Things to do near Wallaceville House.
Rail trails and river walks, craft beer, race days and wildlife are all within a short drive of our motor lodge. Here's what our guests enjoy most, with distances from our front door.
Stay in Upper Hutt, explore the whole valley.
Wallaceville House sits at the quiet northern end of the Hutt Valley, where the city gives way to bush-clad hills. Within 15 minutes you can be riding the historic Remutaka Rail Trail on a Wildfinder e-bike, swimming in the Hutt River at Kaitoke, or walking through the Lord of the Rings filming location for Rivendell.
Closer to home, Brewtown's breweries and Trentham Racecourse are only minutes away, and Wellington city is about 30 minutes down State Highway 2.
Our free on-site parking has room for vans and trailers, so bringing bikes, kayaks or a boat is easy.
Planning a longer stay? See our full guide to Upper Hutt, from white-water rafting to tank collections and cherry blossoms.
Distances from Wallaceville House.
| Attraction | Best for | Approx. drive |
|---|---|---|
| Wildfinder bike hire | E-bikes & shuttles on the Rail Trail | 14 km · 15 min |
| Brewtown | Craft beer, food, family fun | 1.5 km · 3 min |
| Whirinaki Whare Taonga | Art, theatre, café | 2 km · 4 min |
| Trentham Racecourse | Race days and events | 3 km · 5 min |
| Silver Stream Railway | Heritage train rides | 7 km · 10 min |
| Tunnel Gully | Bush walks, mountain biking | 12 km · 15 min |
| Remutaka Rail Trail (Kaitoke) | Cycling, walking | 14 km · 15 min |
| Kaitoke Regional Park | Rivendell, river swimming | 15 km · 15 min |
| Staglands Wildlife Reserve | Families, animals | 20 km · 25–30 min |
Drive times are approximate and depend on traffic.
Wildfinder Kaitoke.
Wildfinder makes the Remutaka Rail Trail easy, even if you've arrived without bikes. Their Kaitoke base is on Incline Road, right at the trail entrance, so you can park, collect your bikes and helmets, and start riding straight away.
Three ways to ride:
Wildfinder suggests rides of roughly 18–28 km, depending on the route. With the 15-minute drive from Wallaceville House, it fits comfortably into a day, with time left over for a swim at Kaitoke on the way home.
Book bikes with Wildfinder
Remutaka Rail Trail.
The Remutaka Rail Trail follows the old railway line over the Remutaka Range, which carried trains between Wellington and the Wairarapa from 1878 until 1955. Today it is a gentle, gravel cycle and walking trail through native forest, with historic tunnels and bridges along the way.
From the Kaitoke end, the climb to the Summit is a steady, easy gradient (Grade 2), which suits families and casual riders. Beyond the Summit the trail drops down the steeper Incline towards Cross Creek on the Wairarapa side (Grade 3). The Summit tunnel is long and dark, so bring a torch or bike light.
The rail trail is one section of the 122 km Remutaka Cycle Trail, one of New Zealand's Great Rides. That route also includes the Hutt River Trail, which you can join about 2 km from Wallaceville House and ride all the way to Petone.
Hire a bike at the trailhead: Wildfinder
Don't have your own bike? Wildfinder hires mountain bikes and e-bikes right beside the Kaitoke trailhead, with a shuttle back from Cross Creek if you ride one way. More about Wildfinder.
Kaitoke Regional Park.
Kaitoke covers more than 2,800 hectares of native rimu and beech forest at the head of the Hutt Valley. The Hutt and Pākuratahi rivers run through the park, and it is one of the region's favourite spots for summer swimming, picnics and short bush walks.
Fans of The Lord of the Rings will recognise the park as the filming location for Rivendell. The site is a short, flat walk from the main carpark, with signs showing where Elrond's home was built.
Short walks from the main carpark:
- Rivendell Walk15 min return
- Weir Walk15 min return
- Loop Walk (swing bridge)15 min return
- Terrace Walk30 min return
- Pākuratahi River Walk40 min return
- Ridge Track (7.5 km, moderate)3 hrs one way
The Hutt River has deep swimming holes. The water is cold and can be swift, so take care. The Pākuratahi River and Farm Creek have shallower spots that are better for children.
Brewtown.
Built on the former Dunlop Tyres factory site, Brewtown has turned Upper Hutt into one of the Wellington region's craft beer destinations. Several well-known breweries and a distillery share the site, along with places to eat and indoor activities. It's a good evening out just minutes from the lodge.
Taprooms and venues include Tuatara, Boneface, Panhead, and Wild Kiwi Distillery with Good George, plus Fermented Bar & Eatery. For something more active, Brewtown also has the Daytona Adventure Park, escape rooms, axe throwing and Chipmunks indoor playground for children.
It's close enough for a short taxi ride, so nobody has to be the designated driver.
Trentham Racecourse.
Home of the Wellington Racing Club, Trentham has hosted racing since its first meeting in 1906. The Wellington Cup has been run since 1867 and is the highlight of the year.
Wellington Cup Day is held on a Saturday in late January, with Fashion in the Field, live music and a full card of racing. Other racedays run through the summer carnival, autumn, winter and the lead-up to Christmas. Between race meetings the course hosts markets, car boot sales and other community events.
