Avalon Playground

Few council owned green spaces in Wellington pack in as much as this six-hectare riverside park does: a large play area, a miniature railway, mini golf, paddle boats and an award-winning skate park beside the Hutt River in Avalon. Motutawa Avalon Park holds Green Flag Award recognition for 2025/26, and its skate park won Active Park/Sportsground of the Year at the 2025 Recreation Aotearoa Parks Awards.

Equipment

The play area was rebuilt in a 3.7 million dollar upgrade that opened in October 2016. Signature pieces include a twin flying fox, the multi-level Amazon Tower slide, a Super Mega Swing, and Helix and Red Spaceball climbing frames. Bird's nest swings, tunnels and sand pits suit older children, while an under-fives zone offers smaller slides and water play. The Lions Club runs a miniature railway and mini golf on weekends and holidays, and the grounds offer paddle boats and a cycle circuit. Nearby, the redeveloped Motutawa Skatepark opened in December 2024.

Access and Inclusion

An accessible entrance into the park makes it straightforward to bring a wheelchair or pushchair onto the grounds. Family and accessible toilets are on site, and off-street parking off Taita Drive removes a common headache at busier playgrounds. The under-fives zone sits apart from taller equipment, easing supervision. Dogs are welcome on a leash.

History and Cultural

Calls to upgrade Avalon Park go back over a decade, with Hutt City Council naming this reserve a candidate for the city's premier playground as far back as 2011. That solidified in 2014 with a two stage programme adding splash pads, a basket swing and a second flying fox, and the rebuilt area opened in October 2016 to become a top Hutt Valley attraction. A Recreation Aotearoa award followed in 2025 for the skate park, alongside Green Flag Award status for 2025/26.

Practical Info

The playground itself costs nothing to use; charges apply only for the railway, mini golf and paddle boats. The park runs under Hutt City Council's smokefree policy, and free electric barbecues plus picnic tables suit a full day out. A cafe on site sells snacks and drinks, and weekends and holidays are busiest.