Any dog owner will understand the troubles when trying to find a bush track, beach, or park where you can go dog walking without stressing about your dog being tied to a leash. But that’s where I come in; there are plenty of off-leash dog parks in Auckland… you just need to know where to look.
Whether you’re looking for fenced dog parks, dog-friendly beaches, or, simple off-leash dog parks then this list has it all. Keep reading to discover some new summertime adventures with your beloved dog.

Before getting our pup, Lemmy Kilmister of Motorhead (yes, that is his full, legal name), my husband and I were amateur bushwalkers who loved a bit of an adventure. So trying to find off-leash dog parks or dog-friendly beaches in Auckland was going to be tricky. But we soon realised that the adventure came with our dog. There is no longer such a thing as a peaceful stroll when you have a 10-month-old American Staffordshire X to supervise.

Because I know the feeling of visiting the same park each week can eventually become a chore rather than a fun day out with your dog. I’ve put together a list of my favourite dog parks and dog friendly walks in Auckland to keep your doggy daycare outings interesting. However with dog walking comes a great responsibility to make sure your dog plays well with others and doesn’t run off into the great unknown, this list of Auckland dog parks I have compiled includes fenced dog parks and dog-friendly beaches. Whether you’re a single dog owner or a pack walker who runs a dog walking business in Auckland any of these off-leash dog parks are perfect for you.

How to Find Off Leash Dog Parks in Auckland

Finding an off-leash dog park can be a bit tricky; even if you think you have found a dog-friendly beach or park there are usually numerous rules to follow about where a dog can roam freely, what times of the day it can be around, or if there are certain sections of the park or beach the dog is allowed at all. The Auckland Council website has good information on all local parks and beaches about where your beloved dog is allowed to roam so it always pays to check the Auckland council website first.

Otherwise, keep reading this list for the best dog-friendly beaches and parks in Auckland!

Off Leash Dog Parks Auckland Central

Meola Reef Dog Park, Westmere

Meola Reef Dog park is favored, for its large paddocks, long grass and mud puddles (a highlight for the dog rather than you). Parking at this central Auckland dog park is easy enough at the dedicated park entrance or anywhere along the wide stretch of Meola Road.

About Meola Reef Dog Park

Meola Reef dog park is pretty much a giant paddock and has one of the most wide-open spaces of other off-leash dog parks in Auckland. There is a dedicated fenced-off dog park for letting your dog loose and roam free; with plenty of mud puddles, long grass to run and hide in, and a water station so your pooch doesn’t get dehydrated. The large paddock leading out towards the harbour can be used as long as your dog is on their leash.

I strongly advise bringing a towel or an extra bottle of water to rinse your dog down with if they’re ever the type to find the smelliest and grossest mud puddles. Lemmy always makes it his mission to become the grossest smelling dog at the park by running into the mud. So yea, bring a hose or prepare for a pretty gross car ride home.

Also gumboots or old shoes are a good idea. The mud in the fenced off area is hard to avoid, especially if you have 10 dogs running around your legs at any one time.

Little King Reserve Dog Park, Mt Eden

Little King Reserve dog park has a great view of the city from the top of the mountain. A giant water tank at the top has a painted picture of ‘Dog’ from Footrot Flats, so if you’re dog is well behaved enough try an snap a picture of them with the beautiful artwork. The small carpark at the entrance to Little King dog park has plenty of parking, otherwise it’s free to park on the street.

About Little King Reserve

Little King Reserve dog park is a great excuse to walk your dog while getting in some much-needed exercise and fresh air at the same time. Little King Reserve is one of many volcanoes in Auckland that you can enjoy while on a picnic or a stroll, but I think it’s the only Auckland volcano which is listed on the council website as an off leash dog park.

Little King Reserve perfect for dogs to roam around freely with large water buckets at the entrance to the park. Make your way to the top and grab a picture with a fantastic portrait of Dog from Footrot Flats painted on the side of the water tank, or even better walk your dog at dusk at watch Auckland city slowly light up at night.

Off Leash Dog Parks, North Shore

Milford Beach and Takapuna Beach, North Shore

Takapuna and Milford are two of the most popular dog-friendly beaches on Aucklands’ North Shore. The beaches spread 4km along the eastern side of the harbour and during low tide you can easily walk between both beaches via a path of rocky volcanic rock.
Parking at either of these beaches is easy enough, if the main carpark at the end of The Promenade for Takapuna is full you can park on any street, but I think most of it is paid to park. Parking for Milford Beach is mainly at the end of Milford Rd, otherwise many of the side streets will have free parking available.

