Discover Porirua: Harbour, Art and Rangituhi

Porirua offers several distinct highlights: Te Awarua-o-Porirua Harbour and its two arms, the steep hills around Rangituhi/Colonial Knob, and art and culture at Pātaka Art + Museum. These themes give your trip planning a clear direction. When choosing a hotel in Porirua, you can decide whether to focus your stay mainly on the harbour landscape, walking destinations, or cultural attractions.

Harbour and coast

Porirua completely surrounds Te Awarua-o-Porirua Harbour. Its two arms help you get your bearings: one extends east towards Pāuatahanui, while the other runs south towards Porirua City. The large harbour and the coastal beaches to the west offer plenty of opportunities for swimming, boating, and water sports. If you plan to take part in any of these activities, check the local conditions.

Rangituhi/Colonial Knob: forest, tracks, and views

The landscape at Rangituhi/Colonial Knob is steep and hilly, rising to 468 metres above sea level. The Rangituhi/Colonial Knob Walking Track passes through Rangituhi/Colonial Knob Scenic Reserve and connects the entrance on Broken Hill Road with the entrance on Raiha Street to Porirua Scenic Reserve. Together, the adjoining Porirua Scenic Reserve and Rangituhi/Colonial Knob Scenic Reserve protect the largest remaining area of native forest in the Tawa–Porirua Basin. In Rangituhi/Colonial Knob Scenic Reserve, you can walk to 19th-century reservoirs. From the summit, views stretch from the Inland Kaikōura Range in the south to Mt Taranaki in the northwest, and across the drowned river valleys of Porirua Harbour. When planning your visit, you can consider these features separately: the named connection between two entrances, the walk to the reservoirs, and the expansive summit views each draw attention to a different aspect of this landscape.

Pātaka Art + Museum: art and history

Pātaka Art + Museum began when the Porirua Museum and Page 90 Art Gallery needed more space. Porirua City proposed bringing them together at the current site. Pātaka Art + Museum officially opened in September 1998 and was renamed Pātaka Museum of Arts and Culture later that same year; today it is called Pātaka Art + Museum. The museum presents contemporary Māori and Pacific art, as well as contemporary New Zealand, Asian, and international art and culture. This cultural highlight therefore combines a specific museum history with offerings that span several art and cultural regions. The museum provides a distinct focus alongside the landscape and water experiences that Porirua also offers.

Another outing to consider

Adrenalin Forest in Porirua is the only outdoor adventure park in the lower North Island. Operator information may change, so check the latest details before visiting.

Discover more destinations: Ponatahi, Plimmerton, Featherston, Otaki, Clareville, Dyerville, Paraparaumu Beach, Whareama

For the main travel overview: Wellington.