Dog Parks and Dog Walks in Pukekohe
Dog exercise areas, off-leash walks and dog-friendly beaches around Pukekohe, with the council's rules for each.
In Pukekohe and the rest of Franklin, dogs must be on a leash unless a place is listed as off leash, and in Tuakau and Pōkeno (Waikato District) they must be on a lead outside the council's dog exercise areas. Āwhitu Regional Park is dog-free apart from the Brook Road esplanade, and Karioitahi Beach near the surf club has no dogs from 10am to 5pm between 1 December and 1 March. 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 (2)
Pōkeno Domain dog exercise area
Off leash Fenced Fenced off lead area DirectionsWalks and reserves (13)
Rooseville Reserve
Off leashOff leash, excluding the fenced grazed area.
Directions Read the guideAlexandra Redoubt Reserve
Off leashOff lead in the marked area.
DirectionsCape Hill Reserve
Off leashOff leash, excluding the fenced grazed area.
DirectionsCentennial Park
Off leashReserve alongside Bollard Road.
DirectionsHunua Ranges Regional Park
On leashOn leash where allowed. No dogs around the water supply dams, on mountain bike only tracks, the Kohukohunui Track, the Kōkako Management Area tracks, or farm paddocks in lambing season (1 July to 30 November).
DirectionsKowhai Reserve
Off leashGrass area at the end of Kowhai Street.
DirectionsLes Batkin Reserve
Some rulesOff lead in the marked areas from Tuakau Bridge to (but not including) the toilet block; on lead from the car park entrance to the northern boundary; no dogs on the playground.
DirectionsNgaati Urupikia / Riverside Drive Recreation Reserve
Off leashOff leash, including the estuary reserve reached from Edgewater Parade and Riverside Drive.
DirectionsTe Uri o Taawhaki / Rātā Street Reserve
Off leashOff leash.
DirectionsWaipoouri / Hickeys Recreation Reserve
Off leashOff leash (Paerata Road to Childs Avenue).
DirectionsWhakatoo Kai / Cloverlea Reserve
Off leashOff leash.
DirectionsWhangarata Domain
Off leashOff lead in the marked area.
DirectionsĀwhitu Regional Park Esplanade Reserve
On leashOnly the esplanade area at the end of Brook Road; the rest of the park and its beaches are dog-free.
DirectionsBeaches (10)
Karioitahi Beach
Some rules Seasonal rulesOff leash along most of the beach. The Waikato District part is a council dog exercise area. Near the Karioitahi lifesaving clubrooms (between the clubrooms and the public toilet block) the Auckland summer rule applies.
No dogs 10am to 5pm, 1 December to 1 March, near the surf club; off leash at other times
Directions Read the guideBig Bay
Some rules Seasonal rulesOn leash 10am to 5pm, 1 December to 1 March (off leash before 10am and after 5pm). Off leash at all times outside summer.
DirectionsClarks Beach
Some rules Seasonal rulesFrom the Camp Morley beach frontage and the beach and accessway reserves west of it. No dogs on the Clarks Beach Marginal Strip (DOC).
On leash 10am to 5pm, 1 December to 1 March (off leash before 10am and after 5pm). Off leash at all times outside summer.
DirectionsGlenbrook Beach
Some rules Seasonal rulesIncludes Glenbrook Landing Reserve.
On leash 10am to 5pm, 1 December to 1 March (off leash before 10am and after 5pm). Off leash at all times outside summer.
DirectionsHamiltons Gap
Some rules Seasonal rulesWithin 250m either side of the creek mouth at the end of West Coast Road.
On leash 10am to 5pm, 1 December to 1 March (off leash before 10am and after 5pm). Off leash at all times outside summer.
DirectionsHudsons Beach
Some rules Seasonal rulesBetween the boat ramps at Hudsons Beach Road and Grahams Beach.
On leash 10am to 5pm, 1 December to 1 March (off leash before 10am and after 5pm). Off leash at all times outside summer.
DirectionsMatakawau Point (Matakawau Beach and Sergeants Beach)
Some rules Seasonal rulesOn leash 10am to 5pm, 1 December to 1 March (off leash before 10am and after 5pm). Off leash at all times outside summer.
