Dog Parks and Dog Walks in Dunedin
Dog exercise areas, off-leash walks and dog-friendly beaches around Dunedin, with the council's rules for each.
In Dunedin, dogs must be on a leash in public places, including most beaches and tracks, unless the council names the spot as off leash. The Botanic Garden, Tunnel Beach, Sandfly Bay and Taiaroa Head are off limits, and St Clair Beach has no dogs from 8am to 8pm. Every place below shows its rule and how to get there.
Map of dog parks, walks and beaches
Every place on this page as a pin. Tap a pin for its dog rule, directions and our guide.
Dog parksWalksBeachesNo dogsHas our guideGroup, tap to zoom in
Dog parks (6)
Rotary Park dog park
Off leash Fenced Agility equipment Directions Read the guideCemetery Road dog park
Off leash Fenced Agility equipment DirectionsKew Park dog park
Off leash Fenced Agility equipment DirectionsShand Park dog park
Off leash Fenced Agility equipment DirectionsWakari Reserve dog park
Off leash Fenced Agility equipment DirectionsWalks and reserves (19)
Jubilee Park tracks
Off leashOff leash from 5 May 2025.
Directions Read the guideRoss Creek Reserve
Some rulesOff leash, except on leash on the track around the reservoir.
Directions Read the guideSignal Hill Scenic Reserve
Off leash Directions Read the guideWoodside Glen
Off leash Directions Read the guideHawksbury lagoon and beach walk
On leashDOC: On a lead only.
DirectionsLong Beach (South) Walking Track
Dogs allowedDOC: Allowed, under control.
DirectionsMapoutahi Track
On leashDOC: On a lead only.
Directions Read the guideBethunes Gully track and picnic area
Off leashNot the playground. Picnic area added as off leash from 5 May 2025.
DirectionsBucklands Crossing
Off leash DirectionsFlagstaff track network
Off leashLeith Valley to Silverstream and Green Ridge.
DirectionsFrasers Gully Recreation Reserve and track
Off leash DirectionsIsland Park Recreation Reserve
Off leash DirectionsMcGouns Track
Off leashOff leash from 5 May 2025.
DirectionsMount Cargill walking track
Off leashThe rest of Mount Cargill is dog free.
DirectionsScott Memorial Reserve
Off leash DirectionsSilverstream stop bank track
Off leashBetween Gordon Road and Wingatui Road.
DirectionsTe Aka Ōtākou
On leashShared harbour and peninsula pathway.
DirectionsTruby King Reserve
Off leash DirectionsWoodhaugh Gardens walking tracks
On leashOn leash on the defined tracks only; the rest of the gardens is dog free.
DirectionsBeaches (15)
Allans Beach
Some rulesOff leash south of the DOC track only; no dogs north-east of the access track.
Directions Read the guideSt Clair Beach
Some rules Seasonal rulesNo dogs from the Salt Water Pool to the northern end of the sea wall, except on leash between 8pm and 8am. Off leash north of the sea wall towards St Kilda. On leash in the dunes and on access paths.
No dogs 8am to 8pm all year along the Esplanade section
Directions Read the guideSt Kilda Beach
Off leashOff leash from the northern end of the St Clair sea wall north. On leash in the dunes and on access paths.
Directions Read the guideWarrington Beach
Some rulesOff leash on the beach and Warrington Recreation Reserve as far as the Spit. No dogs on Warrington Spit and Rabbit Island.
Directions Read the guideAramoana Beach
Some rulesOff leash only as far as Keyhole Rock; no dogs from Keyhole Rock north to Heyward Point. Shelley Beach is dog free.
DirectionsBrighton Beach
Some rulesNo dogs in the bay from the rocks at the end of Brighton Domain to 909 Brighton Road. Off leash on the beach south of Brighton Domain to Taieri Mouth. On leash on the Otokia Creek track to the start of the beach.
DirectionsDoctors Point
Some rulesOff leash on the beach west of the caves only.
DirectionsKaritane Beach
Off leash DirectionsLong Beach
Off leash DirectionsOcean View Beach
Off leashIncludes the beach next to Westwood Recreation Reserve from the Kaikorai Estuary to the Ocean View car park.
DirectionsSmaills Beach
Some rules Seasonal rulesOff leash west of the middle access track. East of it, the policy schedules disagree (one says on leash, the other prohibited).
Temporary bans for wildlife when signposted
DirectionsTaieri Mouth beach
Off leashPart of the off leash stretch from south of Brighton Domain to Taieri Mouth.
DirectionsTomahawk Beach
Off leash DirectionsWaikouaiti Beach
Off leash DirectionsWaldronville Beach
Off leashBlackhead to the Kaikorai Estuary.
