Tauranga Dog Parks, Walks and Beaches
Search for an exercise area near you, check the rule for each beach and park, and see the places where dogs are not allowed.
In Tauranga, dogs can run off leash in most parks, reserves and beaches unless the council lists the place as on-leash or dog-free. Mauao, Mount Main Beach and Pilot Bay are off limits, and some beaches have summer rules. 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 (3)
Te Puke Dog Exercise Area
Off leash Fenced Water fountain Bench seating Paths DirectionsTECT All Terrain Park dog exercise area
Off leash Fenced One hectare Park hours apply DirectionsWalks and reserves (19)
Gordon Carmichael Reserve
Dogs allowedWalking link between Bethlehem and Brookfield through 60 hectares of stormwater reserve, from Carmichael Reserve to Waihi Road.
Directions Read the guideKaiate Falls Scenic Reserve
On leashOn leash year round.
Directions Read the guidePapamoa Walkway
Dogs allowedEasy paths along the Papamoa stormwater reserves from Pacific View Road to Parton Road (Wairakei Reserve).
Directions Read the guideThe Lakes
Dogs allowedCycleways, walkways, reserves and man-made lakes. Not much shade.
Directions Read the guideWaikareao Estuary Walkway
Dogs allowedLoop track with many entry points; the council suggests including the Daisy Hardwick Walkway.
Directions Read the guideWaimapu Estuary
Dogs allowedWalk from Turret Road around the estuary to Windermere via Greerton Park and the footbridge, passing Yatton Park, a popular dog walking area.
Directions Read the guideCrown Track to Dickey's Flat
On leashDOC: On a lead only.
Directions Read the guideOwharoa Falls Track
Dogs allowedDOC: Allowed, under control.
Directions Read the guideAnchorage Grove
Dogs allowedSmall playing field and beach off Maungatapu Road; at low tide you can walk the length of the peninsula.
DirectionsEsplanade Reserve
Dogs allowedShort bush and wetland walk from Taipari Street or Welcome Bay Road to a small playing field and estuary beach.
DirectionsHuharua Park
Some rulesSome areas no dogs, some on leash, and a large area with no restrictions; check the council map.
DirectionsOmokoroa Golf Course walkway beside the sandspit
On leashOn leash year round.
DirectionsOmokoroa to Tauranga Cycleway
On leashOn leash year round, including berms and verges.
DirectionsOngaonga Scenic Reserve
On leashOn leash year round.
DirectionsPuketoki Scenic Reserve
On leashOn leash year round.
DirectionsRotary Park
Dogs allowedSmall playing field off Te Hono Street with bush and beach; good for a swim. Popular with families and kayakers.
DirectionsTECT All Terrain Park
Some rulesOn leash in the park; off leash inside the fenced dog exercise area.
DirectionsUretara Walkway
Some rulesOn leash between the Riverside Place walkway link and Park Road Reserve.
DirectionsWaipuna Park/Johnson Reserve
Dogs allowedMain entrance off Kaitemako Road; open spaces, walnut trees, a waterfall, bush tracks, a wetland boardwalk and places to swim.
DirectionsBeaches (10)
Pāpāmoa Beach
Some rules Seasonal rulesDogs allowed all year on long stretches of open beach from south of Moturiki to Papamoa East. No dogs on the beach and dunes in front of Papamoa Domain and the surf club (leashed dogs may pass through), on leash on the Papamoa Dune Wilderness Area, and no dogs between lifeguard flags.
On leash at Motiti Reserve and the beach in front of it, 10am to 5pm, 15 December to 15 February
Directions Read the guideŌmanu Beach
Some rulesOff leash except in front of the Omanu Surf Club (between beach access markers 0003 and 0004), where dogs are banned but may pass through on a leash; on leash in the surf club car park.
Directions Read the guideBowentown Beach dog zone
Off leashDogs may be exercised at any time between a line 100m south of Albacore Avenue and a line 100m north of Pio Road; carry a leash.
DirectionsIsland View Reserve
Some rules Seasonal rulesBird nesting area.
On leash October to March
DirectionsMaketu Beach
Some rules Seasonal rulesNo dogs on Maketu Spit (as far as the cut) year round.
No dogs between Park Road Reserve and the Maketu Surf Lifesaving Club, 9am to 7pm, third Wednesday of December to 7 February
DirectionsPukehina Beach
Some rulesNo dogs on Pukehina Spit (Dotterel Point Reserve) year round; no other Pukehina restriction found in the policy.
DirectionsRotary Park beach
Dogs allowedHarbour beach off Te Hono Street, named in the council dog walks brochure.
DirectionsShark Alley
Some rules Seasonal rulesForeshore from Moturiki (Leisure Island) to the rocky outcrop towards Papamoa.
No dogs 1 August to 31 January; on leash 1 February to 31 July
DirectionsWaihī Beach
Some rules Seasonal rulesOutside summer hours dogs may run free under control (carry a leash). Year-round dog zone at the Bowentown end.
No dogs 9am to 7pm, 17 December 2025 to 7 February 2026 (summer is the third Wednesday of December to 7 February each year)
DirectionsŌmokoroa Domain foreshore
Some rules Seasonal rulesNo dogs on the sandbars off Cooneys Reserve or the foreshore from Cooneys Reserve to Lynley Park year round.
