Active Explorers Upper Hutt is a childcare and early learning centre at 851 Fergusson Drive, Upper Hutt (entrance off Wilson Street), part of the Evolve Education Group. The centre provides education and care for infants, toddlers and young children through a community-focused, nurturing approach that helps children build connections with whānau and the world around them.
The centre is led by Centre Manager Nakita, a qualified ECE Teacher with more than 10 years of experience in both teaching and management within the early childhood education sector. She's supported by a team that includes Assistant Manager Gitika, Team Leader Becs, cook Liz, several qualified teachers (Michelle, Zoe, Lolo, Lisa, Hollie and Anthony), teachers Courtney, Param, Amber, Neha and Briar, a teacher in training (Linda), and Centre Admin Kathryn.
Active Explorers Upper Hutt is organised into four age-based rooms: Kaiwhakahoahoa for babies (0–1.5 years), Kaitoro for toddlers (1.5–3 years), Tamariki Kaha for preschoolers (3–4 years), and Kaiarahi (4–6 years), which prepares children for school through literacy, numeracy and self-regulation. The centre offers cooked lunches, a large outdoor area, community excursions, school transition support, Storypark updates for families, and both standard ECE and extended hours.
The centre celebrates a range of cultures and backgrounds and incorporates Te Reo Māori into daily practice. It currently holds a five-star average across parent reviews on Google, with families praising the team's warmth, communication and hands-on approach to learning.
Tucked just off Fergusson Drive, with its entrance on Wilson Street, Active Explorers Upper Hutt has built a reputation as one of the area's most trusted early learning centres — part of the wider Evolve Education Group network.
At the helm is Centre Manager Nakita, a qualified ECE Teacher with more than a decade of experience across both teaching and management roles in early childhood education. Outside the centre, she describes enjoying travel, drag racing, motorbikes, horse riding and family time — details that hint at the same warmth and personality that runs through the reviews left by parents. She leads a broad team that spans Assistant Manager Gitika, Team Leader Becs, cook Liz, qualified teachers Michelle, Zoe, Lolo, Lisa, Hollie and Anthony, teachers Courtney, Param, Amber, Neha and Briar, teacher-in-training Linda, and Centre Admin Kathryn.
The centre is structured around four age-appropriate rooms, each designed to match a different stage of development. Kaiwhakahoahoa is the baby room for children aged 0 to 1.5 years, offering a calm space and its own dedicated outdoor playground for early motor skill development. Kaitoro takes over from 1.5 to 3 years, giving toddlers a private outdoor playground and veranda to build confidence and social skills through group play. Tamariki Kaha serves 3 to 4 year olds with a blend of structured activities and free play focused on communication and creativity. Finally, Kaiarahi prepares 4 to 6 year olds for the transition to primary school, with a stronger focus on literacy, numeracy and self-regulation.
Active Explorers Upper Hutt places a strong emphasis on nurturing creativity, independence and strong relationships, with a community-centred approach that connects children to local knowledge and values. The centre celebrates all cultures and backgrounds and actively incorporates Te Reo Māori into daily practice — something parents specifically call out as meaningful, especially those raising children with different cultural backgrounds at home.
Parent reviews consistently highlight the same themes: a warm, welcoming atmosphere from the very first visit, patient and attentive teachers, and a genuine sense of partnership between staff and families. One parent described the centre as feeling like "our second home," praising how the team handled her energetic 15-month-old with patience and care. Another, a parent for four years, highlighted the daily updates on excursions and activities, plus monthly reports on her daughter's learning achievements — along with the centre's welcoming approach to different home cultures. A parent of twins singled out cook Liz for preparing "hot, delicious, and healthy breakfasts and lunches," and described the personalised Storypark letters addressed directly to her children as something the family plans to keep and reread for years.
Beyond the four rooms, the centre offers a large outdoor area, community excursions to places like libraries and ambulance stations, school transition support, and both standard ECE and extended operating hours. Regular Storypark updates keep families connected to what their child has been doing each day, complete with photos and notes from teachers.
Active Explorers Upper Hutt is currently offering half price fees for new enrolments (terms and conditions apply). Families can book a tour or get in touch directly through the centre's website, and can also follow along on Facebook for a look at the centre's day-to-day activities. The centre is open Monday to Friday, 7:30am to 5:30pm.