Imagine traversing a landscape where recreation dances with conservation and farming. This is Belmont Regional Park. It is more than just a park. It is a testament to New Zealand’s vision for land use.
Belmont Regional Park sits between Lower Hutt and Porirua. This vast area covers about 15 kilometers from Wellington Harbour to Haywards. It extends 10 kilometers towards Porirua. The park’s story began long before its official establishment.
European settlers arrived in the late 18th century. They cleared the dense native bush for farmland. The New Zealand Government later acquired some of the land. They wanted it for water collection. In 1903 and 1904, the Korokoro Dam was constructed. Engineer Samuel Jickell designed this. It was one of the first concrete gravity dams in New Zealand. It supplied water for Petone and the Wellington Woollen Mill.
During World War II, the New Zealand Army acquired land. They needed ammunition magazines. These magazines stored munitions used in the Pacific theater. Camouflage was important. The magazines were designed to resemble a poultry farm from above.
The park was officially established in 1986. Initially, it was named Waitangirua Farm. In 1989, it was renamed Belmont Regional Park. It became the first park in New Zealand to integrate recreation, conservation, and farming.
From 1986 to 2016, Landcorp managed part of the park. It was used as a sheep and beef breeding farm. In 2005, Landcorp planned to sell a third of the park. Local opposition arose. The New Zealand Government, Wellington Regional Council, and Porirua City Council intervened. They bought the land to keep it public.
In 2016, Landcorp’s lease ended. Part of the land was allowed to revert to native vegetation. The rest was opened to commercial farming licenses. The Transmission Gully construction further reduced grazing areas. The construction company was fined for discharging sediment into Belmont Regional Park streams.
Belmont Regional Park faced some challenges. In 2016, a body was found near a burnt car. In 2018, a helicopter searched for a missing beagle. That same year, children found an explosive shell from World War II.
In 2020, the Wellington Regional Council consulted on the park’s future. They opted to reduce stock grazing. They wanted to increase native bush and wetlands. In 2021, deer were reported in the park and nearby suburbs. Planting began in 2022. This was part of New Zealand’s largest plant restoration project.
Today, Belmont Regional Park offers many recreational activities. There are entrances from the Hutt Valley and Porirua. Tracks are available for walking, mountain biking, and horse riding. The Puke Ariki traverse takes six to seven hours. There is also a cheap camping site.
The park’s landscape includes farmland, native bush, and peaks. Belmont Trig reaches 456 meters. Originally, the hills were covered in rimu and northern rātā. Tawa and hinau formed the canopy. Some native forest remains, especially in Korokoro Valley.
Belmont Regional Park is undergoing restoration. The focus is on restoring ecosystem health. This benefits both nature and people. Improving access and signage is a priority. A heritage storytelling trail around the WWII bunkers is planned.
Belmont Regional Park is a place of recreation and conservation. It also has farming. It reflects the history of the region. It shows a commitment to preserving the natural environment for future generations.