Beach exercise areas

There are many designated beaches throughout the city where your dog is free to exercise off-leash.

Dog with stick on a beach.

Even when exercising on the beach off-leash, dogs must be under control of their owner at all times.

Use the maps below to see specific beach areas you:

  • can exercise your dog off-leash
  • can walk your dog on-lead
  • can't take your dog.

Interactive map

Click on the image below to see dog exercise and restricted areas in an interactive map.

Map of Wellington with 'Where can I exercise my dog?' on it which links through to the online map.

Printable maps

Click on the links below to see dog exercise and restricted areas for that specific beach:

Balaena Bay Beach | Freyberg Beach | Hataitai Bay Beach | Houghton Bay Beach | Island Bay Beach | Kio Bay Beach | Little Karaka Bay Beach | Lyall Bay Beach | Makara Beach | Oriental Bay Beach | Palmer Head | Princess Bay Beach | Scorching Bay Beach | Seatoun Beach | Taputeranga Island | Tarakena Bay Beach | Weka Bay Beach | Worser Bay Beach

Balaena Bay Beach

Off-leash No
On-leash

No
Prohibited No dogs permitted

Balaena Bay Beach (453KB PDF)

Freyberg Beach

Off-leash No
On-leash

No 
Prohibited No dogs permitted

Freyberg Beach / Oriental Bay Beach (789KB PDF)

Hataitai Bay Beach

Off-leash No
On-leash

Yes
- before 10am and after 7pm from 1 December to 1 March 
- all the time in winter

Prohibited No dogs permitted between 9am and 7pm from 1 December to 1 March

Hataitai Bay Beach (352KB PDF)

Houghton Bay Beach

Off-leash Yes

Houghton Bay Beach (525KB PDF)

Island Bay Beach

Area Dogs are permitted in the area from the pier to the western end of the beach
Off-leash Yes
On-leash

Yes

Prohibited No dogs permitted anywhere east of the breakwater and in the dunes

Island Bay Beach (527KB PDF)

Kio Bay Beach

Off-leash Yes

Kio Bay Beach (439KB PDF)

Little Karaka Bay Beach

Off-leash Yes

Little Karaka Bay Beach (512KB PDF)

Lyall Bay Beach

Area Dogs permitted in the area from the steps in the seawall, opposite 30 Lyall Parade (200 metres from the eastern side of the children's playground) to the airport end of beach.
Off-leash Yes
Prohibited Dogs are not permitted in the area from the steps in the seawall, opposite 30 Lyall Bay Parade (200 metres from the eastern side of the children's playground) to the western end of the beach.

Lyall Bay Beach (541KB PDF)

Makara Beach

Off-leash Yes

Makara Beach (419KB PDF)

Oriental Bay Beach (not including Freyberg Beach)

Off-leash From 1 May to 31 October
Prohibited From 1 November to 30 April

Freyberg Beach / Oriental Bay Beach (789KB PDF)

Palmer Head

Area Wahine Park (penguin nests) to Tarakena Bay
Off-leash No
On-leash No – except on coastal path
Prohibited No dogs permitted – except on coastal path

Palmer Head (902KB PDF)

Princess Bay Beach

Off-leash No
On-leash No – except on coastal path
Prohibited No dogs permitted – except on coastal path

Princess Bay Beach (75KB PDF)

Scorching Bay Beach

Off-leash No
On-leash No
Prohibited No dogs permitted

Scorching Bay Beach (632KB PDF)

Seatoun Beach

Area Including Churchill Park
Off-leash Yes – between the wharf and Churchill Park but with summer restrictions of only off-leash before 10am and after 7pm from 1 December to 1 March
On-leash

Churchill Park - yes
- but with summer restrictions of only on-leash before 10am and after 7pm from 1 December to 1 March
- all the time in winter

Prohibited Churchill Park and between the wharf and Churchill Park - no dogs permitted during summer restrictions between 10am and 7pm from 1 December to 1 March
Prohibited west of Seatoun Wharf at all times

Seatoun Beach (533KB PDF)

Taputeranga Island

Off-leash No 
On-leash No 
Prohibited No dogs permitted 

Taputeranga Island (433KB PDF)

Tarakena Bay Beach

Area To Moa Point including Hue Te Taka - boat launching ramp and protected area
Off-leash No
On-leash No – except on coastal path
Prohibited No dogs permitted – except on costal path

Weka Bay Beach

Off-leash Yes

Weka Bay Beach (347KB PDF)

Worser Bay Beach

Off-leash Yes
- before 10am and after 7pm from 1 December to 1 March 
- all the time from 2 March to 30 November
Prohibited No dogs permitted between 10am and 7pm in summer

Worser Bay Beach (607KB PDF)

Related links