No dogs from Labour Weekend to Easter Monday
DirectionsNo dogs (33)
McLaren Falls Park
No dogsListed by Tauranga City Council (park is in the Western Bay of Plenty District).
Directions Read the guideMount Maunganui Main Beach
No dogsFrom Moturiki to Mauao, including the dunes, grass and boardwalk.
Directions Read the guidePapamoa Hills Park
No dogsListed by Tauranga City Council (Western Bay of Plenty District).
Directions Read the guidePilot Bay
No dogsFrom Mauao to Salisbury Avenue, including the grass and boardwalk.
Directions Read the guideDaly's Clearing Loop Track
No dogsDOC: No dogs.
Directions Read the guideEliza Mine Loop Track
No dogsDOC: No dogs.
Directions Read the guideHenderson Tramline Loop Track
No dogsDOC: No dogs.
DirectionsHigh-Level Pack Track
No dogsDOC: No dogs.
Directions Read the guideHomunga Bay Track
No dogsDOC: No dogs.
Directions Read the guideKaituna Wetland Loop Track
No dogsDOC: No dogs.
Directions Read the guideLeyland O'Brien Tramline Track
No dogsDOC: No dogs.
DirectionsLindemann Loop Track
No dogsDOC: No dogs.
Directions Read the guideLow-Level Loop
No dogsDOC: No dogs.
Directions Read the guideNgamuwahine Track
No dogsDOC: No dogs.
Directions Read the guideNorth-South Track
No dogsDOC: No dogs.
Directions Read the guideOtanewainuku Lookout Track
No dogsDOC: No dogs.
Directions Read the guideOtawa Reservoir Track
No dogsDOC: No dogs.
Directions Read the guidePylon Peak Summit Loop
No dogsDOC: Only with a DOC permit.
Directions Read the guideRapurapu Kauri Track
No dogsDOC: No dogs.
Directions Read the guideTe Rereatukahia Hut Track
No dogsDOC: No dogs.
Directions Read the guideTui Mine Track (from Te Aroha Summit to town)
No dogsDOC: No dogs.
Directions Read the guideWaipapa Track to Waitawheta Hut
No dogsDOC: No dogs.
Directions Read the guideWairere Falls Track
No dogsDOC: No dogs, except with a DOC hunting permit.
Directions Read the guideWaitawheta Tramway
No dogsDOC: No dogs.
Directions Read the guideWaitengaue Track
No dogsDOC: No dogs.
Directions Read the guideForeshore between Cooneys Reserve and Lynley Park, Ōmokoroa
No dogsYear round, beside the Omokoroa to Bethlehem cycleway.
DirectionsMaketu Spit
No dogsAs far as the cut, year round.
DirectionsMauao (Mount Maunganui), including the base track
No dogsAll of Mauao, including the holiday park, tracks and adjacent beach.
DirectionsMoturiki (Leisure Island)
No dogs DirectionsOmanawa Falls
No dogsListed by Tauranga City Council (Western Bay of Plenty District).
DirectionsOtumoetai Pa Historic Reserve
No dogs29 Levers Road.
DirectionsPukehina Spit (Dotterel Point Reserve)
No dogsYear round.
DirectionsSandbars off Cooneys Reserve, Ōmokoroa
No dogsYear round.
DirectionsNo places match that search.
The rules at a glance
Off leashMost Tauranga parks, reserves and beaches, as long as your dog is under control. Carry a leash at all times.
On a leashFootpaths and roads, Matua Salt Marsh, the Papamoa Dune Wilderness Area, and the Omanu Surf Club and Papamoa Domain car parks. In the Western Bay, the Katikati, Te Puke and Waihī Beach town centres.
No dogsMauao (base track too), Moturiki, Mount Main Beach, Pilot Bay, Otumoetai Pā, the beach in front of Omanu Surf Club and Papamoa Domain (dogs on a leash can pass through), between the lifeguard flags, and within 10 metres of playgrounds.
Summer and seasonal rulesShark Alley: no dogs 1 August to 31 January, on a leash 1 February to 31 July. Motiti Reserve: on a leash 15 December to 15 February, 10am to 5pm. Western Bay beaches (Waihī Beach, Ōmokoroa, Maketu) have their own summer rules, shown on each card.
Tauranga City Council dog rules Western Bay of Plenty dog policy
Dog services in Tauranga
VetsSmall Animal Care, Surgery and After-Hours Emergencies
Pet groomersBreed Cuts, De-Shedding and Nail Care
Dog trainersPuppy School, Obedience and Behaviour Help
Pet shopsRaw Food, Aquarium and Pet Supply Stores
Common questions
Is there a fenced dog park in Tauranga?
The council's fenced dog exercise areas are at TECT All Terrain Park (off SH36), Te Puke (Lawrence Oliver Park) and Katikati (Donegal Reserve). Inside the city, most parks and reserves are off leash anyway.
Can I take my dog to Mount Maunganui Main Beach?
No. Dogs aren't allowed on Main Beach between Moturiki and Mauao, including the dunes, grass and boardwalk, or anywhere on Mauao.
Do dogs have to be on a lead in Tauranga?
On footpaths and roads, yes, and in the places the council lists as on-leash. In most parks, reserves and beaches they can be off leash if they're under control.
Rules change, so check the signs when you arrive. Checked October 2026.