-45.83263, 170.49971
Dogs allowedModerate

Nicols Falls

Dunedin · Otago · Out & Back

0.511.3 km245 m
↑ 103 m gain↓ 103 m descenthigh 245 msteepest 25 %
DISTANCE1.3 km
ASCENT103 m
DURATION0.5–1 hr
STEEPEST25 %
ROUTEOut & Back
RATING · WALKERS 4.4 · 119
DOG EFFORT3.5 /5 paws
PARKING30 m away

This walk comes from licensed public walk data and is being progressively confirmed against the authorities. Signs on the day always win. Evidence: inferred from the licensed data only. Walked it and read the sign? Send us the rule and this line retires. How we check dog rules.

Nearest emergency vetDunedin Emergency & After-Hours Vet Clinic (DEVC), Dunedin~5 min drive · after-hours (nights+weekends)
03 477 7233
The route

Good to know

Nobody we read prohibits dogs here, but no rule-setter publishes wording for this track by name, so the district-wide rule is what applies. Keep the lead handy, read the signs at the gate, and give ground-nesting birds and stock their room.

WaterfallForest shadeGood with kidsA popular track, busy on weekends

About Nicols Falls

Nicols Falls covers 1.3 km, near Dunedin in Otago, walked as an out-and-back.

Expect moderate going, with around 103 m of climb, pitching up to 25 % at its steepest, and takes about 0.5–1 hr to walk.

Along the way there are native forest and waterfalls. Nobody we read prohibits dogs here, but no rule-setter publishes wording for this track by name, so the district-wide rule is what applies. Keep the lead handy and read the signs at the gate. Walkers rate it 4.4 / 5 across 119 reviews.

Stay nearby

Dog-friendly places to sleep within 25 km of the trailhead, each one with the distance shown. Sort out the stay, then walk.

Quick answers

Frequently asked questions

Can I take my dog on Nicols Falls?

Probably, and here is exactly what we know. No authority publishes dog wording for Nicols Falls by name, so this one rests on the licensed walk data and the district-wide rule rather than a rule-setter's own words. Nobody we read prohibits dogs here, but that is not the same as a rule saying yes, so keep the lead handy and let the signs at the gate decide.

How long is Nicols Falls?

Nicols Falls is 1.3 km with roughly 103 m of climb and takes about 0.5–1 hr.

Is there water for my dog to swim on Nicols Falls?

Yes, the track has waterfall access where a dog can cool off. In warm months check the LAWA water quality map for toxic algae warnings first.

Shorter walks along this track

Separate walks, each signposted in its own right, that run inside this route.

From the pack

Walked and logged 2 times by the pack, 1 proven with a photo. first proven by Amber & Roo.

Walks nearby

The closest dog-friendly tracks to this trailhead, by straight-line distance.

ModerateDunedin
0.6 km↑45 mabout 15 min★4.5 rating
Swim spotShadeGood with kids
Dog access: Dogs allowed. Difficulty: Moderate.
EasyDunedin
3.1 km↑57 m0.5–1 hr★4.5 rating
Swim spotShadeGood with kids
Dog access: Dogs allowed. Difficulty: Easy.
EasyDunedin
1.1 km↑6 mabout 16 min★4.0 rating
Swim spotShadeGood with kidsPram friendly
Dog access: Dogs allowed. Difficulty: Easy.

More in Otago

EasyBalclutha
4.5 km↑0 m0.5–1 hr★4.3 rating
Swim spotGood with kidsPram friendly
Dog access: Dogs allowed. Difficulty: Easy.
EasyOturehua
4.0 km↑86 m1–1.5 hr★4.4 rating
Swim spotShadeGood with kids
Dog access: Dogs allowed. Difficulty: Easy.

See every dog-friendly track in Otago →

Log this walk+71 XP

Save and Been here stay on this device, no account needed, and show up on your walks. Logging on the live map plants Banks’ paw on the trailhead; prove the walk with a photo of your dog and it scores on the leaderboard.

Log it with your dog and keep the record

Join the pack: log walks, earn XP, get your dog drawn, and help keep every dog rule in New Zealand honest.

Join the pack