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Hutt Valley NZ

Keeping up with the Hutt 🙊🤩 From the Hutt River to the bush-clad hills, Hutt Valley is home to some of the region's best walking and mountain bike trails.

Add to that the picturesque townships of Petone and Eastbourne, and bustling collection of art galleries, cafes and restaurants - all just a short 15 minute drive from Wellington. The area also has an ancient history that includes New Zealand's first organised European settlement and Māori mythology of tupua (mythical beings). Explore more at huttvalleynz.com

03/01/2025

Days Bay Pavilion is the Hutt Valley's quintessential summer hangout spot☀️

Over the years, 'The Pavilion' has earned a reputation as a place of sunshiney fun and social connection. Renowned for its buzzing music gigs 🎶 and super-sized scoop ice creams 🍦, this down-to-earth spot has created memories for whānau across the Wellington region👪 Dine inside or grab a pizza to-go and eat it outside in Williams Park. Explore the bush-clad hills behind, kick a ball on the green, feed the ducks, then cool off with a dip in Days Bay 🏊‍♀️.

But did you know The Pavilion first opened in 1897 (126 years ago)? That's a whole lot of history! It was originally a tearoom for locals and day-trippers to the area — able to seat a whopping 800 people 🤩

📍611b Marine Drive, Days Bay, Lower Hutt

📷: Celeste Fontein

01/01/2025

Did you know you can whizz through native bush on an exhilarating waterslide right here in the Hutt Valley?! Nestled under the hills at the Wainuiomata Summer Pools, you’ll find 80m of twists, turns and exhilarating fun ... along with everything you need for the perfect summer outing — BBQs, picnic areas, a playground and multiple pools for all ages 👪🏽

01/01/2025

Happy New Year! ☀️ How stunning is this shot of the Pōhutukawa at Days Bay in Eastbourne? 😍🌳 Let us know in the comments what your favourite summer spot or a activity in the Hutt is! ⬇️

24/12/2024

🎅 Merry Christmas everyone! 🎄
We hope you have a wonderful day with friends and family. 😍✨

19/12/2024

You can't beat Petone Beach on a calm sunny day ☀️ (don’t look out the window!)

Build a driftwood tepee or crazy sand creation, splash in the waves, or take your dog to the pooch-friendly paddling area.

Next, Brunch on the deck at Seashore Cabaret and soak up views across Wellington Harbour and the Cook Strait 🥤Or grab a coffee from The Flying Bean Coffee Cart and mosey along the Esplanade.

Make a stop at Lions Park where you'll find a playground, model train rides (on Sundays), and empanadas at Mariana’s Kitchen. A little further along at Hikoikoi Reserve you can plonk yourself down for a peaceful beachside picnic, play some frisbee golf, or explore little walking trails.

📷: Celeste Fontein, RoadyNZ, Johnny Hendrikus

17/12/2024

Ako Nutrition Studio on Jackson Street opened in August last year. They're a husband and wife team, born and bred in the Hutt Valley. 😍

They make the most delicious and healthy loaded iced teas, protein shakes, hot chocolates and coffee.

With 4 kids, Ako Nutrition really is a family affair. When they were throwing ideas around of what to name their shop, their 8-year-old son came up with Ako. Ako means to learn - very fitting as they are learning how to run a business, their customers are learning about nutritious teas and shakes, and the kids are learning the hard work that goes in to making a dream come true.

Ako is such a lovely spot to pop in for a pick-me-up.
📍 133 Jackson Street

09/12/2024

Cre8iveworx is a stunning store in the heart of Petone with a carefully selected range of New Zealand made products. ✨ From homewares to accessories, ceramics, art, stationary and clothing - all inspired by local designers and artists.

Cre8iveworx started when Mel, the owner, moved from the UK to New Zealand in 2010. As a keen artist and photogapher she soon fell in love with work from local artists and she set out to find a tiny space to fill with lots of beautiful things. After stumbling across a garage along Oriental Parade, Cre9iveworx was born.

Mel now has a shop at 135 Jackson Street and on Cuba Street in Wellington.

P.s. This would be a fantastic shop to do your Christmas Shopping at ;). 🎄

26/11/2024

Madison Rose is Jackson Street's newest, gorgeous boutique having just opened in August. It's a wonderful space for customers who love style and items that are designed to be worn time and time again.

Walking in, you're met by Deb who is so bubbly and lovely to talk to, clearly adored by her customers as everyone who walked into the shop while we were there were thrilled to see her. Deb established Madison Rose in 2010, a destination boutique that originally stocked preloved, designer clothing. She has expanded her range to include a carefully curated blend of homeware, fashion, gifting, small furniture and selected vintage pieces from France.

