Kaitoke Regional Park lies about 20 km north of Upper Hutt, where the Hutt River curves through stands of tall beech and native bush. The park has several easy to moderate walking tracks threading through the forest — the Hutt River Trail passes here on its way upstream, and there are swimming holes on the river where the water runs clear and cold over smooth boulders.
The park is perhaps best known internationally as the filming location for Rivendell in Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings. A dedicated track leads to the filming site, where wooden interpretation boards explain how the production team transformed the beech forest into Middle-earth. Tolkien fans make a pilgrimage here from Wellington; even for those unaware of the connection, it's simply beautiful forest.