New Zealand Firsts

Learn a lot about New Zealand's past by exploring the first garden city; garden tours, first lighthouse; Pencarrow Head, first concrete dam; Korokoro Gorge, first rugby match in the North Island; Petone Rugby Club and the Petone Settlers Museum celebrating the arrival of the New Zealand Company's first ships.

These should really be completed as seperate itineraries which will take a day each.

Drive, bus or train to Petone and wander down to the foreshore. Petone Settlers Museum sits at the harbour end of Buick Street which runs from the beach back to historic Jackson Street.
Petone Settlers Museum tells the story of the growth of Petone from settlement through to its hey day as a major New Zealand industrial centre.
On the other side of Jackson Street is the Petone Rugby Club and their museum. This exhibition tells the story of over a century of local rugby from the club which has produced the second greatest number of All Blacks. The first rugby match in the North Island was placed in Petone.
Lunch on Jackson Street at one of the many excellent cafes is just perfect or if the weather is shining on you; fish and chips on the waterfront.

Take your push bikes (or hire bikes) by car around as far as you can go south through the Eastern Bays.
Ride out to Pencarrow Head where New Zealand's first lighthouse sits.
There's also nationally significant lakes and the remains of a shipwreck beyond that.
It is possible to stay the night at Pencarrow Lodge or Orongorongo Station.

Park in Cornish Street which is first left under the Petone exit on SH2 heading from Wellington or take the Petone Station exit from SH2 heading south. From Hutt Road you can take the Korokoro exit.
Take a packed lunch and layered warm clothes as it can cool off in the shaded areas of Korokoro Gorge.
This is an excellent walk or mountain bike ride. The tracks are quite narrow for riding and precipitous at times so only experienced riders should take this one on. It is a nice day walk though.
The picnic spot at the dam is simply beautiful. You wouldn't believe you could get away from the hustle and bustle with such a short drive.

Riddiford Gardens in central Lower Hutt sprawl around the War Memorial Library and the Hutt City Council buildings. These gardens helped to shape Lower Hutt as the first garden city in New Zealand.
Take a picnic and find your place and relax in your own way.
Actually the council buildings and library are a New Zealand first in their own right as the first and only planned and designed civic centre in the country.
There are several private gardens which can also be toured under your own steam.