Trentham: Bush Walks, Parks and History

Trentham combines parks and walking tracks with historic sites. When looking for a hotel in Trentham, it may help to first decide what you want to focus on during your stay: would you like to explore bush walks, make time for play or sports areas, or learn about the area's history?

Bush Walks and Lookouts

Trentham Memorial Park has several bush walks through Barton Bushes and Domain Bushes. The tracks are mostly flat, although there is a steep section near the tree tunnel. If you are planning to walk in the park, this difference is important to bear in mind. Track conditions can vary seasonally, so it is worth checking the latest conditions before your visit.

Ecclesfield Reserve also has several interconnected walking tracks. A lookout on Te Kouka Knob adds to the reserve's attractions. This gives you two areas in Trentham with different features to choose from: at Memorial Park, the varied terrain is worth bearing in mind alongside the bush walks, while the interconnected tracks and lookout are key points of reference at Ecclesfield Reserve.

Play and Sports Areas in Trentham

Trentham Memorial Park has six cricket grounds and a large play area. Its features include two large play castles and a 4.5-metre-high mega swing. The park brings sports facilities and a distinctive play offering together in one place. If you are planning a visit to Trentham with children, these play areas may help you plan your day; the facilities may change as they are upgraded in the future.

Moonshine Park has a different focus: it has a small children's playground. You can also walk to the Te Awa Kairangi – Hutt River from several points in the park. Compared with the large play area at Trentham Memorial Park, the playground here is described as small; access to the river is another feature of the park. When planning, you can consider whether you are more interested in a larger range of play facilities or a combination of parkland and river access.

For sports enthusiasts, Trentham Racecourse is also a prominent venue: it is the home of the Wellington Racing Club. Along with the six cricket grounds at Trentham Memorial Park, it shows that sports play a role in different places around Trentham.

Historic Sites and Memorials

The former Upper Hutt Blockhouse was built in Trentham in 1860. It is a very rare surviving example of this type of defensive building in New Zealand. As a historic building, it offers a different way to experience Trentham from its modern parks and sports facilities: here, the focus is on the building's history and the blockhouse's former defensive function.

St John's Trentham also has a long history: the church has been continuously used for worship since it was built in 1863. Its lychgate is a war memorial to soldiers who fell in the First World War. The blockhouse and lychgate can be seen as two different historic points of reference—the former as a rare example of a defensive building, the latter as a memorial site. If you would also like to consider cultural history when choosing where to stay, Trentham offers specific points of interest beyond walks and recreational facilities.

More options in the wider destination of Upper Hutt City

In the wider destination of Upper Hutt City, Harcourt Park provides a starting point for the Hutt River Trail. The trail is an easy walking and cycling route through the landscape; the river offers access to swimming, fishing and kayaking. For a different kind of track, try the Ridge Track in Kaitoke Regional Park: it is 7.5 kilometres long and graded moderate, passes through beech forest and offers views of the water storage lakes and the Upper Hutt Valley. The length and grading differ considerably; check the latest conditions and track information before setting out.

Culture is also among the options in the wider destination of Upper Hutt City. Whirinaki Whare Taonga is a free public arts centre with five galleries and a changing exhibition programme. So the wider destination offers everything from river activities and walking tracks to exhibitions. These regional options are distinct from the places described in Trentham and can complement your plans if you would like to explore further afield during your stay.

These highlights can help you match your choice of hotels in Trentham to your plans for each day.

Discover more destinations: Upper Hutt.

See the overview of the wider destination: Upper Hutt City.