A view of Titahi Bay in Porirua on a sunny day.

Discover the best places to eat, drink, shop and explore in Porirua with our guide.

12 Hours Porirua

A flatlay of food and coffee at Local Authority cafe.

Your guide to the best things to do in Porirua

Toi Store at Pātaka

The inside of Toi Store at Pātaka.
Place Porirua

Gallery and museum gift shops are sometimes seen as a nice-to-have, a neat place to peruse some trinkets on the way out.

Escarpment Domes

A view of a bay from inside Escarpment Domes Porirua.
Place Porirua
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Some of the best ideas are born out of midlife crises.

Kai Tahi

The dining area inside Kai Tahi Porirua.
Place Porirua
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Porirua is well-known as a proud harbour city, with its glistening waters an indelible part of its social and aesthetic identity.

Tunapo Escape

The Tunapo Escape accommodation on a sunny day.
Place Porirua
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Located just 35 minutes from central Wellington atop the picturesque Paekākāriki Hill, Tunapo Escape is a tiny house getaway that provides an escape in every sense of the word.

The Cake Cafe Plimmerton

A staff member holding a large cake on a cake platter.
Place Porirua
Cafes key icon.

Baked goods and beaches are two of the best things about Wellington, and you can find both in close proximity in a cosy corner of Plimmerton.

IndoKiwi Dhaba

A hand holding deep fried Indian food on a plate.
Place Porirua
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If there’s anything better than an Indian restaurant, it’s one with an Indian grocery conveniently attached to it.

Supply Room

A close up of a giant, tall burger on a table.
Place Porirua
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Is there an eatery in Porirua with a view better than the one at Supply Room? You’d be hard-pressed to find one.

Panikeke

The colourful interior of Panikeke in Porirua.
Place Porirua
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Bringing a vibrant splash of Pacific colour to Porirua, Panikeke is a lively little gift shop that aims to highlight and celebrate the local Pasifika community.

Sushil's Musclechef

A healthy salad bowl on a table.
Place Porirua
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A former top-six contestant on Masterchef New Zealand and a self-confessed fitness aficionado, there’s no doubt Sushil Ravikumar knows his stuff when it comes to...

Karehana Bay Beach

Looking across the sand covered bay where there are tree covered hills next to the beach.
Place Porirua

Tucked away in a small nook at the north-western end of Plimmerton, Karehana Bay is often overlooked by visitors to Porirua.

Abandoned Brewery

The exterior of the Abandoned Brewery with a courtyard out the front.
Place Porirua
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Rising from the ashes of—literally—an abandoned brewery in Lower Hutt, Abandoned Brewery is doing its part to put Porirua on the map as a top beer lover’s...

Little City Kombucha

A drinks fridge of with a black and white Little City Kombucha label.
Place Porirua
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For a brand that’s all about minimising its impact on the environment, Little City Kombucha is certainly making a splash from its very own slice of Porirua.

6 Best Porirua Walks and Where to Treat Yourself Afterwards

Pukerua Bay in Porirua.
Explore the great outdoors (and hospitality) with these walks in the Porirua region.

The Beer Engine

The outside courtyard at The Beer Engine where three guys are sitting around a table drinking beer.
Place Porirua
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Tītahi Bay is a thriving, buzzing corner of Porirua, thanks in part to The Beer Engine for helping to power it forward.

The Karaage Kid

The side of The Karaage Kid shipping container.
Place Porirua
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A plucky little outfit that packs plenty of punch, The Karaage Kid—brought to you by the team behind Dirty Burger—is out to serve a hearty dose of Asian fusion...

The Regal Shortbread Co.

Wooden shelves with back lighting displaying coffee beans, keep cups and more.
Place Porirua
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The Regal Shortbread Co. is a micro-bakery in Whitby specialising in decadent, high-end shortbread - six decadent flavours to be exact.

Blue Bell Club

Pasifika artwork and items on shelves at Blue Bell Club, Porirua.
Place Porirua
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Venture out to Porirua’s harbourside and it won’t be long before you’re drawn in by the colours of the Blue Bell Club, a vibrant splash of Pasifika right on the water’s edge.

Bites, Beers and Beaches: The Porirua Edition

A view of Pukerua Bay in Porirua at sunset.
Nothing beats a cold brew and a good feed after a hot summer's day at the beach.

Aloha Friday

Exterior of Aloha Friday, Porirua.
Place Porirua
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A homely little spot where the locals come to kōrero, Aloha Friday perfectly epitomises the character of Tītahi Bay—fitting, then, that it's right on the beach’s doorstep.

Te Ara Piko Walkway

Someone cycling on the boardwalk part of Te Ara Piko Walkway, Porirua.
Place Porirua
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The Te Ara Piko pathway is one of the best long walks in the Porirua region, taking you along the entire northern side of the Pāuatahanui Inlet, across diverse and stunning terrain.

