Whitireia Park

With 180 hectares of open space and pockets of native bush, Whitireia Park is where people in Porirua come to roam on foot, bike, or hoof.

Surrounded by water on the Tītahi Bay peninsula, a 30-minute drive north of Wellington, the park’s beaches are safe for swimming. The waters are also popular with people fishing, diving, and surfing. There are often large groups of fish, as well as stingrays and seahorses, visible beneath the waves.

There are several maintained, shared tracks through the park, but people are welcome to explore beyond them.

Rock climbers have been visiting the park since the 1930s. The climbing area is just below the Maunga Whitireia track and has 98 routes over several walls and boulders.

The park was originally set up by land acquisition from the Ōtaki and Porirua Trust Board and the Broadcasting Corporation of New Zealand, through the cooperation of the Raukawa Trustees and Ngāti Toa, the dominant iwi in the area since the 1820s.

The Greater Wellington Regional Council has looked after the park since 2011, along with Ngāti Toa members.

There are several historical pā sites in the park.

Location details

Jurisdiction	Porirua City Council, Greater Wellington Regional Council
Permits required	Yes, apply for a permit
Location descriptors	Bays, beaches, cliffs, islands, rock formations, sea, ocean, seaweed, tide pools, marine life, coastal walks, ocean views, coastal cliffs, coastal flora, coastal fauna, parks, communal spaces, regional parks, nature reserves, hiking trails, exercise areas.