On-leadEasy
Birchville Dam Track
Upper Hutt · Wellington · Out & Back
↑ 45 m gain↓ 45 m descenthigh 145 msteepest 14 %
DISTANCE1.8 km
ASCENT45 m
DURATION0.5–1 hr
STEEPEST14 %
ROUTEOut & Back
RATING · HIKERS 4.7 · 98
DOG EFFORT2.2 /5 paws
PARKING0 m away
Nearest emergency vetWellington After Hours Veterinary Clinic, Wellington
04 473 7545
The route
Good to know
On the lead here. Keep it to two metres or less and watch for ground-nesting birds, as on most NZ tracks.
Lake swimRiver swim spotsWaterfallForest shadeA popular track, busy on weekendsSwing bridge on route
Check the water before the dog swims. Toxic algae blooms in NZ rivers and lakes can kill a dog within hours. Scan the LAWA water quality map in warm months and keep dogs away from dark slime on rocks.
About Birchville Dam Track
This short track follows 1.8 km as an out-and-back, near Upper Hutt in Wellington.
It sits at the easy end and gains roughly 45 m, pitching up to 14 % at its steepest, and takes about 0.5–1 hr to walk.
Walkers come for native forest, lakeside stretches, river frontage, and big views. Dogs are welcome here on the lead. Hikers rate it 4.7 / 5 across 98 reviews.