DirectionsOrua Bay
Some rules Seasonal rulesOff leash at all times from the Orua Bay creek to Mako Point; summer rule west of the creek.
On leash 10am to 5pm, 1 December to 1 March (off leash before 10am and after 5pm). Off leash at all times outside summer.
DirectionsSunset Beach and Port Waikato Beach
Some rules Seasonal rulesDog exercise area beyond 250m north or south of patrolled areas, along to Maraetai Bay (not the reserve).
No dogs within 250m of patrolled areas 10am to 6pm on weekends, public holidays and school holidays, Labour Weekend to the end of March
DirectionsWaiau Beach
Some rules Seasonal rulesOn leash 10am to 5pm, 1 December to 1 March (off leash before 10am and after 5pm). Off leash at all times outside summer.
DirectionsNo dogs (4)
Whangamarino Historic Walk
No dogsDOC: No dogs.
Directions Read the guideDrury Domain
No dogsPapakura Local Board area.
DirectionsPukekiwiriki Pā
No dogsPapakura Local Board area.
DirectionsĀwhitu Regional Park (except the Brook Road esplanade) and its beaches
No dogs DirectionsNo places match that search.
The rules at a glance
Off leashIn Pukekohe, Cape Hill Reserve, Rooseville Reserve, Waipoouri / Hickeys Recreation Reserve and Whakatoo Kai / Cloverlea Reserve. In Waiuku, the Riverside Drive and Rātā Street reserves. The fenced dog area at Pōkeno Domain. In Tuakau, the dog areas at Les Batkin Reserve, Alexandra Redoubt Reserve, Whangarata Domain, Kowhai Reserve and Centennial Park.
On a leashAnywhere not listed as off leash, including roads, footpaths, berms, car parks and boat ramps. Pukekohe and Waiuku sports fields when not in use, such as Bledisloe Park and Pukekohe Stadium. Clark Road, Ellet Road and Waiau Pa esplanades, the Āwhitu esplanade at Brook Road, and the Hunua Ranges where dogs are allowed.
No dogsPlaygrounds and sports surfaces (and skateparks in Waikato District), Āwhitu Regional Park and its beaches apart from the Brook Road esplanade, George Kern and Harris nature reserves, the Clarks Beach Marginal Strip, Drury Domain and Pukekiwiriki Pā.
Summer and seasonal rulesKarioitahi Beach near the surf club: no dogs 10am to 5pm, 1 December to 1 March. Clarks Beach, Glenbrook Beach, Waiau Beach, Big Bay, Hudsons Beach, Orua Bay and other Āwhitu beaches: on a leash 10am to 5pm, 1 December to 1 March, off leash at other times. Port Waikato and Sunset Beach: no dogs within 250 m of patrolled areas, 10am to 6pm on weekends, public holidays and school holidays from Labour Weekend to the end of March. Hunua Ranges farm paddocks: no dogs 1 July to 30 November.
Auckland Council: where to walk your dog Waikato District Council dog exercise areas
Dog services in Pukekohe
VetsCompanion, Dairy and Equine Vet Care
Pet groomersFull Grooming, Breed Clips and De-Shedding
Dog trainersPuppy, Obedience and Behaviour Experts
Common questions
Is there a fenced dog park in Pukekohe?
Not in Pukekohe itself. The nearest fenced dog area is at Pōkeno Domain. In town, Cape Hill Reserve and Rooseville Reserve are the main off leash reserves.
Can I take my dog to Karioitahi Beach?
Yes. Near the surf club, between the lifesaving clubrooms and the public toilet block, dogs are not allowed from 10am to 5pm between 1 December and 1 March. Along most of the rest of the beach dogs can be off leash.
Do dogs have to be on a lead in Pukekohe?
Yes, unless the park or reserve is listed as off leash, such as Cape Hill and Rooseville reserves. Always on roads, footpaths, berms and car parks. In Tuakau and Pōkeno, dogs must be on a lead everywhere except the council's dog exercise areas.
Sources: Waikato District Council; Auckland Council; Department of Conservation (DOC). Rules change, so check the signs when you arrive. Checked October 2026.