Brewtown Upper Hutt: 2025 Guide to Craft Beer & More

For the lovers of all things beer out there: how does a whole village sound? Nestled amongst lush valleys, and just a short drive from Wellington central, Brewtown Upper Hutt is home to multiple craft beer breweries that will certainly quench your thirst for a damn good pint. 

But its not all cruise and booze—Brewtown is packed with entertainment for the whole family. With axe throwing, escape rooms, go-karting, and arcade excitement, everyone’s guaranteed a great time—whether you’re trying to please Dad or just keep the little ones busy. 

Jump To

• Where Is Brewtown & When Is It Open?
• Which Breweries & Vendors Are On Site?
• More Than Beer: Family & Group Activities  
• First-Timer’s Itinerary

Where Is Brewtown & When Is It Open?

Hop in the car and press play on your fave tunes—Brewtown Upper Hutt is just a 40-minute drive from Wellington CBD. Located at 27 Blenheim Street, Upper Hutt, the precinct is also a short walk from Upper Hutt train station, for those wanting to get their steps up. Parking is a no-brainer with their on-site carparks that can accommodate anything on four wheels—so don't sweat finding a spot for that caravan you hired. 

Opening hours for each brewery and activity vary, although you can be sure to have at least one venue ready to serve you a bev no matter the day. If you want to make the most out of your trip, weekends are your best bet, as everything stays open longer. Aim for an 11 am start, as most drinking spots open around this time and continue late into the evening—the perfect nightcap after chasing busy kids all day.

Insider intel

• Keep an eye on the specific opening hours of each brewery and activity online here, to make sure your must-go spots will have their doors open.
• We recommend avoiding Mondays and Tuesdays, as these are the dates when most services are closed. 

Which Breweries & Vendors Are On Site?

Brewtown has six main spots ready to fuel your eating and drinking plans. Panhead Brewery keeps things bold with hardcore craft beer, while Boneface serves up hearty pours alongside hipster-style graphic posters—both setting the tone as flagship brewers. Te Aro Brewing Co. pours cold ones in an Art Deco setting, and Wild Kiwi shakes things up with shelves lined with whiskies ready for sampling.

Most venues dish up a solid bite to go with your drink, but if you’re after a more substantial menu, head to Fermented Bar & Eatery for Asian-Kiwi fusion flavours, or Victory Lane Takeaways for a quick, family-friendly feed.

Insider intel

• Swing by on a Sunday and you’ll also catch Brewtown’s farmers market (8am–2pm), where fresh produce and artisan goodies are yours to browse and take home—it's one of the best in Wellington.

More Than Beer: Family & Group Activities  

Aside from being a good stop for food and a farmers market gathering, Brewtown is also home to an abundance of adrenaline and smile-inducing fun that might even top the joy of a good beer (or at least add to it). It's one of our best spots to bring the kids in Wellington for a reason.

Daytona Adventure Park packs in all the action with a go-kart track, ice-skating rink, indoor paintball, bowling, gellyball, archery tag, and yes—even a trampoline park, all under one roof.

Still not enough? Try your hand at axe throwing with Sweet Axe, tee off at spooky mini golf at The Witching Hour (choose between mild or major scares), puzzle your way through Scapegoats escape rooms, or forge something unique at Stackhouse Knives’ blacksmithing workshops. For the little ones, Chipmunks indoor playground is there to burn off some energy.

inside intel

• Brewtown also keeps things fresh with regular events and one-off activities—think knife shows, themed markets, live music, and more—so check their what’s on guide before you go.

First-Timer’s Itinerary

Getting There

Head up on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday by car or hop on the Hutt Valley Line (HVL) from Wellington Station to Upper Hutt. Both options are quick and simple, taking under an hour. The train is our pick if you plan on sampling a few of the many brews (and let’s be honest—you probably will).

When to arrive

Rolling in around 10 am or 11 am gives you plenty of time for adrenaline-fuelled fun before diving into your first beer. Go-karting runs from $30–$85 per person, ice-skating and trampolining combos start from $30, axe-throwing is from $70, and escape rooms from $80.

Eat and drink

Once you’ve worked up an appetite, grab takeaway from Victory Lane for a casual bite, or head straight to Boneface for a beer-first, food-second vibe. From there, take your time hopping between breweries to taste your way through the craft line-up, while kids keep busy with Brewtown’s endless entertainment.

Before heading home

Round out your day with one last snack or hearty meal to fuel the trip back, then catch the evening train to Wellington. Expect the kids to conk out instantly—and don’t be surprised if you enjoy the best night’s sleep you’ve had all week. That’s just the Brewtown effect.

Image credits: Brewtown | Website