Whitireia Park Where the wild things are Facilities Dog walking Kayaking Public transport* (on leash) Parking Swimming Look out Toilets Surfing Bird watching (Onepoto boatsheds (nearby at Titahi Bay) and Onehunga Bay) Picnic table Scuba diving Pram accessible (at Onehunga Bay) (on coastal section) Fishing Walking tracks Mountain biking Boating (part only) *Bus stops on Thornley Street and Gloaming Hill which then requires a short walk to the Park Highlight Whitireia Park is a headland on Te Onepoto Peninsula, with commanding views over Mana Island, Porirua Harbour and its environs. The radio antennae within the Park are the second highest man-made structures in New Zealand after the Sky Tower in Auckland. Description, values & signif icance Whitireia Park consists of around 180 hectares of predominantly open space grasslands with a remnant patch of native bush. It provides a unique opportunity for people to undertake a variety of leisure activities, such as walking (well-formed paths are provided), mountain biking, swimming and fishing. Māori occupation of the area up until about 1840 is still evident with traces of terraces on the hillsides and middens near the beaches. Accessibility/How to get there/particular time of year to visit Turn off State Highway 1 at Porirua and follow Titahi Bay Road to the Onepoto Bay entrance of the park, and the start of the coastal and inland walkways. The main entrance to the park is via Whitireia Road in Titahi Bay. Threatened species/species of interest Te Onepoto Bay provides habitat and a rich feeding ground for kingfishers, Caspian tern, Royal spoonbills, pied and black shags, white-faced heron and black-backed and red-billed gulls. White-faced heron were rarely seen prior to 1940 but like other species have thrived in the modified landscape and are now the most common heron in the country. A large number of threatened plant species make up the unique coastal escarpment community including speargrass, thick leaved mahoe and hebe elliptica. The sand dune areas of the park are currently being restored with spinifex, pingao, shore spurge and sand daphne. Key threats The usual pest species are present here including rats, feral cats and mustelids. In 2010 a large bush fire burned 60 hectares of the park including the Onehunga Bay restoration area which lost two thirds of the restoration plantings. Following the fire, re-sprouting gorse was sprayed to reduce fire risk and enhance native plant establishment. The Park is possum and hare free. Walks (length) There is a 6.5 kilometre pathway through farmland following the coastline or along cliff tops. Starting from the Onepoto foreshore by the boatsheds, you can walk or bike right around the harbour edge to Onehunga Bay. Stop at Onehunga Bay for a picnic, and then continue up to the cliff tops for views out towards Mana Island and the South Island. The track takes about 1.5 hours to walk one-way. Walking is through open grassland and on formed tracks. There are farm stiles to cross, so strong footwear is recommended. Make sure you take warm clothes and plenty of drinking water. This is also a good beginners bike ride. Walks [grade] Community Involvement Moderate Whitireia Park Board is a Crown-appointed body charged with managing Whitireia Park. It is made up of local iwi, council and interest group representatives, Manager who bring to it both personal expertise and Greater Wellington Regional Council community input. The Whitireia Park Restoration Department of Conservation Group is a community group who have been restoring Whitireia Park Board native species to the park since 2003. Protection status Recreation Reserve How to get there ´ IREIA ROAD HIT !i W T S Y E L WHITIREIA PARK N R O H T TITAHI BAY M AI N R O A D !i.