DirectionsNo dogs (21)
Boulder Beach
No dogs Directions Read the guideDunedin Botanic Garden
No dogs Directions Read the guideSandfly Bay
No dogsWildlife protection.
Directions Read the guideTunnel Beach
No dogs Directions Read the guideChalkies Track
No dogsDOC: Only with a DOC permit.
DirectionsGovernment Track
No dogsDOC: No dogs.
DirectionsGrahams Bush Walkway
No dogsDOC: No dogs.
DirectionsHeyward Point Track
No dogsDOC: No dogs.
DirectionsOrokonui lagoon walk
No dogsDOC: No dogs.
DirectionsSutton Salt Lake walk
No dogsDOC: No dogs.
DirectionsTaieri River Track
No dogsDOC: No dogs.
Directions Read the guideTitri Creek Track
No dogsDOC: No dogs.
Directions41 Peg Track, Buskin Road (Otago Peninsula), Nyhon Track
No dogs DirectionsBrighton Beach bay, from the rocks at the end of Brighton Domain to 909 Brighton Road
No dogs DirectionsBroad Bay Beach Reserve, Macandrew Bay Beach Reserve, Pilots Beach Recreational Reserve
No dogs DirectionsCaledonian Ground
No dogsNew from 5 May 2025.
DirectionsMount Cargill (except the walking track)
No dogsDogs are allowed off leash on the walking track.
DirectionsSt Clair Beach park on Victoria Road and its playground
No dogs DirectionsTaiaroa Head and Lighthouse Reserve
No dogs DirectionsVictory Beach
No dogs DirectionsWarrington Spit and Rabbit Island (from the first breakwater north)
No dogs DirectionsNo places match that search.
The rules at a glance
Off leashThe six fenced dog parks: Wakari, Cemetery Road, Shand Park, Forrester Park, Kew Park and Rotary Park. Beaches including St Kilda, Tomahawk, Ocean View, Waldronville, Long Beach, Warrington, Waikouaiti, Karitane, and Brighton south to Taieri Mouth. Tracks and reserves including Ross Creek, Signal Hill, Flagstaff, Bethunes Gully and the Mount Cargill walking track.
On a leashRoads, footpaths, cemeteries, and any track or beach not named as off leash. All dunes and beach access paths. Te Aka Ōtākou, the Octagon and the central shopping streets, the track around the Ross Creek reservoir, and the tracks in Woodhaugh Gardens. Within 20 metres of protected wildlife.
No dogsDunedin Botanic Garden, Caledonian Ground, Taiaroa Head, Harbour Cone, the Organ Pipes, Tunnel Beach, Sandfly Bay, Boulder Beach, Victory Beach, Warrington Spit and Aramoana Beach north of Keyhole Rock. Also playgrounds (and 1 metre around them), skateparks, marked playing surfaces and lifeguard flagged beaches.
Summer and seasonal rulesSt Clair Beach and Esplanade, from the Salt Water Pool to the north end of the sea wall: no dogs 8am to 8pm all year, on a leash 8pm to 8am. Smaills Beach and other wildlife areas can have temporary bans while signs are up.
Dunedin City Council dog exercise areas Dunedin Dog Control Policy 2024
Dog services in Dunedin
VetsCompanion Animal Clinics, Dentistry and Imaging
Pet groomersFull Grooms, De-Shedding and Puppy Sessions
Dog trainersPositive Reinforcement Experts
Pet shopsRaw Food, Supplies & Expert Advice
Common questions
Is there a fenced dog park in Dunedin?
Yes, six. The council's fenced dog parks are at Wakari Reserve, Cemetery Road (East Taieri), Shand Park (Green Island), Forrester Park (Normanby), Kew Park (Forbury) and Rotary Park (Waverley). All have agility equipment, and Cemetery Road, Shand Park and Forrester Park have a separate area for small dogs up to 8 kg.
Can I take my dog to St Clair Beach?
Not between 8am and 8pm. From the Salt Water Pool to the north end of the sea wall, dogs are banned 8am to 8pm all year and must be on a leash from 8pm to 8am. North of the sea wall, towards St Kilda, dogs can be off leash, but keep them on a leash in the dunes and on the access paths.
Do dogs have to be on a lead in Dunedin?
Yes, in most public places, including roads, footpaths, tracks and any beach not named as off leash. They can be off leash only in the fenced dog parks and the beaches, reserves and tracks the council lists. One person can have up to six dogs.
Sources: Dunedin City Council; Department of Conservation (DOC). Rules change, so check the signs when you arrive. Checked October 2026.