A nationwide survey in October last year revealed one of the highest levels of work/life satisfaction amongst Lower Hutt residents with jobs, many of whom say they love living in the city because of the local amenities and building development.
The city faces central Wellington from the eastern side of the harbour; one of four cities that make up the Wellington region.
Generally called “the hutt” by its residents, the area is made up of the wild coast of Wainuiomata, the culinary haven of Petone, the sheltered bays of Eastbourne and a few other suburbs in the southern half of the Hutt Valley.
It was covered in lush forest before European settlers began arriving in the 1840s, and there's still large swathes of this dense bushland intact across the region. It's easy to explore the great outdoors in the Western Hills, located not far from the Hutt's CBD.
For outdoor adventurers there are bush walks in Belmont Regional Park and for those more active riding the Waiu Park