Yes, Dunedin is a good city to have a dog in. There are beaches north and south of the city, bush tracks close to town, and six council dog parks where your dog can be off the lead. A few of the famous spots are off limits to protect wildlife, so knowing the rules is part of picking a walk. The council sets those rules and can change them, so check before you head out.
Which Dunedin beaches are dog friendly?
Dogs kept under effective control are welcome on most Dunedin beaches. The catch is that each beach has its own rules about where, and sometimes when. Sea lions and penguins are the reason for many of them, and you may spot one from a respectful distance.
St Kilda Beach. A long sandy beach stretching east from St Clair. Dogs are allowed from the northern end of the St Clair sea wall onward, as long as they're under effective control.
St Clair Beach and Esplanade. The city's best-known beach, and the one with the trickiest rule. Dogs aren't allowed on the stretch from the St Clair salt water pool to the northern end of the sea wall. There's one exception. Between 8pm and 8am, dogs on a lead can use that stretch. So an early walk before 8am is fine with the lead on. In the middle of the day, start at the northern end of the sea wall and head along St Kilda.
Tomahawk Beach (Ocean Grove Recreation Reserve). South-east of the city, towards the Otago Peninsula. Dogs are allowed, and penguins and sea lions can be there too. The council suggests Tomahawk as an alternative to Smaills during sea lion breeding season.
Smaills Beach. On the Otago Peninsula side. Keep your dog on a lead east of the middle track. West of it, dogs can be off the lead, subject to any temporary wildlife restrictions. During sea lion breeding season the council recommends another beach, such as Tomahawk, because of the number of pups.
The northern beaches. Long Beach, Karitane, Waikouaiti, Warrington and Doctors Point at Waitati all allow dogs. At Warrington, the spit and Rabbit Island aren't included.
Allans Beach. Out on the Otago Peninsula. Dogs are allowed south of the DOC track only.
Aramoana Beach. On the north side of the harbour entrance. Dogs are allowed, except from Keyhole Rock north to Heyward Point, where they aren't.
A few rules apply wherever you walk on the coast. Dogs must be on a lead in all dune areas, and within 20m of protected wildlife. When DOC puts up signs saying a native animal is in the area, you must follow them for as long as the signs are there.
Dog-friendly tracks close to the city
For bush and hills, there are good options a short trip from town. Each one has its own lead rule, so check it before you set off.
Signal Hill. The hill above the city's north-east, with a lookout over the city and harbour. Dogs are allowed, and the council's bylaw map has the lead rules for the hill.
Ross Creek Reserve. A bush reserve with a reservoir above the city. Dogs are allowed in the reserve. On the Ross Creek Reservoir loop track itself, they need to be on a lead.
Bethunes Gully. A picnic area and bush at the foot of Mount Cargill. Dogs are allowed in the gully. Mount Cargill itself is off limits to dogs, though, so turn back before the tracks head up it.
The Pineapple Track and Flagstaff. The Pineapple Track climbs to Flagstaff, in the hill country above the city, and dogs are allowed on both. Swampy and Nicols Falls, in the same hill country, allow dogs too.
Silverstream catchment tracks. Tracks in the Silverstream valley. Dogs are allowed.
On-lead tracks. A handful of tracks closer in need your dog on a lead the whole way. These are the Woodhaugh Garden tracks, Fern Tree Reserve, the Walton Park tracks, and the St Clair Esplanade track to the Scout Den on Kettle Park.
Where can my dog run off the lead?
The council has six dog parks. Your dog doesn't have to be on a lead in any of them, but they do need to be under control. Three include a separate small dog park.
- Rotary Park, Highcliff Road, Waverley
- Forrester Park, Norwood Street, Normanby (with a small dog park)
- Cemetery Road, East Taieri (with a small dog park)
- Shand Park, Green Island (with a small dog park)
- Wakari Road, Wakari
- Kew Park, Forbury Corner
Council sportsgrounds are the other everyday option. Dogs can be off the lead outside the marked playing fields. While games are being played, they need to be on a lead. Dogs are never allowed on the marked playing surfaces themselves.
Chisholm Park Golf Course has a split rule. In the area nearest the beach, at Ocean Beach Domain, dogs can be off the lead. In the area nearest the golf club, keep them on a lead.
Beaches are the other big option. Most Dunedin beaches welcome dogs under effective control. At Smaills Beach, dogs can be off the lead west of the middle track, unless a temporary wildlife restriction is in place.
Where can't I take my dog in Dunedin?
Some of Dunedin's best-known places are off limits to dogs. For many of them, the reason is protecting wildlife, with sea lions and yellow-eyed penguins among it. Dogs aren't allowed at:
- Tunnel Beach
- Sandfly Bay
- Mount Cargill
- The Organ Pipes
- The Botanic Garden
- Taiaroa Head
- Boulder Beach
- Victory Beach
- Orokonui
- The Hyde to Middlemarch section of the Otago Central Rail Trail
Children's playgrounds and marked playing surfaces are out too.
If a dog-free area sits between you and where you're going, you can walk your dog through it on a lead to get to a spot where dogs are allowed.
Before you go
Clean up after your dog and take it with you, on the beach and on the tracks. Our certified home-compostable poop bags can go in a backyard compost bin once you're home.
Female dogs on heat aren't allowed in any public place, even on a lead. That includes the dog parks.
Rules are set by the Dunedin City Council and can change. Check the council's dog bylaw map before you go.
Where Little Green Dog fits
The Poo Pod keeps bags on your lead, so they come on every walk. It's our poop-bag dispenser, made from recycled plastic drink bottles. It clips on with a velcro strap, or to a belt or key ring with a metal clasp.
FAQ
Can dogs go on St Clair beach?
Only at certain times. Dogs aren't allowed from the St Clair salt water pool to the northern end of the sea wall, except on a lead between 8pm and 8am. From the northern end of the sea wall onward, along St Kilda Beach, dogs are allowed under effective control.
Is Tunnel Beach dog friendly?
No. Tunnel Beach is one of the well-known Dunedin spots where dogs aren't allowed. St Kilda and Tomahawk are beaches where dogs are allowed, each with its own rules.
Where can dogs go off lead in Dunedin?
The six council dog parks let dogs off the lead as long as they're under control. Council sportsgrounds allow it outside the marked playing fields when no games are on. Chisholm Park Golf Course allows it in the area nearest the beach, and Smaills Beach allows it west of the middle track, subject to any temporary wildlife restrictions.
Can I take my dog up Mount Cargill?
No. Mount Cargill is off limits to dogs. Bethunes Gully, at the foot of the mountain, does allow dogs, so turn back before the tracks head up Mount Cargill.
What should I do if my dog sees a sea lion?
Put your dog on a lead. Dogs must be on a lead within 20m of protected wildlife. If DOC has put up signs saying a native animal is in the area, you must follow them for as long as they're there.