The homeware and clothing at Madison Rose has a luxurious feel that is rounded out with a mis-match element - allowing a sense of playfulness. Deb believes in straying from the norm and having fun with fashion and styling. She has had formal training in styling and loves assisting women with putting clothing together. “When a woman leaves my boutique with an air of confidence from her new outfit, I gain immense satisfaction from knowing my job has been done “.

📍 131 Jackson Street, Petone

19/11/2024

Did you know that Caffiend is one of the oldest cafes in the Hutt Valley? 🤩✨ They have been serving amazing coffee and food for over 20 years! 😍

Owner Lou says hospo is part of her DNA and she prides herself on providing a home-away-from-home.
“I’ve always loved hospo life. My nana used to own hotels and restaurants so it’s been a way of life forever. Our staff are our biggest asset — familiarity is our strength. We see the cafe as an extension of our living room. Our customers all know each other and our staff.”

Lou has built a loyal local following, with friendly service delivered by staff who’ve worked there for years and a huge menu featuring lots of hearty brunch dishes. All of the food is fast, fresh and delicious.

On sunny days, the outdoor picnic benches are in hot demand. ☀️

📍 233-235 Jackson Street, Petone

12/11/2024

Now that’s a high tea! 😍🤤

04/11/2024

Hardings Furniture on Jackson Street was established in 1947 by Leslie Harding, originally selling second-hand treasures.

Seven decades later and Hardings Furniture is still run by a Harding - Leslie's son, Paul! Paul went to work for his dad when he was just 15 years old …and he never left.

Hardings Furniture specialise in high quality, hand-crafted furniture, at great prices. From modern to vintage and everything in between. They sell a huge range of unique mahogany, oak, acacia, and recycled wood furniture.

It really is a family affair with Paul’s wife Ann and their daughter Sarah and son-in-law Aaron helping to run the family business - from the same location that Paul worked with his dad all those years ago.

Just like their slogan states, they really are Wellington’s coolest little furniture store.

📍 172 Jackson Street

29/10/2024

Hills Hats Limited has been in business since 1875, that's almost 150 years! This makes them one of the world’s oldest hat makers - and they're located right here in Petone! 🎩👒

You could call owner Simon Smuts-Kennedy a mad hatter…but he prefers to go by ‘HatMan’. You'll find them tucked down a side-street, just one block from Petone beach. They have made hats for Ladi6, Kora, Shapeshifter, Willie Nelson, Tami Neilson and members of Fat Freddy’s Drop.

The 'Hatmosphere' is home to hundreds of styles like the Spanish riding hat, duckbill, pith helmet, faux fur Cossack, genuine tweed, trilby - each one carefully handcrafted using decades-old hat moulds and traditional techniques.

Pop in and browse the eclectic range of hats.
📍 30 Fitzherbert Street

25/10/2024

Arobake is a cozy bakery shop in Petone selling some of Wellington’s best cakes, breads, pastries and fantastic Laffare coffee. 🧁🍞☕️

It’s no wonder their baked goods are so fresh and hugely popular, with their 10 cake and pastry cooks whipping up the likes of rhubarb & custard tarts, lemon sour cake, custard squares, eclairs and chilli and lime cookies.

They have 9 dedicated bread bakers carefully fermenting and hand moulding them to perfection.

Owner Max completed an apprenticeship at Barnes’s Patisserie before heading to Switzerland to further his training.
In 1989 Max purchased his first bakery Aroma and started the journey of growth and expansion including Aro Street and our very own store here in Petone, in 2021.

Pop in tomorrow for a bite before they close for the long weekend. 🥰

📍105 Nelson street

22/10/2024

Arna and Jason, owners of Janus Bakkerij and Fix Federation sure know their way around a good pie - so much so that they recently featured in a book all about the BEST pies in New Zealand. 🥧 🥰

Jason has been baking for over 20 years. He started his career after school in the dish room at Janus Bakkerij. (So yes, you can say that Jason has truly gone full circle).

Jason completed his apprenticeship under Joe Janus and was at Janus Bakkerij for 10 years before moving to London. He and Arna his partner travelled Europe, visiting nearly every bakery they walked past, tasting the different delicacies of other cultures baked traditions, and wondering how they could bring some of these amazing baked delicacies back to New Zealand. It’s no wonder their cabinets always look so delicious.

"It’s been quite surreal thinking about Jason going from being an after school dish hand, to owning Janus Bakkerij. Between the two sites, we employ over 40 people in the Hutt. We are both incredibly proud of our teams.”

