Lower Hutt is a city in the Wellington Region, around 15 km northeast of central Wellington along Te Awa Kairangi (the Hutt River). It includes the suburbs of Petone, Stokes Valley, Wainuiomata, Naenae, Avalon and many others.

What is Westfield Queensgate?

Westfield Queensgate is the main shopping centre in central Lower Hutt, on Queens Drive. Around 150 retailers including supermarkets, fashion, food court and a cinema. Open seven days, free parking.

What is the Dowse Art Museum?

The Dowse Art Museum, on Laings Road in central Lower Hutt, is a public art gallery and museum founded in 1971. It holds a significant collection of New Zealand contemporary art and design, with free admission and regular exhibitions.

How do you get from Wellington to Lower Hutt?

The Hutt Valley Line train runs frequently from Wellington Railway Station to Waterloo (the central Lower Hutt station), taking around 25 minutes. By car, SH2 takes 15 to 25 minutes off-peak, longer at rush hour.

Is Hutt Hospital in Lower Hutt?

Yes. Hutt Hospital is the main public hospital for the Hutt Valley, on Pilmuir Street in central Lower Hutt. It includes the Hutt emergency department, regional services and Wellington's secondary maternity facility.

Which schools are in zone for Lower Hutt?

Children living in Lower Hutt are in zone for Hutt Valley High School, St Oran's College, Eastern Hutt School, Hutt Intermediate, Hutt International Boys' School. Living in a school's home zone gives a guaranteed right to enrol.

How do I check my school zone in Lower Hutt?

Use the School Zone Checker on this page — enter your address to check your school zone and see which schools you have a guaranteed right to enrol at.

Lower Hutt, Wellington | Schools, Lifestyle & Local Guide

Living in Lower Hutt

Lower Hutt is a city in the Wellington Region, around 15 km northeast of the Wellington CBD on the eastern side of Te Awa Kairangi (the Hutt River). Population is about 110,000, making it the country's seventh-largest city by population. As a suburb-level reference it usually means central Hutt City, around High Street, Queens Drive and the Riverbank.

Westfield Queensgate is the main shopping centre, anchored by Farmers and David Jones, with around 150 retailers. The Riverbank Market on Saturday mornings is one of the largest weekend markets in the lower North Island. Riddiford Gardens and the surrounding Civic Precinct cover the council buildings, the War Memorial Library, and the Dowse Art Museum (Category 1 listed, free admission, one of the country's better regional art museums).

Hutt Hospital is the regional public hospital, on the southern side of the central city. The Hutt Recreation Ground hosts cricket, rugby and football.

The Hutt River Trail is a 30 km walking and cycling path running from Petone to Kaitoke, passing through the central city. Lower Hutt has a working-day relationship with Wellington: most CBD workers commute by train (the Hutt Valley Line) or the SH2 motorway, which has its own well-documented relationship with weather.

Is Lower Hutt a good place to live?

Lower Hutt is home to roughly 3,111 people across 14.5 km². On Suburb's overall livability scale, Lower Hutt scores 71 out of 100, with a safety score of 65/100.

Schools: Lower Hutt has 41 schools in or near the suburb, spanning early-childhood through to secondary education. See the Schools tab below for the full list.

Housing: The estimated median value is around $848K, and weekly rent typically sits around $634.

Lifestyle: Lower Hutt has cafés, shops and things to do nearby. Public transport stops are within easy reach. The current temperature is 10.1°C. See the Weather tab for monthly averages.

Whether Lower Hutt is right for you depends on what you’re looking for. Use the data and community tips below to decide if it suits your lifestyle, family and budget.

Map

Livability Breakdown

Safety65
Amenities100
Schools91
Housing Affordability44
Green space65
Community67
Transport80

Property & Economics

Est. Median Value: $848K
Median Weekly Rent: $634/wk
Median HH Income: $125K/yr
Pop. Growth (5yr): -3.5%
Data Year: 2023

Key Financial Indicators (NZD)

† Est. Median Value is suburb.co.nz's own estimate, modelled from available public data. We aim for accuracy, but where data is limited, estimates may be imprecise.

Nearby Suburbs

Browse all suburbs in Lower Hutt City →

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Lower Hutt?: Lower Hutt is a city in the Wellington Region, around 15 km northeast of central Wellington along Te Awa Kairangi (the Hutt River). It includes the suburbs of Petone, Stokes Valley, Wainuiomata, Naenae, Avalon and many others.
What is Westfield Queensgate?: Westfield Queensgate is the main shopping centre in central Lower Hutt, on Queens Drive. Around 150 retailers including supermarkets, fashion, food court and a cinema. Open seven days, free parking.
What is the Dowse Art Museum?: The Dowse Art Museum, on Laings Road in central Lower Hutt, is a public art gallery and museum founded in 1971. It holds a significant collection of New Zealand contemporary art and design, with free admission and regular exhibitions.
How do you get from Wellington to Lower Hutt?: The Hutt Valley Line train runs frequently from Wellington Railway Station to Waterloo (the central Lower Hutt station), taking around 25 minutes. By car, SH2 takes 15 to 25 minutes off-peak, longer at rush hour.
Is Hutt Hospital in Lower Hutt?: Yes. Hutt Hospital is the main public hospital for the Hutt Valley, on Pilmuir Street in central Lower Hutt. It includes the Hutt emergency department, regional services and Wellington's secondary maternity facility.