Little Green Olive

Little Green Olive exterior.
Place Porirua
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A compact but beautiful coffee spot perched on Mana Esplanade in Porirua, Little Green Olive offers superb views along with a range of filling snacks and coffee with a conscience.

t bay café

Man holding a plate of hotcakes with berries from t bay cafe, Porirua.
Place Porirua
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Starting out as a project to bring a much-needed eatery to Porirua’s Tītahi Bay, t bay café now serves as a cornerstone of the local community, bringing its residents and visitors together.

Pāuatahanui Wildlife Reserve

Wild grass.
Place Porirua
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Originally developed as a sanctuary for birds and other creatures populating the area, the Pāuatahanui Wildlife Reserve doubles as a quiet retreat for humans as well.

Nish Café

View of coffee machine and menu on the wall.
Place Porirua
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A small, modest spot in the heart of the Whitby shopping precinct, Nish Café may look unassuming, but it packs a whole lot of heart.

Tuk Tuk Thai Kitchen

Dining area at Tuk Tuk Thai.
Place Porirua
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Aside from serving excellent food, Tuk Tuk Thai Kitchen has one clear goal: to make customers feel like they’re in Thailand, without having to leave Porirua.

Topor Bistro

Exterior sign at Topor.
Place Porirua
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Those clued up on Polish cuisine will feel right at home at Topor Bistro, with a menu featuring the classics: dig in to pierogi, bigos, and golabki.

Moore Wilson's Porirua

Close up of bottles of sparkling wine.
Place Porirua
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An institution and a household name in Wellington, not many people know that Moore Wilson’s is also a stalwart of Porirua’s grocery scene.

Pukerua Bay

View of the bay with hills behind.
Place Porirua
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Looking for a beachside walk that’s not like the others? Hidden gem Pukerua Bay is exactly what you’re after.

Backyard Café

Wooden tables and hanging pot plants.
Place Porirua
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Backyard Café in Porirua knows that plant shopping isn’t complete without a coffee and scone on the side.

Escarpment Track

Woman looks out at the view.
Place Porirua
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Escarpment Walk is a beautiful coastal trail that boasts stunning views of the Kāpiti Coast nearly all the way through.

Dine Around the World in Porirua

The inside of a Thai restaurant.
Porirua isn’t just spectacular coastal views and chilled out beaches - it’s also home to a surprisingly diverse range of eateries.

Plimmerton Fish Supply

Two cardboard trays being passed over the counter; one with deep fried brownie bites and churros in the other.
Place Porirua

Every happy neighbourhood needs a good fish and chip spot, and for lucky Plimmerton locals that exists in the form of Plimmerton Fish Supply.

Reds Hairdressing

Woman using colour dye in bowls.
Place Porirua
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This salon has been on the receiving end of many local and national awards, and is something of a community hub.

The Big Salami

Red car in a cafe
Place Porirua
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The Big Salami is where locals come to get super tasty pizza, coffee on the go and sweet slices like you remember from your childhood days.

Te Rauparaha Arena

Arena with a Maori sculpture out the front.
Place Porirua
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Te Rauparaha Arena is the place to come when you feel like moving your body.

One of a Kind Finds in Porirua

Homewares on display inside Toi Store Porirua.
Shopping is one of the best ways to explore a city, and by sifting through Porirua’s many unique local businesses, you’ll uncover a true melting pot of cultures.

Café Kaizen

Cafe patrons enjoying a meal and coloured stained glass window behind.
Place Porirua
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Café Kaizen is the kind of well-oiled machine that you can tell has been a locals' favourite hangout for a long time.

Pātaka Art + Museum

Two women looking at a multi-panel painting of snowy mountain peaks.
Place Porirua
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Pātaka Art + Museum is a true gem in the crown that is the valuable resource of Porirua art and history.

Light House Cinema Pauatahanui

The interior of the foyer of the Lighthouse Cinemas Pauatahanui.
Place Porirua
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Light House Cinema Pauatahanui is the only independent movie spot for some miles around.

Samoa's Finest

Exterior of Samoa's Finest.
Place Porirua
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If you’ve called Samoa home at some point in your life then this place is undoubtedly going to stir up all kinds of nostalgia.

Local Authority

Glass exterior with gold and black signage.
Place Porirua
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Less about enforcing rules and more about creating a chill place to enjoy good coffee and food, Local Authority is a pocket-sized coffee spot that packs a punch.

Adrenalin Forest Wellington

Person walking on rope.
Place Porirua
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If you’re a seeker of thrills, you’ll likely have a lot of fun at the aptly named Adrenalin Forest in Porirua.

Battle Hill Farm Forest Park

Red sheds and rolling hills.
Place Porirua
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About 500 hectares make up the rolling hills of the Forest Park and a range of walking tracks take you through fields and along stream beds.

Rangituhi Colonial Knob

The view from the top of Rangituhi.
Place Porirua
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If you feel like working up a sweat, and gyms have never been your thing, then set your sights on a big old stroll up Rangituhi.

Whitireia Park

Grassland and hills overlooking the sea.
Place Porirua
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Take a breather from the city and recentre yourself in this picturesque spot that has million-dollar views in every direction.