Coromandel Loop
Kauri, open sand and harbour towns
Best for Beach dogs, families.
Thames Kauri Coast
- 1
Waiomu Kauri Grove Walk
Dogs allowedBoardwalk to a giant kauri; boot-clean station at the gate, dogs welcome the whole loop.
- 2
Long Bay Kauri Walk
Dogs allowedEasy kauri-and-nikau loop near Coromandel town; another boot-clean station, gentle enough for tired paws.
- ~44 km drive
- 3
Coromandel Top10 Holiday Park
Dogs by arrangement, call aheadDog-friendly by arrangement, so call ahead; handy west-coast base before the east-coast crossing.
- ~36 km drive to Day 2
Over to the East Coast
- 1
Opito Pa Walk
Dogs allowedThe trip's gem: a rare off-lead pa headland over white sand; check summer beach signs first.
- ~18 km drive
- 2
Shakespeare Cliff Loop Track
Dogs allowedClifftop loop above Cooks Beach and Lonely Bay; dogs welcome, and mind summer daytime dog bans on the beach below.
- ~8 km drive
- 3
Hot Water Beach Top 10 Holiday Park
Dogs by arrangement, call aheadDogs by arrangement, so book ahead; the beach itself bans dogs in summer daytime hours.
- ~13 km drive to Day 3
South to Tairua
- 1
Mount Paku Summit Walk
Dogs allowedShort steep climb to a 360-degree harbour view over Tairua and Pauanui; dogs welcome, quick and worth it.
- ~36 km drive
- 2
Water Race Tunnel Loop in Broken Hills
Dogs allowedOld gold water-race tunnels, so bring a torch; keep the dog close and check bush poison warnings first.
Trips like this one
Karangahake Gorge
Dogs are welcome right across Karangahake: the Gorge Loop, the glow-worm rail tunnel and the Crown Track all sit on DOC-administered land that takes dogs, and the Waihi-to-Waikino rail trail is the stretch with room to run.
Auckland West: Black Sand & the Waitākere Fringe
Dogs are welcome at Muriwai year-round, but the south-end Otakamiro gannet colony with its clifftop tracks is strictly no-dogs, so keep well clear.
Rotorua Lakes & Redwoods
Dogs are welcome on every walk on this route, and the Hamurana lakefront reserve is the one spot with room to properly run, so confirm the exercise area against Rotorua Lakes Council bylaw signage before you unclip, as the Springs walk proper restricts dogs.