Graded hard

Hard dog-friendly hikes in New Zealand

Longer, steeper and rougher underfoot, with sustained climbs, roots and rock. Best kept to a strong, well-conditioned dog whose paws cope on hard ground.

212 hard tracks 52 off-lead 101 swim spots
The complete list

The top 200 hard tracks

Sorted by rating. Every entry opens its full trail sheet with the elevation profile, dog verdict and nearest campsites.

HardDunedin
8.7 km↑548 m3.5–4 hr★4.7 rating
Shade
Dog verdict: On-lead. Difficulty: Hard.
HardTurangi
7.1 km↑567 m3–3.5 hr★4.7 rating
Shade
Dog verdict: On-lead. Difficulty: Hard.
HardWanaka
28 km↑165 m7–7.5 hr★4.7 rating
Swim spot
Dog verdict: On-lead. Difficulty: Hard.
HardWellington
8.7 km↑358 m3–3.5 hr★4.6 rating
Swim spotShade
Dog verdict: On-lead. Difficulty: Hard.
HardSheffield
6.8 km↑460 m3–3.5 hr★4.6 rating
Swim spot
Dog verdict: On-lead. Difficulty: Hard.
HardTwizel
17 km↑913 m★4.6 rating
Swim spot
Dog verdict: On-lead. Difficulty: Hard.
HardSheffield
5.6 km↑448 m★4.6 rating
Shade
Dog verdict: On-lead. Difficulty: Hard.
HardTaupo
17 km↑336 m5–5.5 hr★4.6 rating
Swim spotShade
Dog verdict: On-lead. Difficulty: Hard.
HardAshburton
6.8 km↑815 m4–4.5 hr★4.6 rating
Dog verdict: On-lead. Difficulty: Hard.
HardLower Hutt
14 km↑654 m5–5.5 hr★4.6 rating
Swim spotShade
Dog verdict: On-lead. Difficulty: Hard.
HardLyttelton
5.1 km↑469 m2.5–3 hr★4.5 rating
Shade
Dog verdict: On-lead. Difficulty: Hard.
HardUpper Hutt
12 km↑690 m5–5.5 hr★4.5 rating
Shade
Dog verdict: On-lead. Difficulty: Hard.
HardOxford
20 km↑1128 m8–9 hr★4.5 rating
Swim spotShade
Dog verdict: On-lead. Difficulty: Hard.
HardArrowtown
15 km↑725 m5.5–6.5 hr★4.5 rating
Swim spotShade
Dog verdict: On-lead. Difficulty: Hard.
HardHavelock
7.7 km↑688 m★4.5 rating
Swim spotShade
Dog verdict: On-lead. Difficulty: Hard.
HardWainuiomata
5.0 km↑380 m2–2.5 hr★4.6 rating
Swim spotShade
Dog verdict: On-lead. Difficulty: Hard.
HardPaeroa
15 km↑281 m5.5–6 hr★4.4 rating
Swim spotShadeSealed underfoot
Dog verdict: On-lead. Difficulty: Hard.
HardSheffield
7.2 km↑640 m★4.4 rating
Swim spot
Dog verdict: On-lead. Difficulty: Hard.
HardSheffield
5.1 km↑782 m★4.4 rating
Dog verdict: On-lead. Difficulty: Hard.
HardWaikanae
12 km↑986 m6–6.5 hr★4.4 rating
Swim spotShade
Dog verdict: On-lead. Difficulty: Hard.
HardTaupo
23 km↑453 m6.5–7 hr★4.4 rating
Swim spotShade
Dog verdict: On-lead. Difficulty: Hard.
HardSheffield
16 km↑570 m5.5–6 hr★4.5 rating
Shade
Dog verdict: On-lead. Difficulty: Hard.
HardWellington
12 km↑449 m4–4.5 hr★4.4 rating
Swim spotShade
Dog verdict: On-lead. Difficulty: Hard.
HardUpper Hutt
14 km↑746 m5.5–6 hr★4.4 rating
Swim spotShade
Dog verdict: On-lead. Difficulty: Hard.
HardHanmer Springs
33 km↑910 m10.5–11.5 hr★4.6 rating
Swim spot
Dog verdict: Off-lead OK. Difficulty: Hard.
HardTimaru
26 km↑100 m6–6.5 hr★4.7 rating
Swim spotSealed underfoot
Dog verdict: On-lead. Difficulty: Hard.
HardLower Hutt
14 km↑770 m5.5–6 hr★4.5 rating
Shade
Dog verdict: On-lead. Difficulty: Hard.
HardHanmer Springs
8.5 km↑339 m3–3.5 hr★5.0 rating
Swim spot
Dog verdict: On-lead. Difficulty: Hard.
HardWaikanae
5.3 km↑439 m2.5–3 hr★4.3 rating
Shade
Dog verdict: On-lead. Difficulty: Hard.
HardLyttelton
5.5 km↑431 m2.5–3 hr★4.3 rating
Shade
Dog verdict: On-lead. Difficulty: Hard.
HardWaikanae
10 km↑769 m5–5.5 hr★4.4 rating
Swim spotShade
Dog verdict: On-lead. Difficulty: Hard.
HardTwizel
19 km↑275 m4.5–5 hr★4.4 rating
Swim spot
Dog verdict: On-lead. Difficulty: Hard.
