Hidden Gem

17/10/2026

While filming locations for ‘The Hunt for Gollum’ remain unknown at this time, the capital region is rich with accessible Middle-earth locations. This includes the Kaitoke Regional Park in Upper Hutt which offers signposted walkways through the native bush that brought Rivendell to life. The Hutt River between Moonshine and Totara Park doubled as the River Anduin, while in Harcourt Park became the Gardens of Isengard.

Further on from Kaitoke, across the Remutaka Hill, the rock formations of the Putangirua Pinnacles in the Wairarapa were part of Aragorn’s journey along the Paths of the Dead.

So book your stay with us at and enjoy exploring them all, only 20 mins drive from Hidden Gem.
⛰️🧳😊🚙

14/09/2026

Tonight went to Wellington’s annual cherry blossom festival at Aston Norwood Gardens in Kaitoke, just a 20 minute drive from Hidden Gem. The light experience after dark is a wonderful sight. Highly recommend.

09/01/2026

For fully furnished accommodation, just a 10 minute walk from NZCIS, an elite training facility that supports preparation for All Blacks, Black Ferns and other black teams. Accommodation that makes you feel like it’s your home away from home. All enquiries welcomed.

New Zealand Rugby confirms NZCIS as Official Training Base | NZ Rugby https://www.nzrugby.co.nz/news-and-events/latest-news/new-zealand-rugby-confirms-nzcis-as-official-training-base #:~:text=Located%20in%20Upper%20Hutt%20in,and%20other%20Teams%20in%20Black.

New Zealand Rugby (NZR) and the New Zealand Campus of Innovation and Sport (NZCIS) have announced the world-class high-performance training facility will be the Official Training Base of New Zealand Rugby. Located in Upper Hutt in Wellington, the NZCIS campus is an elite training facility and will ....

07/11/2025

19/04/2025

Come to Silverstream and enjoy all the attractions in the Hutt Valley. Hidden Gem is just a short walk to a choice of two railway stations to head into the city and explore.
https://www.bookabach.co.nz/holiday-accommodation/p9488415

07/03/2025

Did you know that Wellington has unique crossing signals in parts of the city? One of them is of Kate Sheppard who was a central figure in NZ’s suffrage movement and instrumental in NZ being the first country to have women’s voting rights in 1893. Her silhouette, in Victorian costume, was added to eight pedestrian crossing lights in the capital.

Carmen Rupe features on four crossing lights around Cuba Street. Carmen was a trailblazing trans woman who fought for the rights and recognition of her community in Wellington. Carmen was NZ’s first prominent drag queen and trans activist and paved the way for a more tolerant Kiwi society and gay marriage.

There are also Kapa Haka Lanterns of figures representing songs and dances performed by Maori people of NZ. You may have seen Haka (the dance itself) performed by the world famous NZ National Rugby Union Team, the All Blacks.