About 15 minutes north east of Wellington is the start of a beautiful valley, with a river running through it.
With a climate that is warmer in summer and cooler in winter than Wellington, generally flat terrain, and a wide range of affordable housing options, it is popular with families and first homebuyers.
Wide Housing Choice
Because the housing was established later than in Wellington, there is a wider choice of housing types - from colonial cottages to new suburban housing estates to substantial, architecturally designed houses. Indeed, there are many well-loved streets here, and well-tended gardens, which offer the best of suburban living.
Well Connected
The valley has excellent motorway, train and bus services linking it to Wellington and areas further away. Lower Hutt and Upper Hutt have busy city centres, and Lower Hutt has a large mall. A number of suburbs also enjoy good local shopping facilities, including the bustling Jackson Street shops in Petone.
There are good schools throughout the valley, and numerous recreational, community and lifestyle facilities.
Terrain
The valley does have coastal and hill suburbs. Around the harbour, directly opposite and overlooking Wellington is a succession of small bays where houses are close to the sea, with a backdrop of steep, bush-clad hills.
Rural lifestyle options are plentiful too. In areas to the northwest of Upper Hutt, in the eastern hills and inland over the Wainuiomata hill are lifestyle properties, none of which would be more than one hour's drive from central Wellington.
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