Accommodation across Upper Hutt fills quickly around Cup Day, so book early if you plan to stay.
Staglands Wildlife Reserve.
Tucked into the bush of the Akatarawa Valley, Staglands is a hands-on wildlife park where visitors can hand-feed birds, farm animals and even trout. Children love the free daily feeding tour and the tractor rides on weekends and school holidays.
There's a café, plus picnic and barbecue areas, so it's easy to make a full day of it. The drive there follows Akatarawa Road up into the hills through native forest. It's a narrow, winding road, so allow extra time.
More to discover.
Whirinaki Whare Taonga
Upper Hutt's arts and culture centre, formerly known as Expressions. It has five galleries with changing exhibitions, a 200-seat theatre and a café, and is open daily.
Visit website →
Harcourt Park
A large riverside park with walks, playgrounds and picnic spots. Its gardens were used as the Isengard location in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.
Upper Hutt City →
Silver Stream Railway
A heritage railway offering train rides on restored track in Silverstream. Trains run on selected Sundays, so check the timetable before you go.
Visit website →
Tunnel Gully & Pākuratahi Forest
Walking and mountain-bike trails at the foot of Mt Climie. Highlights include the 253 m Mangaroa railway tunnel, built in the 1870s, and the Tane's Track loop through the forest.
Park information →The full Upper Hutt guide.
Whether you're a local looking for your next weekend adventure or a visitor exploring the Wellington region, Upper Hutt offers an incredible mix of outdoor activities, family attractions, history, arts and unique experiences.
Rafting and the Remutaka Cycle Trail
For adventure seekers, Wellington Outdoors Centre offers thrilling white-water rafting on Te Awa Kairangi, the Hutt River, alongside a range of outdoor adventures designed for all experience levels.
The Remutaka Cycle Trail, one of New Zealand's Great Rides, stretches from Upper Hutt through the Remutaka Ranges and Wairarapa, and connects to Te Ara Tupua, the cycle trail to Wellington city.
Forge a knife, ride a horse, visit a farm
Looking for something truly unique? Stackhouse Knives offers unforgettable blacksmithing experiences where you can forge your own knife, or even stay longer to create a sword.
Horse lovers can enjoy riding experiences at Thompsons Horse Centre in Mangaroa Valley, or visit Mangaroa Farms, a resilient community food hub and education centre with a range of events and workshops.
Tanks, motorcycles and tattoo history
History enthusiasts can explore the remarkable M&M Collection, home to an impressive collection of tanks, armoured vehicles and New Zealand military history.
For motorcycle fans, MC3 Collection combines great coffee with a fascinating display of more than 60 motorcycles spanning seven decades of riding heritage. Lucky's Tattoo Museum is a must for those with a passion for ink and the history of the art form.
Baking, pottery and the movies
For the creative amongst us, there are cooking classes at Dough Bakery or a pottery experience at The Potters' Roost.
Film lovers can catch the latest releases at Monterey Cinemas, with four comfortable cinema theatres.
Playgrounds, pools and pickleball
Families are spoiled for choice with the award-winning Maidstone Max Adventure Playground, one of New Zealand's most innovative play destinations, and H2O Aquatic Centre.
At Brewtown, Daytona Adventure Park has ten-pin bowling, gellyball, paintball, archery tag, ice skating, trampolines, go-karts, laser tag and arcade games. Sports enthusiasts can also enjoy New Zealand's fastest-growing game at Love Pickle Wellington, the region's dedicated indoor pickleball facility.
Cherry blossoms in spring, motoring in summer
Spring brings one of the region's most spectacular events, the annual Blossom Valley Festival at Aston Norwood Gardens, where hundreds of cherry blossoms transform the landscape into a stunning display of colour and light, with both day and night-time viewing.
Over the summer months, motoring enthusiasts can also enjoy a packed calendar of events, including British & European Car Day, American Vehicle Day, Wellington Speedway and the popular Wellington Truck & Transport Show.
From cycling adventures and wildlife encounters to arts, culture, motorsports and family fun, Upper Hutt offers experiences you'll remember long after your visit.
Further information is available from My Upper Hutt:
Ideas for a weekend in Upper Hutt.
The cyclist's weekend
- Drive 15 minutes to Kaitoke and pick up Wildfinder e-bikes
- Ride the Remutaka Rail Trail over the Summit and take the shuttle back
- Finish with a beer at Brewtown
- Next morning, ride the Hutt River Trail from near the lodge
The family weekend
- Spend a morning feeding the animals at Staglands
- Picnic and paddle in the river at Kaitoke
- Take the short Rivendell walk
- Ride a heritage train at Silver Stream Railway (selected Sundays)
The race weekend
- Check in on Friday and settle into the garden
- Spend Saturday at the races at Trentham
- Dinner and drinks at Brewtown, a short taxi ride away
- Take a slow Sunday morning walk at Kaitoke
Exploring from Wallaceville House.
Your base in Upper Hutt.
Come back from the trail to a quiet garden-view room, with free Wi-Fi and plenty of parking. Book direct for our best rate.
Book your stayBest direct rate · Free parking · 30 minutes from Wellington