The suburb is primarily residential, with a small section of light industrial land along Riverlea Road.

Johnsview Terrace was named in memory of a boy who drowned in a waterhole which the street overlooked.

Hammond Bush, part of the Mangaonua Gully, is home to the rare New Zealand long-tailed bat.

[5] The beach along the Malcolm Street section of the park is a popular swimming spot during summer.

A local environmental improvement group (Riverlea Environment Society incorporated) has been instrumental in enhancing the Hammond Bush and campaigning against the building of an asphalt plant.