HardAshburton
16 km↑604 m4.5–5 hr★4.3 rating
Swim spot
Dog verdict: Off-lead OK. Difficulty: Hard.
HardWainuiomata
18 km↑1037 m7.5–8 hr★4.3 rating
Swim spotShade
Dog verdict: On-lead. Difficulty: Hard.
HardTararua Forest Park
4.3 km↑366 m2–2.5 hr★4.3 rating
Shade
Dog verdict: On-lead. Difficulty: Hard.
HardWaikanae
11 km↑610 m4–4.5 hr★4.3 rating
Shade
Dog verdict: On-lead. Difficulty: Hard.
HardMount Richmond Forest Park
45 km↑1334 m14.5–15.5 hr★4.4 rating
Swim spotShade
Dog verdict: On-lead. Difficulty: Hard.
HardUpper Hutt
37 km↑1244 m12.5–13.5 hr★4.4 rating
Swim spotShade
Dog verdict: On-lead. Difficulty: Hard.
HardTararua Forest Park
6.1 km↑656 m3.5–4 hr★4.4 rating
Swim spotShade
Dog verdict: On-lead. Difficulty: Hard.
HardWanaka
13 km↑734 m★4.2 rating
Swim spotShade
Dog verdict: Off-lead OK. Difficulty: Hard.
HardCarterton
13 km↑730 m5.5–6 hr★4.2 rating
Swim spotShade
Dog verdict: On-lead. Difficulty: Hard.
HardOtaki
6.6 km↑1057 m3.5–4 hr★4.0 rating
Swim spotShade
Dog verdict: On-lead. Difficulty: Hard.
HardSaint Arnaud
4.3 km↑716 m2–2.5 hr★4.0 rating
Shade
Dog verdict: On-lead. Difficulty: Hard.
HardWhitianga
5.1 km↑601 m2–2.5 hr★3.9 rating
Swim spotShade
Dog verdict: On-lead. Difficulty: Hard.
HardWaiheke Island
56 km↑747 m14.5–16 hr★3.9 rating
Swim spotSealed underfoot
Dog verdict: On-lead. Difficulty: Hard.
HardChristchurch
14 km↑705 m5.5–6 hr★4.0 rating
Shade
Dog verdict: On-lead. Difficulty: Hard.
HardOxford
10 km↑409 m4.5–5 hr★3.6 rating
Swim spotShade
Dog verdict: On-lead. Difficulty: Hard.
HardOtaki
11 km↑635 m★3.6 rating
Swim spot
Dog verdict: On-lead. Difficulty: Hard.
HardTe Anau
15 km↑767 m5.5–6 hr★3.6 rating
Shade
Dog verdict: On-lead. Difficulty: Hard.
HardThames
19 km↑746 m7–7.5 hr★3.4 rating
Swim spotShadeSealed underfoot
Dog verdict: On-lead. Difficulty: Hard.
HardRiverhead
5.0 km↑49 m2.5–3 hr★2.7 rating
Shade
Dog verdict: On-lead. Difficulty: Hard.
HardTwizel
13 km↑548 m
Swim spot
Dog verdict: On-lead. Difficulty: Hard.
HardWaikanae
26 km↑885 m8.5–9 hr
Swim spotShadeSealed underfoot
Dog verdict: On-lead. Difficulty: Hard.
HardTinwald
14 km↑212 m3h 10m
Dog verdict: Off-lead OK. Difficulty: Hard.
HardPembroke
14 km↑59 m2h 48m
Dog verdict: Off-lead OK. Difficulty: Hard.
HardAlexandra
10 km↑276 m2h 30m
Dog verdict: Off-lead OK. Difficulty: Hard.
HardThames
6.1 km↑596 m2h 12m
Dog verdict: On-lead. Difficulty: Hard.
HardTe Anau
4.9 km↑643 m2h 2m
Dog verdict: On-lead. Difficulty: Hard.
HardHira
14 km↑436 m3h 27m
Dog verdict: Off-lead OK. Difficulty: Hard.
Hard
8.0 km↑410 m2h 16m
Dog verdict: Off-lead OK. Difficulty: Hard.
Hard
4.9 km↑702 m2h 8m
Dog verdict: On-lead. Difficulty: Hard.
Hard
9.9 km↑841 m3h 22m
Dog verdict: On-lead. Difficulty: Hard.
Hard
2.8 km↑432 m1h 16m
Dog verdict: On-lead. Difficulty: Hard.
Hard
9.7 km↑379 m2h 33m
Dog verdict: On-lead. Difficulty: Hard.
Hard
12 km↑413 m3h 3m
Dog verdict: Off-lead OK. Difficulty: Hard.
Hard
4.9 km↑933 m2h 31m
Dog verdict: On-lead. Difficulty: Hard.
Hard
14 km↑791 m4h 11m
Dog verdict: Off-lead OK. Difficulty: Hard.
Hard
12 km↑754 m3h 39m
Dog verdict: On-lead. Difficulty: Hard.
Hard
6.4 km↑655 m2h 21m
Dog verdict: On-lead. Difficulty: Hard.
Hard
7.0 km↑770 m2h 41m
Dog verdict: On-lead. Difficulty: Hard.

This page lists the 200 highest-rated. Every one of the 212 hard tracks is on the live map.

Star ratings are average scores from the hikers who have walked each track.

Keep exploring

Other ways to browse