SlideScout
Aerial view of Maidstone Park in Upper Hutt, Upper Hutt City
Playground

Maidstone Park

Maidstone, Upper Hutt 5018

4.5
1,020
visits
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ParksPlaygroundsSportsSkatepark
Best suited to
Toddler zone0–4Child5–9Tween10+
NearbySkateparkTall dropAt a distance
Why these ages?

2022 NZ Playground of the Year - inclusive rubber-matted mega-site with 6 themed zones. Younger kids get bowl/spring rocker, junior playhouse, infant/basket/you-and-me swings and inground trampolines but the zone isn't fully fenced; adjacent skate park and pump track plus tall castle fort add risks - separated by distance not barriers. Tweens have double flying fox, MTB track, skate and pump track.

Accessibility
Wheelchair accessible
+ Step-free path to the play+ Poured rubber surface (firm for wheels)+ Ramped play platform+ Transfer platform onto play deck
Access notes

The description explicitly says rubber matting and concrete paths let wheelchair users reach every zone, ramps lead into the castle fort, and a wheelchair carousel sits beside the swings as inclusive equipment.

What's here

SlideClimbing frameFlying foxBike trackToiletsParkingPicnic tablesSwingsTrampolineSandpitWater playSpring rockerBaby swingsSign in to add

Maidstone Max is a one-hectare adventure playground built around a large timber castle fort on the park's original earth mound, with themed zones radiating out from its base for climbers, sand-diggers, sensory players, and older kids chasing speed on the pump track. It anchors the wider Maidstone Park sports precinct in Upper Hutt, and its scale and inclusive design won it the 2022 NZ Playground of the Year award from Recreation Aotearoa.

Good to know

  • HistoryMaidstone Park was developed in 1908 by Philip Davis as a private 32-hectare picnic area. Upper Hutt Borough Council purchased it in 1938 for £6,000. A War Memorial Swimming Baths opened there in 1958 and operated until 1996 when H2O Xtream replaced it. The skate park branded Maidstone Max first opened in April 2001.

    Source: en.wikipedia.org

  • HistoryMaidstone Park was purchased as farmland and developed as a private picnic ground in 1908 by Upper Hutt businessman Philip Davis, who named it after his mother's birthplace in Maidstone, Kent, England. Davis levelled areas, drained swampland, and charged threepence admission. He offered the park to the town board for £1300 but ratepayers refused; the Council eventually bought it outright for £6000 in 1939.

    Source: uhcl.recollect.co.nz

  • HistoryOpened within the last 5 years (as of the McNoe 2026 survey).

    Source: services1.arcgis.com

  • HistoryMaidstone Max's central castle, built into the park's existing earth mound, was named for and inspired by Leeds Castle in Maidstone, England, the Wellington suburb's UK namesake; RICH Landscapes and Playground People's brief for the 2021 rebuild was explicitly to create 'a space that was innovative, inclusive and accessible', with Orongomai Marae acting as kaitiaki through the project's ground-breaking and blessing ceremonies.

    Source: richlandscapes.co.nz

  • On siteThe 2021 upgrade sprawls across a 1-hectare site and features a fantasy-themed castle fort centrepiece, a quarry sand-play area, musical instruments zone, double flying foxes, inground trampolines, wheelchair carousel, half basketball court, skate park with flow bowl, learner pump track, and a dedicated 1.1 km downhill mountain bike track.

    Source: playgrounds.co.nz

  • On siteEquipment includes hamster wheel, rocktopus, climbing frame, large novelty castle (with slides), climbing module, swings (including infant swing, you-and-me swing, basket swing), fitness cube, bowl rocker, musical play, basket swing, inground carousel, flying fox, hammock swing, wide slide, inground trampolines, climbing mound, sand play, interactive equipment, junior multi-play structure (with slide)bowl rocker, junior playhouse, spring rocker, rope swing, sand play, learn to cycle & scooter track, skatepark.

    Source: services1.arcgis.com

  • On siteJunior-suitable items include basket swing, infant swing, you-and-me swing, basket swing, bowl rocker, musical play, basket swing, inground carousel, inground trampolines, interactive equipment, bowl rocker, junior playhouse, junior rocker, sand play, junior multi-play structure (with slide).

    Source: services1.arcgis.com

  • On siteSpecialised equipment: a hamster wheel, a learn-to-bike track, a carousel.

    Source: services1.arcgis.com

  • AmenitiesMaidstone Park is home to Te Kupenga o Rongomai: Maidstone Sports Hub, a modern community sports facility located at 11 Railway Avenue, Upper Hutt. The hub serves as a gathering, competition, and celebration space for the Upper Hutt community.

    Source: tekupengaorongomai.org.nz

  • AmenitiesPlayground surface: artificial.

    Source: services1.arcgis.com
Forecast

The week ahead

Daytime high in °C · % = chance of rain · data from yr.no

Photos (14)

Spot a problem?

Spotted broken gear, a hazard, or something that needs a fix? Let Upper Hutt City know. They look after this park.

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From the crew

Visits

Log visit
  • Phill C.
    from Google15 Apr 2026

    Maidstone Park, along with the Sports Turf and Sports Hub, is an excellent community asset in Upper Hutt. The park is spacious, well maintained, and ideal for everything from casual walks and family outings to organised sport. The sports turf is high quality and clearly well cared for, making it great for training and competitions year-round. The Sports Hub is modern, clean, and practical, providing a welcoming base for teams, spectators, and community events. With good facilities, easy access, and plenty of open space, Both Maidstone & Trentham Memorial Park continue to be two of the the region’s standout recreational areas. Highly recommended for both sport and leisure!

    0Helpful
  • Mike B.
    from Google15 Apr 2026

    Awesome park in the heart of Upper Hutt city. Great place for families.

    0Helpful
  • Blair J.
    from Google15 Apr 2026

    Went there for the minuture railway. Loved it. Must take my locos there for a drive at some stage

    0Helpful
  • Rouyden L.
    from Google15 Apr 2026

    Awesome place for the dogs to run around - lots of sports areas for all kinds of sports. Clean and tidy and really good public toilets. Awesome playground for Children!! Maidstone is An Asset to Upperhutt - the council have done a great job with improvements.

    0Helpful
  • Aidan C.
    from Google15 Apr 2026

    A fantastic space for kids with heaps of different climbing obstacles, flying fox, and a mix for all ages. Paired with the rugby field right next to it, its a great location to entertain the whole family!

    0Helpful
  • Eugene T.
    from Google15 Apr 2026

    Awesome place for the kids to burn out all the energy. A twin flying fox is a popular station and does get a queue when it’s busy. The skate park and whoop tracks are a great add on as well. Bathrooms are available if required. Lots of …

    0Helpful
  • Vinay P.
    from Google15 Apr 2026

    Great park for the kids with lots of fun rides for little one to keep them busy. Nice picnic area and a big ground to play football, rugby, cricket etc.

    0Helpful
  • Dr P.
    from Google15 Apr 2026

    Best park in upperhutt. Lots of fun with kids and family. Picnic ground ,barbecue and playground everything in one place.

    0Helpful
  • Joey M.
    from Google15 Apr 2026

    What cool place for kids, it has soo much here, esp for scooters, something for everyone, cool playground heaps parks and heaps of grass space, nice toilets for 1's or 2's and even if you have number 3's 😀 great way to spend an hour or 2 …

    0Helpful
  • Rowan P.
    from Google15 Apr 2026

    Visited this fantastic facility for football for National Age Group Tournament. Great surface for the boys to play on and ensure that there is available playing surface in the wet winter months

    0Helpful

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