Easy overnights
One night away and nothing strenuous. These are our short, gentle routes for a first trip with the dog or a relaxed weekend.
Bay of Islands & Kerikeri Coastal Escape
Dogs are welcome on every walk on this route, and Roland's Wood is the one place with room to properly run.
Hawke's Bay: Coast, River & Te Mata Peak
Dogs are welcome on every trail here: the Hawke's Bay Trails cycleways are shared with bikes, and Te Mata Trust Park is a working sheep farm with pest-control bait stations off the tracks, so keep your dog close and out of the scrub.
Wellington: South Coast, Makara & Harbour Bays
Much of Wellington's south coast (Owhiro Bay, Red Rocks) is open ground where a dog can properly run, but keep them close near the Sinclair Head fur-seal colony, where seals haul out year-round and peak May to October, so never let a dog approach them.
Nelson to Golden Bay
Dogs are banned outright on every track and beach inside Abel Tasman National Park, so Marahau is as close as they get, never cross the park boundary.
Christchurch & Banks Peninsula: City Parks to Akaroa
Christchurch and Banks Peninsula both sit under the Christchurch City Council dog bylaw, and dogs are welcome across the parks and the Port Hills / Summit Road farm tracks, where stock and spring lambing are the things to mind, with fully-fenced romps at The Groynes…
Central Otago: Rail Trail & Rivers
Dogs are welcome the length of this route, and the high-country and rail-trail sections give them room to properly run.