Delaney Park

Delaney Park in Stokes Valley carries more history than most Lower Hutt reserves. The All Blacks warmed up here before facing the 1977 British and Irish Lions, and the park has been a community sporting anchor ever since.

The setting

The park sits at 319 George Street, Stokes Valley, in the upper reaches of the Hutt Valley where the valley narrows toward the Rimutaka Range. It is a large, open athletic reserve with wide fields and well-maintained grounds, serving as the home of Stokes Valley Sport, a coalition of local clubs. The setting is functional and unpretentious: broad grass, jogging trails around the perimeter, and the kind of quiet utility that community sport depends on.

The playground

A playground sits within the park grounds, offering play equipment for children who accompany families to weekend sport or community events. The park is child-friendly and wheelchair accessible, with accessible parking available on site. The primary attraction for most visitors is the open sporting space rather than the playground specifically.

Getting there

Delaney Park is at 319 George Street, Stokes Valley. The suburb is in the upper Hutt Valley, approximately 15 km north of Lower Hutt city centre. By bus, Metlink services run from Lower Hutt to Stokes Valley. Parking is available on site.

A bit of history

In June 1977 the All Blacks used Delaney Park for training ahead of the first test against the British and Irish Lions. That Lions tour is remembered as one of the most celebrated in New Zealand rugby history, and the park's connection to it remains a point of local pride in Stokes Valley.