About Milford and Takapuna Beaches

This isn’t exactly an off-leash dog park, but it’s off-leash nonetheless! But if you’re looking for a dog-friendly beach in Auckland, there are several in this list.
A lot of Auckland city beaches are dog friendly but there are strict rules around when a dog can be off their leash. This usually differs between certain hours at certain times of the year. Wherever this may be the case there are signs posted at each entrance to these beaches showing when and how a dog can be active on the beach.

Both Milford and Takapuna are only two of the many dog friendly beaches in Auckland. Extremely popular for dog walkers, runners and puppies, especially in the mornings during the weekend. You’ll often find the breed of dogs walking these beaches are either of the smaller variety, or purebred puffballs that resemble a small bear from afar.

Kauri Point Beach and Dog Park, Chatswood

Kauri Point beach dog park is a small secluded beach that isn’t suitable for humans to swim (So small chance of your dog ruining a family picnic), which is why it’s fantastic as a dogs playground. The park entrance at the end of Balmain Rd has parking, and even though we have never had trouble finding a park there is a chance you will have to find a spot halfway up the steep street. So get there early.

About Kauri Point Dog Park

Kauri Point is a great off-leash dog park on the North Shore of Auckland, with a small beach for a quick dip for your pooch. The beach isn’t too far from the carpark but is long enough that you feel you have both achieved enough exercise to binge watch your favourite Netflix series later. The beach at the end of the bush walk is great for dogs as it’s not a great beach for humans to swim at.

Kennedy Park Dog Beach, Castor Bay

Kennedy park is another dog friendly beach in Auckland and is fantastic all year round as there are no restrictions for dogs on the beach. Kennedy park beach is 100% free for dogs to roam, but once you get to the park near the playground your dog must be on a leash at all times. There is 1 medium sized carpark for around 30 vehicles a short walk from the stairs

About Kennedy Park Beach

Kennedy Park Beach in Castor Bay is another great off leash dog park on the north shore to take your hound on a hot summers’ day. The fantastic thing about Kennedy Park Beach is there are no time restrictions for dogs like most other Auckland beaches. Dogs are free to roam off leash on the sand 24 hours a day, 7 days a week all year around.

An average fitness level is required to access this north shore dog beach. The ‘Stairs of Doom’ are a popular name given to the staircase which tracks down the side of the cliff face. These stairs are perfectly safe and stable, but they’re a killer workout for your quads. Kennedy Park Beach is also a popular location for fitness boot camps for this very reason.
During low tide you can access this Kennedy Beach from Castor Bay beach; walking across rocky platforms to access the beach from around the point at Rahopara Historic Reserve.

Bonus Adventure Kennedy Park is also another location in Auckland where you can visit tunnels and gun emplacements left over from WWII. Castor Bay was a location in New Zealand used for WWII defence, yet built to look like a seaside holiday spot from above.

Sanders Reserve Dog and Bike Park, Paremoremo

Sanders Reserve dog park is a large grassy paddock with surrounding fences, paths and a large forestry area that stretches down to the beach. Sanders Reserve is a great place to start any off leash training as the fenced area keeps your beloved dog secure from running too far. There is plenty of parking at the main carpark entrance.

About Sander Reserve

Sanders Reserve is another great off-leash dog park on the north shore. With great, wide open spaces it’s the best place to bring a dog with plenty of energy. Sanders Reserve has a fully fenced dog park but also has an area for equestrians and bikes. Be mindful of other people and animals who might be in the park, dogs are allowed everywhere in the park but must be back on a lead when leaving the fenced-off dog area.

Hobsonville Point Fenced Dog Park (Bomb Point)

Hobsonville Point dog park is a great place to let your dog roam free without the risk of them running off into the great unknown. If you’re looking for a fenced dog park then Hobsonville is your place to go! The large fenced area around bomb point allows for plenty of room for a large pack to run, jump and chase each other. And if you’re lucky enough to head here after a rainy night there will be some great mud puddles as well. Local Hobsonville Point cafes are a short walk away so feel free to grab yourself a coffee before you watch your dog rough and tumble with others.

