The playground at Aotea Lagoon sits at the northern end of a 7 hectare Porirua reserve, built around a large fort with a 7.4 metre climbing rope tower and a stainless steel slide, and paired with a free splash pad that makes it one of the coast's most complete family stops.
Equipment
The fort was designed by Playground Centre with Porirua City Council, replicating an earlier structure removed for age and non compliance, and links to the climbing tower and slide. A separate gated toddlers area sits beside it. The splash pad runs a pre programmed cycle using 10,000 litres of recirculated, on site treated water, with toddler water jellies, spray cannons, a supersplash dumper bucket, and a watery rainforest zone. A pump track added in 2023 has mounds and berms for bikes, scooters and skates.
Access and Inclusion
The reserve is wheelchair and buggy friendly, and the splash pad's recirculated supply keeps it running during water restrictions. A disabled car park was added as part of the 2025 south end renewal.
History
The lagoon was formed from bays left landlocked by railway realignment between 1958 and 1961, and the park opened in March 1980 after Ministry of Works earthworks, with community groups then adding a miniature railway, built by the Waitangirua Lions Club, and a windmill gifted by the Paremata Jaycees. The 833 metre miniature railway was restored in 2017 after a two year closure for rust.
Recent Changes
The reserve's south end reopened in mid 2025 after an eight month renewal that added a Rotary boardwalk, around 2,000 native wetland plants, a raised performance stage, a wider entrance, and new accessible toilets.
