Kaitoke Regional Park: Rivendell, River Swimming & Camping Near Upper Hutt
Photo: “Kaitoke Regional Park - panoramio (3)” by Jeff Hitchcock, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Park at a glance
- Region
- Wellington
- Location
- Kaitoke, north of Upper Hutt
- Managed by
- Greater Wellington Regional Council
- Dogs
- Dog friendly
- Camping
- Yes, see Camping section
Overview
Kaitoke Regional Park covers 2,860 hectares in the foothills of the Tararua Range, about 45 minutes north of Wellington. It's one of Greater Wellington's most visited parks, and it's very popular for picnics, camping, swimming and tramping. Steep, bush-clad hills, the Hutt River gorge and centuries-old rātā, rimū and beech forest make up the setting.
Much of the forest survived logging because the land was bought in 1939 to supply Wellington's water. The Kaitoke Weir still collects almost half of Wellington's water.
Getting there and opening hours
- Waterworks Road entrance (main): 12 km north of Upper Hutt, turn off SH2 at Waterworks Road. The park is 1 km in.
- Te Marua entrance: 5 km north of Upper Hutt, turn off SH2 at Twin Lakes Road. This entrance has mountain biking and horse riding.
- Bus: Route 112 from Upper Hutt Station to the Te Marua Store (stop 9621), then walk 1 km along SH2 to the Te Marua entrance.
- Gates: 6am–6pm from 1 April to 30 September and 6am–9pm from 1 October to 31 March. The gate opens automatically for vehicles leaving.
Walks
| Track | Time | Difficulty | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weir Walk | 15 min return | Easy, sealed | Pram-friendly walk to the water intake |
| Rivendell | 15 min return | Easy | Lord of the Rings filming site |
| Loop Walk | 15 min return | Easy | Swingbridge and rainforest |
| Terrace Walk | 30 min return | Easy | Rimu and rātā forest |
| Pākuratahi River Walk | 40 min return | Easy | Campground to Pākuratahi Forks |
| Swingbridge Track | 1 hr return | Easy | Views of the Hutt River gorge |
| Norbett Creek Loop | 2.5 hr | Steep | Views to Wellington Harbour |
| Ridge Track | 3 hr each way (7.5 km) | Moderate | Beech forest and the water storage lakes |
Most short walks can be done in everyday clothes and comfortable shoes.
Things to do
Rivendell
The filming site for Rivendell, home of the elves in The Lord of the Rings, is a short walk over the bridge from the car park. Information panels and "elvish" signposts help recreate the scenes. It's also the park's most popular wedding spot.
River swimming
The Hutt River has several deep swimming holes, but the water is cold and can run fast. The Pākuratahi River and Farm Creek are shallower and better for younger children. There are changing rooms at the Pākuratahi Forks car park. Check Greater Wellington's "Is it safe to swim?" page for toxic algae, which can kill dogs.
Rafting the Hutt Gorge
The gorge between Pākuratahi Forks and Te Marua has grade 3 rapids at moderate flows, along with log jams and only two exits. It's for experienced paddlers only, so start before 10am. Guided rafting trips are available from commercial operators.
Mountain bikes and horses (with a permit and key) are only allowed on the Kaitoke Hill and Pylon Loop tracks in the Te Marua plantation. Those tracks link through the SH2 underpass to Pākuratahi Forest.
Camping
Kaitoke's big riverside campground is open 365 days a year, first come first served, with no bookings. It's packed over Christmas and New Year, Wellington Anniversary weekend and Waitangi weekend. Four shelters have drinking water, sinks, power sockets and free electric BBQs. Campfires are allowed on the riverbed by areas 5, 7 and 9; bring your own wood. A ranger lives on site.
| Unpowered | Powered (6 sites) | |
|---|---|---|
| Adults | $8/night | $16/night |
| Children 5–16 | $4/night | $8/night |
| Under 5s | Free | Free |
Pay at the Cloudpark machines, which take credit and debit cards but not EFTPOS. There's no dump station. Alcohol is banned completely on New Year's Eve.
Dogs at Kaitoke
Dogs are welcome in the park and the campground, under control. Rangers may require leads when it's busy. Possum control has recently been carried out in parts of Kaitoke and Pākuratahi, so keep dogs on a leash wherever signs say so and don't let them scavenge carcasses.
Where is Kaitoke Regional Park?
The pin marks: Kaitoke Regional Park campground (-41.0675, 175.1984). It isn't an entrance or car park, so check the council's park page for access points before you go. Plan a route on OpenStreetMap (opens in a new tab).
Location data: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0).
Check before you go
Track closures, gate times, fire bans and storm damage change often. Greater Wellington Regional Council posts current alerts for Kaitoke Regional Park on its official park page.
Current park alerts