Whitireia Park — Attraction in North Island

Be aware the automatic gates close at 6pm- 6am. There is a very narrow one lane road that is steep in places but taken carefully is adequate to get up over to the other north side where the swimming beach is. This is a vast area of windswept coast & rolling grassland hills. There are walking tracks. Onepoto loop is one & half to two hours, most along the flat coast. There's a toilet block way over at the beach. You can swim at one part of the beach, the rest is very rocky to get in and out of. There is one very tall repeater radio mast. The views are superb 360 degrees in many places. Looking down to Mt Kaukau, Colonial Knob, & Tawa & Porirua. Also across to the South Island, the Malbourough Sounds, Mana Island, Stephen's Island. Up to Kapiti Island, Kapiti coast, Plimmerton and the...

Whitireia Park has stunning coastal walk views.

It had an interesting geological history. Porirua Harbour was formed by river valleys which were cut four to six million years ago, when the sea level was much lower than it is today.

The sea level rose after the glaciations of the Pleistocene Period one to two million years ago and flooding the river valleys, creating the harbour.

Earthquakes since then have raised Whitireia head four to five metres above sea level.

The most recent uplift of around a metre was in January 1855. It created the marshland at Te Onepoto Bay and the beach along the western coastline. Porirua Harbour was also rendered too shallow for sailing ships by the 1855 earthquake.

Kingfishers frequent the bay, along with...

Whitireia Park is a headland offering stunning views of Mana Island and Porirua Harbour. You can drive all the way to the top to enjoy the views. Enjoy beautiful sunsets as well. There are roads and walkways taking you close to the water. From the Public Car Park on the top of the park, one can take the Onepoto Road to drive down to the very sheltered and swim friendly "Te Onepoto Bay"

This is a gated park and I think is open from 6am till 7pm...