In a city with the hustle and bustle of Tāmaki Makaurau, we’re blessed to have many picturesque walks for those dusty or deliberate Sunday arvo strolls. Grab your sunnies, slap on some sunscreen and make your pup’s day with one of these eight dog-friendly walks in Auckland.
Ōrākei Basin Walkway
Ōrākei, 3.1km | 1 hr
Image credit: Ōrākei Basin | Armelle Frimpong
This is a popular and easy trail alongside the Ōrākei Basin with great scenic views. The track is well-maintained and open all year round, so you’re likely to see lots of walkers, runners and birdwatchers enjoying the walkway. Leashed dogs are welcome and there’s also a dog park right next door if your pup has a bit more energy to burn.
Madills Farm
St Heliers, 1.1km | 0.5 hr
At 1.1km, this is the perfect spot if you need to fit in a quick walk. Madills Farm can get quite busy so if you’re after a bit of quiet best to wait til later in the evening. This trail is open all year round and superb to visit anytime, there are even a few off-leash areas. Good things come in small packages and this is one of them.
Centennial Park
Campbells Bay, 2.7km | 1 hr
Image credit: Centennial Park | Kimberly Puddster | Alltrails
This Narnia-level walk takes you through lots of bush and a lookout where you can see right out to the Gulf. A hidden gem of the East Coast bays, enjoy spotting a variety of native birds and trees such as the silver fern and the beautiful kowhai on this super scenic route. If you consider yourself a history buff you take a quick detour to the WWII ‘pillbox’.
Tōtara Puhinui Creek
The Gardens, 2.6 km | 1 hr
Tōtara Puhinui Creek is home to loads of native birds such as kereru, fantail and tui, so keep your eyes and ears open. Your pup will love playing in the long grass and exploring all the tōtara trees. This trail is open all year round and nearby is a great exercise park for your pup to play.
Waikowhai Park
Manukau, 8.9km | 2 hr
If you're up for a big but rewarding walk then Waikowhai Park is for you. This coastal track offers spectacular views of the Manukau harbour. Choose either to walk along the shore during low tide or pick from a range of tracks when the tide is high. The Wattle Bay Loop is a great option for you and your pup as it combines coastal bush with suburban strolls.
Waiatarua Reserve
Meadowbank, 2.7km | 1 hr
Roam through a gum forest at the Waiatarua reserve. The path runs through Aotearoa’s biggest urban wetland restoration where you and your pup can wander around the many open and free spaces of the reserve, look over the stunning scenery and take in what Waiatarua reserve has to offer.
Hobsonville Coastal Walkway
Hobsonville Point, 5.5km | 1hr
Image credit: Hobsonville Coastal Walkway | Armelle Frimpong
The popular Hobsonville Coastal Walkway is a delight for well-behaved pups. This loop track will take just over an hour to complete and even has an off-leash dog park on the way at Bomb Point. Combine with a visit to the market for pre- or post-walk snacks and you have one of the most dog-friendly walks in Auckland at your fingertips.
Barlow Road loop
Riverhead forest, 5.6km | 2 hr
Barlow Road loop is a popular route with hikers, mountain bikers and runners. It's a fairly challenging course so if you're after a good exercise then this is the one for you. This beautiful walk is open all year round and dogs are allowed off-leash but the walk does attract a lot of foot traffic so it's best suited to pups who don’t mind a few hundred head pats.
Main image credit: Urban List