"NOTHING HIGHER NOR MORE BEAUTIFUL"

Upper Hutt is a city of 36,660 just 25 minutes' drive or a 40-minute scenic train ride north from Wellington, the capital city of New Zealand.

The city derives its name from an English Member of Parliament, Sir William Hutt, who was a director of the New Zealand Company (formed in the late 1830s) that organised the settlement of the Wellington and Hutt Valley areas beginning with the arrival of the first immigrant ships from1840.

Harcourt Park is located on Akatarawa Road in the northern part of Upper Hutt. It is also accessible from Totara Park via the Norbert Street footbridge.

The Hutt River borders the park on the southern side providing safe swimming areas, and trout fishing.

The park consists of several grassed picnic areas separated by areas of mature trees including azalea and rhododendron gardens.

An open air stage is the setting for several family oriented events each year including "Teddy Bears Picnic" and "Carols by Candelight".

For young children the park has a junior adventure playground and a paddling pool that is very popular in the hot summer months. For the older children there is a larger playground including a flying fox.