Make sure you grab a pie for smoko tomorrow! 🤤

📍 Janus Bakerij 700 High Street
📍 Fix Federation 5/79 High Street

📸 Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce

18/10/2024

Lower Hutt has a new Vietnamese spot on High Street, Simply Banh Mi! 🤤

Virginia is originally from Vietnam and had always dreamed of opening her own Banh Mi shop. She wanted to share the flavours of her childhood with her community.

Armed with her love of food and recipes passed down through generations, she has achieved her dream! Virginia and Dennis like to keep their menu simple, they make incredibly fresh and flavoursome banh mi, pho, noodle bowls, summer rolls, Vietnamese Flan, bubble tea and Vietnamese coffee.

You may recognise Virginia and Dennis from the Riverbank Market and Brewtown Farmers Market. They started selling their very first banh mi out of a humble marquee and with the support of the friends, family and customers they upgraded to a food truck. They are thrilled to have now found a permanent shop - though you can still catch them at Brewtown every Sunday.

📍 292 High Street
Tuesday - Friday 11am - 7pm
Saturday 11am - 3pm

17/10/2024

The very first Lower Hutt Art Trail is on this weekend 19 & 20 October, featuring over 50 artists from Taita to Eastbourne! 🔥✨

There are 30 stops along the trail including artists' studios, various pop-up sites and galleries throughout the city. You'll see painting, pottery, printmaking, collage, textile arts, weaving, woodwork, glass art, jewellery, metalwork, and mixed media. 🎨 Keep an eye out for the flags and signs pointing to local art.

Find more information at www.lowerhuttarttrail.co.nz - Download a catalogue to follow on the day or pick one up from the War Memorial Library.

14/10/2024

James opened Coffee'd in November last year. ✨☕
Having started out at Compass Coffee in Seaview, his passion and skill for a good brew grew.

James was unsure what to do with his life after leaving high school so he combined his love for working at a cafe, and the business knowledge he gained from both his parents, to create his own hole-in-the-wall coffee shop. And let us tell you, the coffee is really good. They even took out third place in the Hot Chocolate challenge earlier in the year with their Smore'd hot chocolate.

James thinks it's pretty cool telling his mates at Uni that he owns his own business! In the future he hopes to expand his menu to include toasties and smoothies. 🤤

📍1 Margaret Street
Open 7.30am-3.30pm, Monday-Friday

03/10/2024

Museum and art gallery cafes have really upped their game in recent years, and Bellbird Eatery is no exception 🎉. Located next to The Dowse Art Museum, they are one of the busiest cafes in Lower Hutt.

If you've ever popped in for a coffee or meal, you’ve probably met Aroha. As a kid she always wanted to work in a cafe. She started out just filling in at Bellbird, but with her knack for customer service and strong work ethic she worked her way up to become the manager. 😍

Aroha is really passionate about customer service and making people feel welcome at Bellbird. Her customers often get mistaken for family members by onlookers. The whole team at Bellbird are amazing at what they do. Charlotte is the head chef and very talented. She's behind the chicken meze dish which is proving to be quite a hit at the moment. There are good vibes from the back to the front of house and the staff really enjoy the environment that they work in.

On first glance, Bellbird has a classy, warm industrial vibe with it's concrete floors and grains of wood - from the panelling on the counter to the high tables and exposed ceiling beams. The ceiling-to-floor sliding doors let plenty of light stream in. Old school soul is usually the playlist of choice here, adding to the cosy cafe feel. 🎵

The menu is wide-ranging and inclusive with all your favourite breakfast, brunch, and lunch items. Out of a strong line-up, the Vietnamese chicken salad is a go-to for many, as is the classic smashed avocado. Among the newer dishes, the chicken meze plate and Thai beef salad are on point. 🤌

Did you know that Bellbird is the sister cafe to Revive Espresso Limited in Petone?! 😲 There are some similarities with their menu items as well as the famous double cheese scones being served at both sites. 🤤

Head over to Bellbird for a brunch catch up or stop by after a visit to the Dowse. Bellbird ticks many boxes - quality coffee, craft beer on tap, fresh baked cabinet food and a varied menu.

