Dog exercise areas

Find out where you can exercise your dog in Hutt City.

Toxic algae warning

During summer months toxic algae can appear in the Hutt River. Current alerts about water quality and algae levels are available from LAWA. If you have been in contact with toxic algae and are feeling unwell see your doctor or ring Healthline 0800 611 116. If you think your dog has swallowed toxic algae, take them to the nearest vet immediately.

LAWA alerts

Dog exercise areas

In designated dog exercise areas your dog doesn’t need to be on a lead but you need to have one with you. Even when you're exercising off-leash, you must keep your dog under control at all times.

In public places your dog needs to be on a lead. This includes all walking and multi-use tracks in Hutt City.

If you're taking your dog out in public it’s your responsibility to clean up after it. Used litter bags can be placed in public rubbish bins on the street.

Use the map to see specific areas where you:

Map of Hutt City dog exercise areas

Avalon Park – dogs are only allowed:

  • on-lead on the designated sealed paths. The paths are stamped with yellow dog walking signs. If there is no yellow stamp, you can’t walk your dog there.
  • on-lead at the northend of the park, past the treeline.

  • Belmont Recreation Reserve (Owen Street to Belmont Domain).
  • Redvers Drive Reserve.

  • Muritai Beach - 200m south of Rona Bay Wharf to Miro Street
  • Days Bay Beach, north of the wharf:
    • between 7pm and 10am from 1 December - 31 March
    • at all times from 1 April to 30 November.
  • Williams Park (on-lead only).

  • Hutt Recreation Ground (excluding sports surfaces).

Eastern bank from:

  • Stokes Valley south entrance to White Line West
  • Firth’s Industrial Plant to Ava Park
  • Reynolds Bach Drive to Port Road. If you’re using the sealed pathway on top of the riverbank, your dog must be on a lead.

Western bank from:

  • Benmore Crescent south to Belmont Domain (excluding the Rhododendron Dell)
  • Kennedy Good Bridge south to Firth’s industrial Plant
  • Manor Park Road to the Benmore Crescent extension

  • Kelson Reserve (excluding sports surfaces)

  • Bell Park (excluding sports surfaces)
  • York Park (excluding sports surfaces)

  • Naenae Park (excluding sports surfaces)

  • Ava Park
  • Frank Cameron Park (excluding sports surfaces)
  • North Park
  • Petone Beach west of Petone Wharf and the far east end
  • Petone Recreation Ground (excludes the playground and sports surfaces)
  • Sladden Park
  • Te Mome stream – east side section from Bracken Street, along the back of Wilford School to Petone Central Croquet Club.

  • Delaney Park (excluding sports surfaces)
  • Kamahi Park (excluding sports surfaces)

  • Black Creek west bank
  • Burden Avenue Riverbank Reserve
  • Drainage Reserves between:
    • Norfolk Street and Nelson Street
    • Mohaka Street and Momona Street
    • Wainuiomata Road and Fraser Street
  • Hine Road Reserve
  • Karaka Park (excluding play area)
  • Leonard Wood Park (excluding sports surfaces)
  • Pencarrow Hall Reserve
  • Richard Prouse Park
  • Rotary Park
  • Wainuiomata Riverbank
  • Wood Street Reserve

  • Te Whiti Park (excluding sports surfaces)
  • Trafalgar Park (excluding sports surfaces)

Where you can't take your dog

Unless your dog is a guide dog, hearing ear dog, companion dog, or a working dog being used by the Police or a security company, you can't take your dog to:

  • public libraries
  • playgrounds
  • council swimming pools
  • kindergartens and play centres
  • marked sports fields
  • special events where advertised.

  • Belmont Recreation Reserve (south end)

The following beaches (including picnic and leisure areas) are dog prohibited where there are signs prohibiting dogs between 9am and 8pm during daylight savings:

  • Days Bay
  • Lowry Bay
  • Mahina Bay
  • Point Howard
  • Robinson Bay
  • Rona Bay
  • Sorrento Bay
  • York Bay.

Days Bay Beach, north of the wharf is dog prohibited between 10am and 7pm from 1 December to 31 March.

Pencarrow Coast Road:

  • including Lake Kohangapiripiri and Lake Kohangatera
  • south of Pencarrow Head where there are signs prohibiting dogs.
  • Burdan’s Gate, south to Pencarrow Head during lambing season. There is a total ban on dogs (including leashed dogs) during lambing season, from 1 August to 30 October. At other times dogs must be leashed.

  • Mitchell Park

  • McEwan Park east section
  • Memorial Park
  • Percy's Scenic Reserve
  • Petone Beach from Hikoikoi Reserve to Petone Wharf between 9am-8pm during daylight savings

  • footpath and berms on the road at the front of the commercial properties on Norfolk Street and Ruthven Road
  • Turakirae Head Scientific Reserve
  • Queen Street road reserve including the footpath and berm on the road at the front of the commercial properties on Wainuiomata Road and Fitzherbert Road next to Queen Street
  • Wainuiomata Recreational Area - keep your dogs on a leash at all times, no dogs are allowed at the Lower Dam area

  • camping areas next to Catchpool Stream
  • landcare Research Station (formerly DSIR Field Station)
  • picnic areas next to Catchpool Valley Road, upstream from the vehicle ford

  • Speldhurst Park

  • Fraser Park

For more information

Dog Control Bylaw 2015 (PDF 391.4 KB)