West Coast: Hokitika, Punakaiki & Charleston
Wild beaches, gold country, seal-colony cliffs
Best for Beach-loving dogs, easygoing road-trippers.
Hokitika to the Goldfields
- 1
Hokitika Heritage Walk
Dogs allowedEasy loop through the greenstone town to a wild driftwood beach, dogs welcome, space to sniff sea air.
- ~5 km drive
- 2
Greymouth Kiwi Holiday Park
Dogs by arrangement, call aheadDog-friendly by arrangement, book ahead and confirm your dog before arriving for the night.
- ~48 km drive to Day 2
The Coast Road to Punakaiki
- 1
Dr William McKay Walkway
Dogs allowedQuick flat leg-stretch along Greymouth's floodwall, an easy morning warm-up with the dog.
- ~2 km drive
- 2
Greymouth Grey River Walk
Dogs allowedEasy riverside walk to Cobden beach; river, lagoon and surf in one gentle stroll.
- ~50 km drive
- 3
Punakaiki Beach Camp
Dogs welcomeBeachfront holiday park, dogs welcome, book ahead; rare legal overnight right at Punakaiki.
- ~31 km drive to Day 3
Charleston to Cape Foulwind
- 1
Constant Bay Loop
Dogs allowedShort loop around Charleston's tiny historic harbour cove, dogs welcome, gentle clifftop sniffs and sea views.
- 2
Cape Foulwind Walkway from Lighthouse Road
Dogs allowedClifftop finale past the seal colony to the lighthouse, dogs welcome, keep well back from wildlife.
Trips like this one
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…
Mackenzie & the Aoraki Fringe
Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park is entirely closed to dogs, do not drive the dog up SH80 to Hooker Valley, Mueller or Kea Point.
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.