Pauatahanui Wildlife Reserve

Pāuatahanui Inlet is wetland reserve, the largest in Porirua and the most extensive relatively unmodified estuary area in the southern part of the North Island.

In Jan 2020 we made a whirlwind trip up North, our first pit stop off a 5am docking ferry over the cook straight was Pauatahanui Wildlife Reserve.
Just a quick 30 min drive from the ferry terminal up to Porirua to the Reserve.
Pāuatahanui Inlet is wetland reserve, the largest in Porirua and the most extensive relatively unmodified estuary area in the southern part of the North Island.

There is a large picnic area at the start of the reserve, before heading in to the wetlands.
There is also a few large boards with lots of information on the area and photos of all the birds that you might be able to spot along the way.
As you make your way through some large old pine trees, along the board walks and through the wetlands there is so much to see. Ever corner we turned we seen birds along the way, as it was only 6.30am in the morning by the time we started walking we got to see a pretty awesome sunrise as we walked along.
We made it to the guardian post which was on the front of a cool green bird watching hut !! we sat their for a while watching the sun rise and a mother Pied Stilt teaching her young to find food !! it was super cute!!
The walk to the guardian post and back to the picnic area was only 30mins return. It was the perfect start to our day of travel and definitely a neat walk to do first thing in the morning while the sun was rising. The whole path was well maintained and you could easily ride a bike or push a pram along it.

If we had more time I would have loved to explore some more of the wee side tracks along the way.
This spot would definitely be a neat one to do if you had bird loving kids! It would also be a perfect walk to do with young kids – I could very much have imaged my boy riding his balance bike along this path when he was younger.
Definitely a great wee walk and perfect place for a Kiwi Guardian post