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.