Porirua's Top 12 Walking and Cycling Tracks
This section describes Porirua's top 12 walking and cycling tracks, along with photos, maps and elevation images.
Walking and Cycling Tracks in Porirua City
We have produced a glossy brochure with all our walkways and cycling tracks. You can pick up a copy of this brochure from the Porirua i-SITE Visitor Information centre, our libraries, cycle shops, our reception counter in the Council Administration Building and various other locations around the city. You can also view and print the brochure by clicking on the image on the right, or from the link below:
Use our matrix below to choose a track
Use our handy track matrix below to choose a walkway or cycleway. We have listed the distance, grade, surface, facilities and attractions of our Top 12 Tracks. Click on the track name to view more comprehensive information, and to print a map of that track.
| Track |
Distance/Time
(Walkers one-way) |
Grade
(see note 3) |
Surface |
Facilities and
Attractions |
|
1. Ara Harakeke
(Paremata to Pukerua Bay)
Walkers
Wheelchairs (see note 4)
Cyclists
Dogs on lead |
8.7 km
(see note 1)
1 hr 45 mins |
Easy/
Moderate |
Sealed |
Beach
Cafes
Heritage
Public toilets
Stream
Wetland
Wildlife |
|
2. The Taua Tapu Track
(Plimmerton)
Walkers
Horse riding
Dogs on lead (see note 6) |
1.5 km
(see note 2)
40 minutes |
Moderate/
Challenging |
Grass/
Gravel |
Coastal views
Cafes (see note 9)
Elevated views
Public toilets
Elevated views |
|
3. Whitireia Park
(Titahi Bay)
Walkers
Cyclists (see note 5)
Dogs on lead |
6.5 km
1.5 hours |
Easy/Moderate |
Grass/
Gravel |
Coastal views
Elevated views
Picnic area
Public toilets
Rural character |
|
4. Camborne Walkway
(Paremata)
Walkers
Wheelchairs (see note 7)
Dogs off-lead (see note 8) |
1.6 km
(see note 1)
45 minutes |
Easy |
Grass/
Gravel |
Boatsheds
Cafes (see note 9)
Coastal views
Estuarine character
Picnic area
Public toilets
Wetland
Wildlife |
|
5. Te Ara Piko Pathway
(Pauatahanui)
Walkers
Cyclists
Wheelchairs (see note 7)
Dogs on lead (see note 13) |
1.8 km
30 minutes |
Easy |
Sealed
Grass/Gravel |
Estuarine character
Public toilets
Wetland
Wildlife |
|
6. Pauatahanui Wildlife Management Reserve
(Pauatahanui)
Walkers
Wheelchairs (see note 7)
No dogs |
2.2 km
Allow 1 hour to explore |
Easy |
Grass/
Gravel |
Bird hides
Cafes (see note 9)
Estuarine character
Public toilets nearby
Wetland
Wildlife |
|
7. Whitby Walkway
(Whitby)
Walkers
Cyclists
Wheelchairs
Dogs on lead |
1.6 km
(see note 1)
30 minutes |
Easy |
Sealed |
Cafe (see note 9)
Native bush
Parkland
Playground
Stream |
|
8. Southern Clifftop Walk
(Titahi Bay)
Walkers
Cyclists (see note 5)
Dogs on lead (see note 10) |
2.8 km
(see note 2)
1 hour return |
Challenging |
Grass/Gravel
Sealed |
Coastal views
Elevated views
Public toilets
Rural character |
|
9. Aotea Lagoon
(Papakowhai)
Walkers
Wheelchairs
Tricycles
Dogs on lead |
732 metres
(see note 11)
10 minutes |
Easiest |
Sealed |
Fitness stations
Lagoon
Model train
Picnic areas
Playground
Rose garden |
|
10. Bothamley Pathway
(Cannons Creek/Ascot Park)
Walkers
Cyclists
Dogs off lead |
4.7 km
(see note 1)
1 hour 15 minutes |
Easy |
Grass/
Gravel |
Native bush
Playground
Stream |
|
11. Colonial Knob
(Elsdon)
(see note 2)
Walkers
Cyclists (see note 5)
No dogs |
Route A:
1.8 km
40 minutes
Route B:
4.05 km
1-2 hours
Route C:
3.1 km
1 hour 45 minutes |
All routes
challenging |
Grass/
Gravel |
Elevated views
Historic reservoirs
Native bush
Rural character
Scenic reserves
Wildlife |
|
12. Spicer Botanical Park
(Elsdon)
Walkers
Dogs off lead (see note 12) |
2 km
(see note 2)
Time varies |
Easy/
Moderate |
Grass/
Gravel |
Exotic tree collection
Historic reservoirs
Native bush
Stream |
Notes
(1) Distance: There are a number of entry/exit points to make shorter loops. Track also links to other tracks in the wider track network – refer to main walkway brochure for further information.
(2) Other Tracks: Track links to other tracks in the wider track network. Refer to main walkway brochure for further information.
(3) Gradients: Easiest gradient: slopes up to 4%. Easy gradient: slopes up to 6%. Moderate gradient: slopes up to 12%. Challenging gradient: slopes greater than 12%.
(4) Wheelchairs: Track becomes steeper after Whenua Tapu so wheelchairs are not recommended.
(5) Cyclists: Some routes only. Refer to map by clicking on track title.
(6) Dogs: Not permitted during lambing season from September to December, but permitted on leads at other times.
(7) Wheelchairs with assistance.
(8) Dogs allowed off-lead on main track only. On lead on secondary routes shown on map.
(9) Cafes: Less than 5 minutes walking distance of the Track.
(10) Dogs are permitted off lead within Stuart Park.
(11) Aotea Lagoon: The main pathway is 732 metres. It is possible to make up to 1 kilometre using secondary routes. Refer to map by clicking on track title.
(12) Dogs are permitted off lead, but only in the exotic trees. Dogs are not permitted on the route up to the reservoirs which travels through native bush on the adjoining DOC scenic reserve (Colonial Knob).
(13) Dogs off-lead are permitted on the Motukaraka Road section.
Using QR Codes
The Council-administrated top 12 walking and cycling tracks in Porirua City are becoming smart phone friendly with the introduction of QR codes signs along the tracks to help walkers and cyclists find their way.
Here's an example of what a QR code looks like:
Example of a QR Code.
The QR codes are a high-tech version of a bar code that smart phones can read.
A QR code saves you the hassle of typing in a web address or hunting for the right page on a website. QR codes connect you to the map you need straight away. If your phone doesn't already have a QR reader there are plenty of free downloads available.
The advantage is that now if you lose your map or forget to take one, those with a smart phone, can get a backup map while out on the walk.
The Council recommends that track users print off a map before starting out, as phones can go flat and telecommunications services can be unavailable.
Other Porirua Walkways
There are many other walkways in Porirua. For more details, visit our Other Porirua Walkways page.
Walking and Cycling Strategy
Read Part 4 - Cycling, Walking and TDM Strategy Context, and Part 5 - Cycling and Walking Strategy in the Porirua Transportation Strategy (681KB pdf) for more information on the work we're doing.
Do you want to know “Where the wild things are" in Porirua?
"Where the wild things are" is a website that introduces 50 sites around the Wellington Region where you can easily find and explore a range of ecosystems, animals, plants and micro-organisms.