Schools & Enrolment Zones in Lower Hutt

Schools in zone for Lower Hutt

Children living in Lower Hutt have a guaranteed right to enrol at these schools, based on Ministry of Education home zones.

Hutt Valley High School
Secondary (Year 9-15) · roll 1999 · decile 8
St Oran's College
Secondary (Year 7-15) · roll 504 · decile 10
Eastern Hutt School
Contributing · roll 581 · decile 9
Hutt Intermediate
Intermediate · roll 598 · decile 8
Hutt International Boys' School
Secondary (Year 7-15) · roll 653 · decile 10

Check your school zone

School Zone Checker

Enter your address to check your school zone in Lower Hutt. School enrolment zones (home zones) decide which schools your child has a guaranteed right to enrol at.

Address matching is approximate and based on OpenStreetMap geocoding — confirm an exact result near a zone boundary directly with the school.

Other nearby schools

Schools close to Lower Hutt that you may be able to enrol at under open enrolment or by application (outside your home zone).

Sacred Heart College (Lower Hutt)
Secondary (Year 9-15) · roll 835 · decile 7 · 0.2 km away
Sts Peter and Paul School (L Hutt)
Full Primary · roll 439 · decile 9 · 0.2 km away
Chilton Saint James School
Composite · roll 255 · decile 10 · 0.5 km away
St Bernard's College
Secondary (Year 7-15) · roll 684 · decile 6 · 0.8 km away
Hutt Central School
Contributing · roll 262 · decile 5 · 1.3 km away
Waterloo School
Contributing · roll 507 · decile 8 · 1.4 km away
Our Lady of the Rosary School (Waiwhetu)
Full Primary · roll 260 · decile 5 · 1.6 km away
Hutt Valley Activity Centre
Activity Centre · 1.6 km away
Boulcott School
Contributing · roll 325 · decile 7 · 1.7 km away
Raphael House Rudolf Steiner Area School
Composite · roll 280 · decile 10 · 1.8 km away
Te Ara Whanui Kura Kaupapa Māori o ngā Kōhanga Reo o Te Awa Kairangi
Composite · roll 415 · decile 2 · 1.8 km away
Randwick School
Full Primary · roll 109 · decile 3 · 1.9 km away
Wilford School
Full Primary · roll 204 · decile 5 · 1.9 km away
Te Puni School - Te kura o Te Puni
Contributing · roll 156 · decile 3 · 2.1 km away
Normandale School
Contributing · roll 129 · decile 8 · 2.1 km away
Gracefield School
Contributing · roll 199 · decile 5 · 2.3 km away
Maungaraki School
Full Primary · roll 355 · decile 10 · 2.5 km away
Dyer Street School
Contributing · roll 195 · decile 4 · 2.6 km away
Petone Central School
Full Primary · roll 186 · decile 5 · 2.7 km away
Sacred Heart School (Petone)
Full Primary · roll 148 · decile 5 · 2.7 km away
Belmont School (Lower Hutt)
Contributing · roll 293 · decile 7 · 2.9 km away
Naenae College
Secondary (Year 9-15) · roll 873 · decile 2 · 3.2 km away
Kimi Ora School
Specialist School · roll 137 · decile 8 · 3.3 km away
Maranatha Christian School
Full Primary · roll 155 · decile 7 · 3.3 km away
Naenae School
Contributing · roll 349 · decile 1 · 3.3 km away
Korokoro School
Full Primary · roll 191 · decile 10 · 3.4 km away
Naenae Intermediate
Intermediate · roll 294 · decile 8 · 3.5 km away
Avalon School
Contributing · roll 215 · decile 2 · 3.6 km away
St Bernadette's School (Naenae)
Full Primary · roll 121 · decile 3 · 3.9 km away
Kelson School
Contributing · roll 258 · decile 9 · 4.1 km away
Rata Street School
Contributing · roll 313 · decile 2 · 4.3 km away
Avalon Intermediate
Intermediate · roll 170 · decile 2 · 4.4 km away
Arakura School
Contributing · roll 141 · decile 2 · 4.5 km away
Wā Ora Montessori
Composite · roll 252 · decile 8 · 4.7 km away
Wainuiomata High School
Secondary (Year 9-15) · roll 717 · decile 4 · 5.0 km away
Wainuiomata Intermediate
Intermediate · roll 339 · decile 2 · 5.0 km away

Explore Lower Hutt

Things to do(58)

Snap Fitness

Gibbes Watson Conservatory

Hutt Art Centre

Jubilee Park

Birdie Park

Jenkins Gym

The Studio

Valley BJJ.

