Exercising your dog

Two people walking a dog on the Waimahunga Track.

There are many places you can exercise your dog in Whangārei. Off-leash dog areas are listed below, by location. 

Popular on-leash dog walks are:

  • Hātea Loop
  • Hātea River Walkway (between Whangārei  Falls and the Town Basin)
  • Waimahanga Track
  • any of our shared paths.

We also provide a dog agility park on Dave Culham Drive in central Whangārei. 

If you’re planning a beach trip, visit our dogs on beaches page to find out which beaches you can take your dog.

Dogs and beaches

Dogs are NOT allowed at bush reserves, wetlands, children’s play areas, marked sportsfields and the central city.

Off-leash dog exercise areas:

  • Recreation Domain
  • Waro Lake area off King Street

Off-leash exercise areas:

  • Elgin Place Reserve
  • Hodges Park
  • Tikipunga Sports Park (excluding marked sports fields)
  • Station Road Reserve
  • Beazley Park
  • Te Paka Reserve

Off-leash dog exercise areas:

  • Nixon Street Park
  • Mander Park
  • Otangarei No 1 and 2 grounds (excluding marked sportsfields)
  • Waiarohia Reserve
  • William Jones Reserve
  • Mair Park

Off-leash exercise areas:

  • Panorama Drive Reserve
  • Pah Road Reserve
  • Dog exercise park at William Fraser Memorial Park on Pohe Island
  • Raurimu Avenue Park
  • Ross Street Park
  • Nottingham Road Reserve

Off-leash dog exercise areas:

  • Barge Showgrounds (excluding wetlands area)
  • Anzac Park
  • Puriri Park Reserve
  • Tauroa Reserve
  • Tarewa Park
  • Raumanga Valley Road Scenic Reserve
  • Otaika Reserve

Off-leash dog exercise areas: 

  • Tiki Place Reserve
  • Shearwater Recreation Ground
  • Riverside Reserve
  • Dog exercise areas at Ruakākā North and Uretiti beaches

Ruakākā dog exercise area(PDF, 138KB)

Uretiti dog exercise area(PDF, 82KB)