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Kayak hire in Days Bay is now open for summer! 🛶☀️🌊 Find Wildfinder at Days Bay in Eastbourne (you can catch the direct ferry from Wellington city with East By West Ferries too!) and you’ll find Kayaks & SUP’s to hire 🌊 As well as real fruit ice cream, slushies and more 🍦 Their nearby Pencarrow base has heaps of bikes for hire including e-bikes to explore the beautiful coastline 🚴 They also have a base in Kaitoke to hire bikes for the Remutaka Cycle Trail 🚵 Make the most of summer and enjoy the beautiful outdoors of the Hutt Valley with Wildfinder! 🤩☀️

We have a new waffle spot in the Hutt!! 💫 🤤 Our favourite gelato bar Nonys Gelato and Espresso Bar opposite Paknsave on High Street have just started doing waffles!! They’ve even opened up a sit in shop a couple of stores down where they sell their gelato. 🍧📍499 & 521 High Street

Have you heard of Common Unity? They’re a community hub here in Fairfield helping people learn how to live more sustainably. 🍃 Check ‘em out! 📍103 Waiwhetu road

Ellen, the proud owner of Ellen Giggenbach Art & Design (Ellen G) is a trained graphic designer and has always had a love of colour, art and making things. Her shop is filled with beautiful products, all made by her. From wall art to cushions, wall-hangings, clothing, calendars and knick-knacks. If you’re looking for something special to gift this Christmas, stop in and see her. 📍109 Jackson Street, Petone

Te Ngaengae pool is opening in Naenae tomorrow! 🎉 🌊 The facilities are looking sharp with a 50m pool, two hydroslides, a family-friendly leisure pool, fitness centre, pool-side party room and two moveable bulkheads - meaning the main pool can accommodate even more activity. 🏊 🏊‍♀️ 🎉

The Hutt Valley really does make a gorgeous backdrop! Rachael Sarah Photography Family has been taking photographs around the Hutt for the last 15 years. Growing up, she always had a little lime green kodak camera around her neck, taking photos of her teddies in the back yard. She never thought that her hobby could become her career. Rachael loves taking family photos and capturing memories that will be looked at and treasured for decades to come. She always makes people feel relaxed and encourages them to have fun during their photoshoot. It's just as important as getting the right angles and lighting. "I like to get candid photos of people interacting with their families and having fun. I find this way you create more natural expressions and connections which turn out to be the best kind of photo." Rachael often shoots at her place in Wainuiomata where she can do studio and outdoor shoots, as well as on location and at her clients homes. She has a bunch of props and outfits that her clients are welcome to use. rachaelsarahphotography.co.nz

You can’t beat authentic, Italian food! 🇮🇹 La Bella Italia has it all …eat, shop and learn at their place! The menu is consistently good, the walls and aisles are stacked full of Italian produce and products …and did you know you can even take a pasta cooking class!📍10 Nevis Street, Petone

TAG someone who loves a good sunrise - we have the perfect walk to catch one! 📍 Boulder Hill, Kaitangata crescent Carpark, Kelson

Lynda McGregor, the proud owner of Little Bread Loaf 🥨 has always had a passion for baking and looking after people, originally training as a chef over 30 years ago! They specialise in large German pretzels, from cheesy to decadent chocolate. Take it from us, the cinnamon buns swirled with cinnamon and lathered in a creme cheese glaze are phenomenal!📍 31a Railway Avenue, Alicetown

Did you know Mexicano corn chips are made right here in Lower Hutt?! Taita to be exact! Mexicano started as Mexican Cantina in ’85, one of the first Mexican restaurants in Wellington. They couldn’t find a good, authentic corn chip, so they made their own! Since then the Corn Chips outgrew the restaurant and are now sold in supermarkets all around New Zealand and the Islands. The corn chips are made from locally grown ingredients including the best quality GM-Free corn from Hawkes Bay and rapeseed oil from Canterbury. They come in lots of different flavours including jalapeno, cheese and seasalt and lime.. perfect for nachos, snacking and dipping!

Yan's Supermarket is the biggest Asian supermarket in Wellington selling products from all across Asia, right here in Lower Hutt. They have an amazing restaurant onsite with a large range of food and drink options from soups to noodles, dumplings and dimsims. 🥟🍜 They use premium ingredients, traditional recipes and authentic flavours. 🤤 📍23 Brunswick St

Goldiehomestore turns 3 next month ✨🥳😍! Fran opened Goldie in 2021, she had always wanted to own a store but thought it would be in her later years. When an opportunity came up to make her dream a reality ...she took it. Fran had never owned a retail store but with a love of brands, style, marketing and design she curated a store with a focus on design-led, quality products for the home, lifestyle and little ones. Everything in store is something that she loves herself and she hopes that others will love too. She wanted to create a space in Eastbourne where fellow locals and visitors alike would enjoy shopping. You can also shop online at goldiestore.co.nz. ☀💕📍27 Rimu Street, Eastbourne

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