I’ve spent a lot of time here with families as part of my job and I bring my son here too. It’s usually quiet during school times, predictably busy in the afternoon. The skate park is great and seems to cater to all abilities and wheels (scooters, skateboards, bikes). There’s things to climb on, swing on even make music with. There’s a smaller area with a sandpit for the little ones and it’s next to a sports field. There are benches around, water fountains for people and 4 legged companions. There’s lots of parking around both on the street and around the rec area as a sports club is on the same land. There’s a couple of bbq areas as well. As the sunsets, predictably the big kids come out to skate. I haven’t felt intimidated but I’m sure some people might. I’ve seen people working there to keep the park free of litter. It’s a really nice addition to the small town and keeps kids active and running around for ages. The flying fox as pictured below is a huge hit!
Maidstone Max
1 Park Street, Maidstone, Upper Hutt 5018
Why these ages?
2022 NZ Playground of the Year, 1ha destination with a huge timber castle, twin 60m flying foxes, in-ground trampolines, pump track and a well-regarded skate park in the precinct. Dedicated Village and Quarry sand-play zones scale down for toddlers. But a parent-review flags 'not fully fenced off' with kids easily 'out of sight' across the site, and the skate park is adjacent. Perfect for older kids and tweens; toddlers need close supervision.
Access notes
Description explicitly describes ramped access to the castle bridges, rubber matting or smooth concrete throughout for unobstructed wheelchair movement, and a wheelchair carousel. A review independently praises the easy, smooth paths for prams and strollers.
What's here
Maidstone Max, known formally as Tō Tātou Papa Tākaro or our playground, is a one hectare fantasy themed play destination in Upper Hutt built around a large timber castle fort, with ramped access up to its bridges and upper levels for wheelchair users. The scale and inclusive design won it Recreation Aotearoa's 2022 Playground of the Year award, and it suits everyone from toddlers to teenagers.
Equipment
Access and Inclusion
Beyond the playground
History
Good to know
HistoryThe park's name references Maidstone in England , the birthplace of the original landowner's mother , which inspired the initial castle-on-a-mound design concept. The playground first opened in 2001 and was substantially renewed during 2018, 2021. The bilingual name Tō Tātou Papa Tākaro (meaning "our playground") was added after completion, chosen to reflect its role as a shared community space. The nearby Ōrongomai Marae, Upper Hutt's only marae, served as kaitiaki for the project, leading ground-breaking and blessing ceremonies.
Source: richlandscapes.co.nzHistoryMaidstone Max has been a landmark in Upper Hutt since 2001. After almost two decades of use, the park became outdated and was renewed from 2018, with RICH Landscapes and Playground People designing the new facility. Construction commenced August 2020 and completed 17 April 2021.
Source: richlandscapes.co.nzHistoryOpened within the last 5 years (as of the McNoe 2026 survey).
Source: services1.arcgis.comHistoryThe Maidstone Park site dates to 1908, when it was privately developed by Philip Davis as an 80-acre picnic area, before Upper Hutt Borough Council raised a loan to purchase it from him for £6,000 in 1938.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgHistoryThe 2021 redevelopment that produced today's Maidstone Max cost $3.8 million and replaced almost all of the previous playground and skate park equipment.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgOn siteMaidstone Max sprawls across a one-hectare site with a fantasy theme built around a central mound. The centrepiece is a large timber castle fort with ramp access for wheelchair users. Surrounding play zones include The Village, the Quarry sand play area, Siege Machines, Bard's Compass, and Training Ground. Equipment features inground trampolines, wheelchair carousel, sensory panels, multiple swing types, flying fox, musical instruments, rope climbers, hammocks, and a KOMPAN castle structure.
Source: playgrounds.co.nzOn siteMaidstone Max Adventure Playground features a 1.1km downhill mountain bike track accessible from Seymour Grove with berms and jumps for intermediate to expert riders, a skate park, bike and scooter pump track, and half basketball court.
Source: accessibleplaygrounds.co.nzOn siteMaidstone Max features a fantasy-themed castle environment on an existing mound, a farm area, a quarry sand play area, a musical environment with instruments, a Flying Fox, a learner wheeled play area and pump track, a basketball court, and a large skatepark with flow bowl and street skating environment.
Source: richlandscapes.co.nzOn siteMaidstone Max playground features double flying foxes, a splash pad, a wooden castle, climbing frames and towers with valley bridges, a wheelchair carousel, double tower with slides, BLOQX 3 play equipment, and a skatebowl. The park also has restrooms, picnic tables, shaded areas, and a nearby café.
Source: aucklandforkids.co.nzOn siteMaidstone Max upgrade includes one of the best skateparks in New Zealand, designed in collaboration with Landscape Architects.
Source: playgrounds.co.nz
The week ahead
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Photos (7)
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Visits
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