Moores Valley Road connects the oldest shopping area to a historic valley that exudes rural charm.
History
The valley and road was named after George Moore (1805 – 1877), who owned land in what is now Moores Valley, but resided in Wellington, where he pursued his career as a merchant. The valley has a more important history with the Sinclair family however. They had a mill near Wainuiomata Stream and logged Moores Valley and surrounding area. They built a tramway in Sinclair Valley, the neighbouring valley to haul out the logs which opened the valley and surrounds up to farming.
Today
Moores Valley Road stretches from Main Road in The Village to Brookfield Outdoor Recreation Centre (formerly the Scout Camp) nestled deep in the valley. The Village, Wainuiomata’s oldest shopping area, marks the beginning of Moores Valley Road, lined initially with shops and followed by residential houses. Hair Street intersects the road shortly after the shops, then the road ascends along a hillside offering vistas of the Wainuiomata River and Richard Prouse Park below. Whitcher Grove branches off before the road continues into the valley, where predominantly farms and lifestyle blocks dot the landscape. Crowther Road intersects the road, but continuing on, you eventually arrive at Brookfield, which is owned by Scouts NZ.
