East Harbour Regional Park

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East Harbour Regional Park
Butterfly Creek valley.jpg
East Harbour Regional Park, looking south into Butterfly Creek valley
East Harbour Regional Park
TypeRegional park
Location Eastbourne, Lower Hutt, Wellington Region, New Zealand
Coordinates 41°17′S174°55′E / 41.29°S 174.91°E / -41.29; 174.91
Operated by Wellington Regional Council
StatusOpen

East Harbour Regional Park is a regional park stretching from Baring Head along the east side of the Wellington Harbour along the east side of Eastbourne. It is located in Lower Hutt City, in the Wellington Region of New Zealand's North Island. [1]

Contents

The park is operated by Wellington Regional Council. [1]

Geography

The park covers the bush-clad hills between Eastbourne and Wainuiomata, from near sea level to up to 373 metres (1,224 ft) (Lowry). Several tracks, some along ridges and one into the valley of Butterfly Creek, connect the entrances on the Wellington Harbour side and the entrances on the Wainuiomata side. [1]

The southern portion of the park includes Lake Kohangatera and Lake Kohangapiripiri. [1]

History

Local Māori occupied the area before European settlement, with a network of routes connecting settlements along the eastern harbour coast. [2]

Te Atiawa were continuing to visit the area for seasonal fishing and berry-picking when the New Zealand Company began organised European settlement in the region in 1839, and were continuing to occupy the area late into the 19th century. [2]

Days Bay became popular for picnics and walking from the 1890s. Tracks were built in the area under a Great Depression work scheme, making the Butterfly Creek picnic area more popular from the 1930s. [2]

There were several shipwrecks along the coast, even after the Pencarrow Lighthouse was built in 1906 and Baring Head Lighthouse was built in 1925. [2]

The area became the base for a proposed regional park in 1973. [2]

Volunteers began planting native trees in the park in 2018, and had planted almost 7000 trees by 2021. The plantings include trees along the coast, and toitoi, flax, and ngaio along the Wainuiomata River bank. [3] [4]

Wellington Regional Council consulted on the future of the park in 2020, [5] opting reduce stock grazing and increase native bush and wetlands. [6]

As of 2021, there were plans to establish overnight accommodation near the Baring Head Lighthouse. [7]

Recreation

The park is used for mountain biking, cycling, walking, running and tramping. [1] [8] There is a 6 kilometre return walk from the coastal carpark to Baring Head Lighthouse. [7]

Dogs are permitted on a leash during summer months, but are not permitted lower lighthouse, the Parangarahu Lakes Area or at Baring Head/Orua-pouanui at any time. There is a ban on dogs during the August to October lambing season. [1]

Fireworks are prohibited. [1]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Belmont Regional Park". gw.govt.nz. Wellington Regional Council.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Belmont Regional Park". gw.govt.nz. Wellington Regional Council.
  3. ↑ Green, Kate (3 March 2021). "Wellington work skills programme changing lives, one tree at a time". stuff.co.nz. Dominion Post.
  4. ↑ Chin, Frances (11 June 2021). "Planting days part of regional council's goal to grow 400,000 trees". stuff.co.nz. Dominion Post.
  5. ↑ "Greater Wellington invites input on future of regional parks". Australasian Leisure Management. ausleisure.com.au. 21 August 2020.
  6. ↑ Green, Kate (17 December 2020). "Stock grazing to be reduced, native bush and wetlands restored in Wellington region's parks". stuff.co.nz.
  7. 1 2 Lamb, Michael (25 August 2021). "Post-lockdown planning: NZ's best lighthouse walks". New Zealand Media and Entertainment. New Zealand Herald.
  8. ↑ Bennett, Sarah (7 July 2021). "Top tips for off-road cycling in Wellington". New Zealand Media and Entertainment. New Zealand Herald.
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