Lower Hutt Car Rental Deals

A leisurely hour’s drive from Lower Hutt in your rental car, Martinborough is situated to the northwest, over the Rimutaka mountain range. It’s also well worth an overnight stay! There is no shortage of character-filled accommodation options — cottages, boutique hotels and B&Bs, even large farm stay estates. Simplicity is key and the charms of country life are bound to enchant you instantly.

The main draw here is the wine; Martinborough is a key destination along the classic New Zealand wine trail. It’s one of the highlights of the surrounding Wairarapa region, with many wineries within walking or biking distance of the colonial village. Many are quaint family-owned affairs. Pinot noir is a key offering — some of the world’s best can be tasted right here in Martinborough. Bring your appetite too as there are many upscale gourmet food producers to tempt your tastebuds. Rent a bike, head out on foot or book a guided tour — either way you can’t go wrong.

If time is of the essence, the Martinborough wine centre conveniently centralises things so you can sample and buy bottles all under one roof. (Or simply stop in for some advice on what cellar doors to stop at, and hire a bicycle, before heading out.) The staff can answer all your questions about vineyards and their specialities. On weekends you might bump shoulders with a local winemaker! The wine centre also stocks some delicious local olive oils, books, clothing, art, beer and spirits. Wines can even be shipped to your home address.

Martinborough’s cute historic village is also ripe for window (or real) shopping. There’s a trove of beautiful homeware, fashion, crafts, gifts and decor to be found behind these storefronts.

Cape Palliser is just about synonymous with seals. It is the home to the biggest fur seal colony on the entire North Island. The breeding season runs from November to January, so a visit in the summer is likely to mean spotting baby seal pups frolicking on the shore and other playful antics.

The other iconic feature here is the Cape Palliser lighthouse — although the 250 steps leading up to it may be less attractive! It’s certainly a bit of an endurance workout but from the top, the views are worth it. The rugged coast reveals itself and between the terrain and the notorious Cook Strait winds, it’s not hard to see what caused so many shipwrecks around here in years gone by. Originally installed in 1897, the cast-iron lighthouse lives on atop these cliffs. There’s no public access inside, however, so you won’t be able to actually step inside. Painted in cheerful red and white stripes, it certainly stands out from the backdrop of cliffs and hills — only a couple of other lighthouses in all of the country are striped, as opposed to the traditional white.

This particular part of the North Island — at the most southeastern tip of the mainland — dates back the better part of a millennium to the very earliest of Maori settlers, and features heavily in the legends of Kupe. It was also a significant area for later colonial arrivals.

It’s about a two-hour drive from Lower Hutt to Cape Palliser, an ideal day trip. The route there is super scenic in its own right. As you navigate the coastal roads in your rental car, views open up over the steep drops. Before reaching the lighthouse, check out the colourful and eclectic fishing village of Ngawi.

The nature reserve of Kapiti Island is a totally pest-free environment, and home to some of the world’s most endangered species. It is a bird sanctuary in every sense of the word. Generally, the wildlife here is supremely comfortable and trusting of humans and so encounters on Kapiti Island are genuinely something special and a memory to be treasured.

On Kapiti Island, a marine reserve sits alongside a nature reserve, bringing together the best of both worlds. There are many unique and rare species here like saddleback, stitchbird, kokako and spotted kiwi. But there are also some less endangered birds; for example, weka, shags and in the evenings, little blue penguins.

The Rangatira area of Kapiti Island will have you walking up to Tuteremoana, the highest point on the island, and take you to the historic whare (communal Maori house). At the northern end of Kapiti Island, walking tracks proceed through forest and grasslands through to Okupe Lagoon, a freshwater basin.

To get to Kapiti Island you’ll need to book a tour ahead of time as only a couple of approved operators have access. Tours depart from Paraparaumu, which is about an hour north of Lower Hutt along the Kapiti Coast. Take your rental car up and leave it parked by the beach while you embark on the 15-minute journey across to the island on the ferry.

How long you stay on the island is up to you. There are a few options, from half-day to full-day, and even overnight stays. Kapiti Island Nature Tours offers the only accommodation on the island, in the form of lodge cabins and luxury tents. The guided walks can focus on either the natural aspects or the cultural sides of the island.

Bring the whole family for a day out at Staglands Wildlife Reserve! Tucked into the Akatarawa Valley just a 40-minute drive from Lower Hutt, it’s a great place to connect with nature. The story of how Staglands came to be involves the carefully planned creation and refinement of 25 acres spanning farmland, bush, water and clay. Today it’s home to a number of animal species, a mix of both the unusual and the familiar. There are plenty of opportunities to get up close and personal with animals and birds. The animals are by and large extremely friendly and often will come to you!

Waterfowl roam free among the wetlands, while giant eels, rainbow and brown trout thrive in the pools. The walk-through aviary is a veritable menagerie of colourful birds. The stables house a very tame donkey and Clydesdale horse, as well as cuddly rabbits and pigs. Turtles, pigeons and many other tame creatures live inside the enchanting Secret Garden. Fallow deer roam free in the deer park, and in the Old Bush Settlement you can ride on a vintage railway just like the old pioneers did.

Free feeding tours are held at lunchtime and are open for you to join. Anyone can hand feed the animals and birds; just bring along some nibbles from home or order a food bag at the ticket office! (And when the kids get hungry, there are complimentary barbecue facilities as well as lots of great picnic spots.)

On weekends, school holidays and public holidays, there are free tractor trailer rides available if you fancy a bit of off-roading.

Afterwards wind down in the cosy onsite cafe, which has a welcoming open fire and outdoor seating — and don’t leave without making a wish in the wishing well!