Whitireia Park is a regional reserve just north of Titahi Bay, 12-15 minutes from Tawa. A road winds through the park past very tall transmission masts and down to a large sandy bay - Shelley Bay I think it's called. We've previously swum there in the summer.

At the beach you can head west (left) and follow the road for a little way around a rather rocky coastline. Alternatively you can head east (right) along a track which follows the coast right back to the Porirua-Titahi Bay road. We've walked and biked a reasonable distance along this, but not yet to the "end". That might happen on our next visit.

The photos below were taken on two separate occasions - on a Sunday afternoon, March 16, 2003 (early autumn), and another Sunday afternoon, August 10, 2003 (winter).

1. Entrance to the park - these first shots are in August 2003
2. View out to Mana Island from high point in park (near roadway)
3. Road winding through the park past transmission tower
4. Biking down the hill
5. The beach on a Sunday afternoon, still in August
6. 2.16pm at the beach in March - the next few shots are the same day
7. Looking across the channel to State Highway 1

8. Looking across to the bridge just north of the Paremata roundabout
9. Cattle wander the park and down to the coastline
10. Train heading north
11. Dog sitting still
12. Still playing in the sand at 3.08pm
13. 3.15pm - the destructive streak takes over
14. Time for a bike ride - we're on to August now

15-18. Following the track around the coast (and almost into the water)
19. Heading back
20. Much-exercised dog in the car about to head home
21. View of Titahi Bay as we're leaving the park