz/karapoti/

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Buy

The shopping centre runs the length of Main Street, with the block on either side also having some shops. There is off street parking to be found off Fergusson Drive or Queen Street.

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Drink

There are many great pubs and clubs in Upper Hutt. Check out the Lonely Goat Herd on King Street. Watch out for long time Upper Hutt Pioneers, the Boyle family. There is also a 24 hour BP across the road for after drinking snacks.

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Sleep

Harcourt Holiday Park - This campground sits on the banks of the Hutt river beside Harcourt Park and is only 30 minutes by road from the Picton ferry. Has Motel unit, cabins and sites for caravans and tents. Address: 45 Akatarawa Road (600 m up Akatarawa Road from State Highway two. Turn just before the Substation.) Phone or fax: +64 4 526 7400 http://www.harcourtholidaypark.co.nz/

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