Fundamental Fitness

Capital City Taekwondo Kyorugi Academy

Wellington Boxing Gym

Hot Yoga Lower Hutt

Hutt City Taekwondo

Kama womens Fitness

The HUB 5010

Hashimoto Memorial Walk

Hutt Bowling Club

Radical Fitness

Coach P

Healthy Inspirations

Rykers Boxing Academy

X Factor Fitness

Change Fitness

The Garden Pole Dance Studio

Octagon Combat Centre

Ignite Fitness and Nutrition

Simplicity Fitness

CityFitness

Trafalgar Park

HVHS Sport

Hutt Old Boys Marist Rugby Club

Mary Rodgers Dance Academy

LESMILLS

Hutt Cricket Academy

Strength Nation Lower Hutt

Lower Hutt tennis club

Hutt Valley Runners

Jetts

Wellington School Of European Martial Arts

Body Journey

Swim City

GKR Karate

Les Mills Hutt City

Leonie de Garnham Coaching & Personal Training

Solapower Throwing Academy

Chilton Dance Centre

Lower Hutt Seido Karate

Snap Fitness 24/7 Lower Hutt

Woburn Bowling Club

Pacific Sun Taekwondo -Hutt city

Show all 58 businesses

Waterloo Table Tennis Club

Massey Avenue Bowling Club

PURE Movement

Pacifit Fitness

Randwick Archery Club

Hutt Recreational Grounds

BActive Fitness Studio

Conquer Health and Fitness

Parks & green spaces(5)

Jubilee Park

Birdie Park

Hashimoto Memorial Walk

Trafalgar Park

Hutt Recreational Grounds

Healthcare(9)

Waterloo Pharmacy

24 Hour Pharmacy and Emergency Doctors

Connolly St Pharmacy

Unichem

Affinity Medical Imaging

Connolly Street Medical

The Rutherford Clinic

Lower Hutt Clinic

Month	High (°C)	Low (°C)	Rainfall (mm/day)	Sunshine (hrs/day)
☀️ Jan	21.47	15	2.25	11.33
☀️ Feb	20.41	14.94	3.15	10.64
🍂 Mar	18.35	12.69	2.66	10.19
🍂 Apr	17.45	11.69	4.59	7.91
🍂 May	15.24	9.72	4.63	7.03
❄️ Jun	13.93	8.11	2.52	6.63
❄️ Jul	12.66	7.48	3.18	6.21
❄️ Aug	12.28	7.3	3.99	7.73
🌸 Sep	14.39	9.28	3.92	8.77
🌸 Oct	15.51	9.78	3.75	10.19
🌸 Nov	16.81	11.44	3.01	10.97
☀️ Dec	18.99	13.85	3.07	10.59

Living in Lower Hutt

Is Lower Hutt a good place to live?

Map

Livability Breakdown

Property & Economics

Key Financial Indicators (NZD)

Nearby Suburbs

Frequently Asked Questions

Schools & Enrolment Zones in Lower Hutt

Schools in zone for Lower Hutt

Hutt Valley High School

St Oran's College

Eastern Hutt School

Hutt Intermediate

Hutt International Boys' School

Check your school zone

School Zone Checker

Other nearby schools

Sacred Heart College (Lower Hutt)

Sts Peter and Paul School (L Hutt)

Chilton Saint James School

St Bernard's College

Hutt Central School

Waterloo School

Our Lady of the Rosary School (Waiwhetu)

Hutt Valley Activity Centre

Boulcott School

Raphael House Rudolf Steiner Area School

Te Ara Whanui Kura Kaupapa Māori o ngā Kōhanga Reo o Te Awa Kairangi

Randwick School

Wilford School

Te Puni School - Te kura o Te Puni

Normandale School

Gracefield School

Maungaraki School

Dyer Street School

Petone Central School

Sacred Heart School (Petone)

Belmont School (Lower Hutt)

Naenae College

Kimi Ora School

Maranatha Christian School

Naenae School

Korokoro School

Naenae Intermediate

Avalon School

St Bernadette's School (Naenae)

Kelson School

Rata Street School

Avalon Intermediate

Arakura School

Wā Ora Montessori

Wainuiomata High School

Wainuiomata Intermediate

Explore Lower Hutt

🎯Things to do(58)

Snap Fitness

Gibbes Watson Conservatory

Hutt Art Centre

Jubilee Park

Birdie Park

Jenkins Gym

The Studio

Valley BJJ.

Fundamental Fitness

Capital City Taekwondo Kyorugi Academy

Wellington Boxing Gym

Hot Yoga Lower Hutt

Hutt City Taekwondo

Kama womens Fitness

The HUB 5010

Hashimoto Memorial Walk

Hutt Bowling Club

Radical Fitness

Coach P

Healthy Inspirations

Rykers Boxing Academy

X Factor Fitness

Change Fitness

The Garden Pole Dance Studio

Things to do(58)

Parks & green spaces(5)

Healthcare(9)

Places to eat & drink(169)