About Hobsonville Point Dog Park

Sitting among the hundreds of townhouses of Hobsonville Point you will find a rather large fenced-off area for your precious pooch to make new friends. The Bomb Point dog park is great if you want to sit and watch your dog play. The park is surrounded by trees, so it’s pretty sheltered from most of the wind and the path that leads from the entrance to the park extends along the edge of the harbour and around to the boardwalk to Catalina Bay Market. Make the trip out here on any Saturday and you can get yourself a great breakfast at the Catalina Bay Farmer’s market.

Off Leash Dog Parks, West Auckland

Kakamatua Inlet Dog Beach, Cornwallis

Kakamatua Inlet dog beach is probably one of the best dog beaches in Auckland. Popular among locals and it brings all sorts of breeds of different sizes. The stream runs out towards the salty ocean and is a great place to teach your dog to swim or cool off in winter. There are other beaches like Piha or even Karekare waterfall you can visit while out west, but Kakamatua definitely has the popularity among dog lovers. There is plenty of parking, just make sure you get in early if coming on the weekend to secure yourself a spot in the carpark

About Kakamatua Inlet

Kakamatua Inlet is the farthest I will drive for any of Auckland’s off-leash dog parks. I love my dog but I’m not keen on spending $20 on fuel just for him to fill the boot of my car with sand, salt, and others dogs’ slobber.

Kakamatua in the Waitakere Ranges is a great place for any dog of any size and with any fitness ability to run around and enjoy the great outdoors. The flat, wide beach offers the perfect place to train, run and tire your dog out. I didn’t manage to get many snaps of other dogs but there was no shortage of pack animals roaming the beach, the above two pictures of Lemmy and Arlo are the only ones with them facing the camera…

Kakamatua is a great beach for dogs to learn how to socialise and get comfortable around water without being intimidated by waves. . A shallow stream flows from the Waitakere Ranges out to the sea and makes for a perfect spot for any dog owner who wants to coax their pup into swimming. So if you’re looking for the perfect off-leash dog park and live out in the wild west then give this one a go!

Craigavon Dog Park, Blockhouse Bay

If you’re a keen dog walker or dog trainer then Craigavon off-leash dog park is a great place to visit. The Dog obstacle course allows for some fun training and it’s very popular among locals on the weekend, so you’re dog will no doubt make some new friends. There is plenty of parking at the Connaught St entrance as well as roadside parking on any of the nearby streets.

About Craigavon Park

Craigavon Park is one of Auckland’s suburban off-leash dog parks that are perfect for those canines who need to burn some energy, and great for those local owners who can’t be stuffed travelling too far. Craigavon Park is probably the closest you will get to an off-leash dog-friendly bush walk in Auckland, particularly out west due to Kauri dieback disease. The main looped track which runs around the centre of the park is only about 72 metres long, but there are several paths which lead through the bush and can make for a more interesting walk. Or a messier one if your dog finds the creek.

Craigavon Park has a dedicated dog obstacle course in the center of the park, which includes a couple of tunnels, walls, tires, and a balance beam. We tried taking Lemmy across the beam but he found more entertainment in the clay-filled mud puddle nearby. Craigavon Park is listed as an off-leash dog park on the council website so you’ll be sure to find plenty of dogs here on the weekend if your pooch is lacking for puppy pals.

There is plenty of street parking with easy to follow paths that lead to the dog park so you can’t get lost.

Other Dog Friendly Walks in Auckland

Auckland is an extremely dog friendly city, you will be pleased to find a few pubs and cafes actually allow dogs on site or they have a backyard dedicated to pets. Majority of Auckland’s’ mountains or parks are dog friendly ad you can usually get away with having your dog off-lead as long as they have good recall and friendly.

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This isn’t a list of all the off-leash dog parks in Auckland, and no doubt there are some pretty awesome ones I have missed. But Lemmy is still young and there are plenty more parks for us to discover! If your dog is tired out but you still have the energy to check out Auckland, then leave your beloved pooch at home and check this list of 21 Fun Things to do in Auckland!

Download the DogPack App

The DogPack app is a great site to use if you’re looking for dog friendly parks around you. Using your location, the app brings up any dog friendly parks or beaches around you where you can read reviews from other dog owners or leave one yourself. Doubling as sort of an ‘Instagram’ for dogs, you can set up your dogs profile and make friends in your area. The DogPack app is great if you’ve moved to a new area or you’re holidaying somewhere new and you’ve brought along mans best friend.