Percy Scenic Reserve

Percy Scenic Reserve
Percy Scenic Reserve Entrance
Type	Ex situ conservation collection and botanical garden
Location	Lower Hutt, New Zealand
Coordinates	41°12′45″S174°52′30″E / 41.2125°S 174.8750°E / -41.2125; 174.8750
Area	16.93 hectares (41.8 acres) [1]
Established	1949 [1]
Operated by	Hutt City Council
Website	www.huttcity.govt.nz/environment-and-sustainability/parks-and-sportsgrounds/parks,-gardens-and-reserves/percy-scenic-reserve

Percy Scenic Reserve is a botanic garden and bush reserve located in Pito-one in Lower Hutt, New Zealand.

Overview

Percy Scenic Reserve is a public botanic garden with an ex-situ native plant collection dedicated to New Zealand native plants from coastal areas, alpine habitats, wetlands and offshore islands. The reserve comprises 16.93 hectares (41.8 acres) ^[1] of parks, ponds, and forest. It also connects onto adjacent Frank Cameron Park. ^[2]

Percy Scenic Reserve is owned by the Department of Conservation and managed by the Hutt City Council. ^[2]

Location and access

The gardens are located at 5 Dowse Drive, Petone. There is parking at the Dowse Drive entrance for cars, campervans and coaches. It is a short walk north of the Petone train station. ^[2]

There is a path suitable for wheelchairs from Dowse drive to the main lawns and duck pond. ^[2]

The park open daily between sunrise and sunset, and entry is free.

History

Percy's Mill at Pito-One 1851-1929

Joseph Hewlett Percy arrived in Petone with his family in 1841 and soon after began construction of their home and mills in the area. ^[3]

Visitor attractions

Waterfall

The waterfall on the Percy Stream that flows into the Duck Pond and was used to drive the Percy Family Flour Mill. ^[4]

Duck Pond

The original pond created to drive the Percy family flour mill. ^[4]

Wētā Cave

Waterwheel at Percy Scenic Reserve

Waterwheel

Memorial Waterwheel of the Percy Family Flour Mill. ^[4]

Lookout and "Ratanui"

The Empty Site of Sir James Hector's Home. ^[4]

Bush walks and tracks

There are walks and trails within the forest and gardens to suit a range of ages and abilities. Good walking footwear and is recommended for the Waterfall track.

Tracks at Percy Scenic Reserve

• Dowse Track – 3 minutes, 75 m (246 ft)
• Jasmine Track – 10 minutes, 177 m (581 ft)
• Puriri Track – 8 minutes, 233 m (764 ft)
• Rātā Track – 9 minutes, 187 m (614 ft)
• Rīmu Track – 6 minutes, 140 m (460 ft)
• Stanhope Track – 9 minutes, 173 m (568 ft)
• Tawa Track - 6 minutes, 178 m (584 ft)
• Waterfall Track – 15 minutes, 413 m (1,355 ft)

Forest reserve

The forest at Percy Scenic Reserve covers around 16.93 hectares (41.8 acres) of the catchment area of the Percy Stream, and includes some original podocarp broadleaf forest, large non-native trees, and regenerating forest and scrub.

Fauna

Native birds seen (and/or heard) at Percy Scenic Reserve include kereru, tui, and New Zealand fantail (piwakawaka). There are also yellowhammer and mallards

Cave wētā and common skinks are also present. ^[5]

Ex-Situ Plant conservation

The ex-situ conservation collection is housed in a series of purpose-built houses which are designed to match their native habitats as closely as possible. ^{[2] [6]}

See also

• Sir James Hector
• Hōniana Te Puni-kōkopu
• New Zealand Plant Conservation Network
• Ōtari-Wilton's Bush

References

1. "Percy Scenic Reserve". Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture. Archived from the original on 29 January 2025. Retrieved 22 February 2025.
2. "Percy Scenic Reserve". Hutt City Council. 2 October 2023. Archived from the original on 18 February 2025. Retrieved 21 February 2025.
3. "Joseph Hewlett Percy". National Library. Retrieved 22 February 2025.
4. "Percy Scenic Reserve - Romany Rambler". Jenny and Robin. 12 February 2014. Archived from the original on 23 November 2023. Retrieved 22 February 2025.
5. List of organisms noted by iNaturalist users
6. "New Zealand Alpine Garden Society Bulletin, Issue 110, November 2022" (PDF). NZAGS. Archived (PDF) from the original on 5 February 2025. Retrieved 22 February 2025.

External links

• Explore Wellington An excellent description of the park, its facilities and features.
• Percy Scenic Reserve nature observations on iNaturalist
• Neat Places Further Information and Photos of Percy Scenic Reserve
• Percy Scenic Reserve Official Hutt City Council website
• Scottish Dancing at Percy Scenic Reserve An interesting exploration of the history of traditional dancing events at Percy Scenic Reserve
• Trail maps for Percy Scenic Reserve and surrounds