Camp Elsdon
                             Porirua, New Zeland

 Camp Elsdon, at Porirua City is a friendly, family camp with back packer accommodation in a bush environment overlooking Porirua Harbour and Porirua City Centre shopping centre. It is a peaceful rural setting within a city. Wake up to native birds singing in the trees. The Camp is located beside Colonial Knob Walkway which offers an energetic climb to panoramic views towards Wellington city, offshore islands and over Porirua City and its twin harbours.

            Camp Elsdon offers campervan power sites, grassed tent sites close to New Zealand native bush and has a range of budget accommodation in cabins, bunk rooms and a Lodge. Accommodation space is flexible and can provide 94 beds.

 There are.two kitchens  fully equipped for self catering for large groups only and there is a campers kitchen where you bring your own utensils plates etc. Other amenities include a barbecue, laundry, outdoor nature trails, playing field and friendly donkeys which enjoy being fed. There is ample parking for buses and cars.

            The Camp specialises in providing self-catering accommodation for large groups of sports teams, school trips to Wellington, family reunions, churches and other events. Check with the Office for discounts on large groups.

            The Camp is signposted from State Highway 1 at the main interchange at Porirua.

            Porirua City is located 20 kilometres north of Wellington City on State Highway 1 which is the direct motorway link to Interislander and Blue Bridge ferry terminals for ferries travelling across Cook Strait. The drive usually takes 20 minutes. Porirua City also has direct railway links into the centre of Wellington City.

Camp Elsdon is within 1 km walking distance (10 minutes)), or a short drive to Porirua restaurants and shops in the Porirua City Centre and Mega Centre, Pataka Museum and Art Gallery, North City Indoor Raceway and attractions along Titahi Bay Main Rd and Kenepuru Drive. The Camp is 2km from Porirua Railway Station which can be reached by road or along a public walkway.

            The Porirua City Centre offers a full range of supermarkets and shopping malls at North City Plaza and The Mega Centre. Restaurants offer Chinese, Malaysian, and Indian food. There is also a Denny’s restaurant on Titahi Bay Main Rd as well as fast food outlets of McDonalds, KFC, Burger King, Pizza Hut, Domino’s Pizza and several traditional New Zealand ‘fish and chip’ shops.

            In the evening, an easy walk from the Camp takes you to North City Indoor raceway (go karts) or Porirua’s Aquatic Centre on Titahi Bay Main Rd where you can enjoy a sauna, hydro slide or the Wave Machine which is very popular with children of all ages. The Skateboard Park is free and open late. Bowlands in Kenepuru Drive offers ten pin bowling, mini golf is open until late at Pirates Cove in The Mega Centre. Movies are available at Reading Cinema in North City Plaza or 20 minutes drive away at the Lighthouse Cinema beside Pauatahanui Harbour.

            Wellington attractions are very accessible from Camp Elsdon. There is a walking track from the Camp to Porirua Railway Station. The train trip to Wellington is through tunnels and has a panoramic view out over Wellington Harbour. Take a bus ride from the Railway Station to Te Papa, the New Zealand Film Archive, or Courtenay Place where the Lord of the Rings Premieres were held at the Embassy Theatre. Within walking distance of the Wellington Railway Station you can visit Parliament and take a free tour of the buildings, or visit the National Library, National Archives or Katherine Mansfield's Birthplace. Walk a little further to the Botanical Gardens and you can visit the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF NZ) education programme. At the top of the Botanical Gardens are the Carter Observatory / Planetarium and Cable Car museum. A trip in the Cable will give you a panoramic view over Wellington Harbour and city. Other places for views are from the top of Mt Victoria or from the wind turbine located on the skyline above the suburb of Brooklyn. School groups also enjoy visits to the Island Bay Marine Education Centre, Capital E,   Wellington Zoo and the Karori Wildlife sanctuary.

Driving north from Porirua there are opportunities to visit Kapiti's Chocolate Factory, Lindale Farm Park and Southwards Car Museum or arrange a sea charter to visit Kapiti Island nature reserve.

On Saturday mornings the Porirua Market opens at 5am – 10am in the city centre car park and offers tantalizing, freshly cooked Pacific, Asian and Maori foods and more traditional New Zealand breakfasts of bacon and egg. From 9am on Friday and Saturday the Farmers Market in Kenepuru Drive sells specialty European foods. Both markets offer fresh meat, fish, vegetables and flowers.

Member CCI and HAPNZ 

For bookings and information contact:

The Manager
Camp Elsdon
18 Raiha Street ,
Elsdon,
Porirua 5022
New Zealand

Phone:               +64 4 237 8987         +64 4 237 8987
Fax: +64 4 237 8977
Email: camp_elsdon@xtra.co.nz   www.campelsdon.co.nz