Stuart Macaskill Lakes is a park in Te Marua, Upper Hutt, with a Google rating of 4.4.
A good lakeside park gives people space to walk, picnic and watch the water, with clear paths and somewhere to sit. When choosing where to go, look for firm, even tracks, shade, and clear signs about what is allowed near the water, since rules on swimming, boating and dogs differ from place to place. Regulars know that the Upper Hutt valley can be hot on summer afternoons and cold on winter mornings, that wind off open water makes it feel cooler, and that early mornings and weekday afternoons are the quietest and best for wildlife. Carry water and a spare layer, keep children close near the edge, keep to marked paths, and take your rubbish home.
For visitors to Te Marua and around Upper Hutt, Stuart Macaskill Lakes is a well-rated place for a walk by the water.