Whakamōonie Swimming Hole – Hutt River, Kaitoke Regional Park, Wellington Region, New Zealand

February 20, 2026

Whakamōonie Swimming Hole on the Hutt River in Kaitoke Regional Park

Whakamōonie Swimming Hole – Hutt River, Wellington Region

Tucked within the forested valley of Kaitoke Regional Park, Whakamōonie Swimming Hole is one of the Hutt River's most inviting deep-water pockets. Here, the river narrows and darkens to a cool emerald tone, slipping between smooth grey boulders before widening again into gentle shallows downstream.

The water is famously clear. On sunny days, you can see straight to the stony riverbed, where pale rocks glow beneath rippling current. Tall native bush crowds the banks — rimu, tōtara, and dense undergrowth — giving the swimming hole a hidden, almost cinematic atmosphere.

It's a place that feels removed from the city, even though Wellington sits less than an hour away. The soundscape is simple: flowing water, wind through the canopy, and the occasional splash as swimmers plunge into the deeper centre channel. For more Wellington region swimming, explore Waiohine Gorge or discover other New Zealand swimming spots.

Discover More with Swim New Zealand

Whakamōonie is part of the wider Hutt River swimming network featured in Swim New Zealand – North Island, including calm family-friendly sections, deeper plunge pools, and scenic forest stretches used in The Lord of the Rings filming (nearby Rivendell scenes). Browse all our New Zealand travel guides.

Map & Navigation

Google Maps:
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Whakamoonie+swimming+hole

Region: Kaitoke Regional Park, Upper Hutt
Nearest City: Wellington (approx. 45 minutes)

Parking is available within Kaitoke Regional Park near the main picnic and access areas.

How to Get There

From Wellington:

Drive north on State Highway 2 toward Upper Hutt.
Follow signs to Kaitoke Regional Park.
Enter the park and park near the main river access / picnic zone.
Walk along the riverside tracks until you reach the deeper swimming section locally known as Whakamōonie.

Walking time varies depending on which entrance you use, but expect 5–15 minutes from the main car parks.

You'll hear the stronger river flow before you see the darker, deeper section.