Dog Parks and Dog Walks in Hastings
Dog exercise areas, off-leash walks and dog-friendly beaches around Hastings, with the council's rules for each.
In Hastings, dogs must be on a leash in every public place in town, and in rural parks, reserves, beaches and walkways, unless the council lists the place as a dog exercise area. Sports fields, playgrounds, Rangaiika Beach and the Cape Kidnappers Gannet Reserve are off limits, and Ocean Beach, Waimārama and Waipatiki have daytime leash hours. 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 (1)
Walks and reserves (15)
Ebbett Park
Some rulesOff leash from 5pm to 8am only
Directions Read the guideEskdale Park
Some rulesOff leash along the southern (right-hand) side to the end of the driveway; no dogs in the playground
Directions Read the guideKeirunga Gardens
Some rulesOff leash on the southern and western boundary walkways from Tanner Street and the open grass at each end; on a lead elsewhere
Directions Read the guideDuke Street Reserve
Off leashNeighbourhood green space
DirectionsFlaxmere Green Belt
Off leashWest of Tarbet Street, Arklow Place and Frobisher Street, between Kirkwood Road and Flaxmere Avenue
DirectionsJames Cook Street Reserve
Off leashTreed reserve
DirectionsKaramu Road South
Off leashFrom Pattison Road south to Murdoch Road
DirectionsKaramu Stream banks
Off leashFrom beside the southern edge of Anderson Park to the vehicle bridge on Havelock Road
DirectionsKingsgate Reserve
Off leashOff leash from Te Mata Road to Reeve Drive, Ritchie Place, Fulford Place and Durham Drive; follows the Karituwhenua Stream walkway
DirectionsNorth Shore and Whirinaki to Tangoio Beach road reserve
Off leash DirectionsPalmbrook Reserve
Off leash DirectionsPortsmouth Road
Off leashRural side, from Wilson Road west to the end of Portsmouth Road
DirectionsTainui, Tanner, Tauroa and Hikanui reserves
Off leashNatural open space reserves popular for walking, biking and running
DirectionsTe Mata and Arataki Road Reserve
Off leash DirectionsTe Mata Park
Off leashThe whole park is off lead. Carry a leash, keep your dog in sight and under control where stock graze. No female dogs in heat. Dog access may be suspended during pest control.
DirectionsBeaches (6)
Clifton Beach
Some rulesThe off-leash Haumoana to Te Awanga beach runs south to the Clifton No. 2 camp boundary. Past that, rural beach leash rules apply, and the Cape Kidnappers Gannet Reserve is dog free.
Directions Read the guideWaimārama Beach
Some rules Seasonal rulesNorth of the Puhokio Stream mouth to Pututaranui Point is off leash at any time. From the settlement north to the Puhokio Stream mouth, dogs are off leash only in the evening and early morning.
Settlement to Puhokio Stream: off leash 7.30pm to 7.30am during daylight saving, 6pm to 7am the rest of the year; on leash otherwise
Directions Read the guideWaipatiki Beach
Some rules Seasonal rulesThe beach north and south of the settlement beachfront is off leash at any time. The settlement beachfront has daytime leash hours.
Settlement beachfront: on leash 7.30am to 7.30pm during daylight saving and 10am to 4pm the rest of the year; off leash outside those hours
Directions Read the guideHaumoana and Te Awanga beach
Some rulesOff leash from the Tukituki River mouth south to the Clifton No. 2 camp boundary, except the beachfront between 3 and 41 Clifton Road, Haumoana, where dogs must be on a leash
DirectionsOcean Beach
Some rules Seasonal rulesNorth of the surf life saving club to 100m south of the predator-proof fence is off leash at any time. The settlement beachfront north to the surf club has daytime leash hours. Rangaiika Beach, towards Cape Kidnappers, is dog free.
Settlement beachfront: on leash 7.30am to 7.30pm during daylight saving and 7am to 6pm the rest of the year; off leash outside those hours
DirectionsTangoio Beach
Some rulesThe North Shore and Whirinaki to Tangoio Beach road reserve is off leash. The bylaw does not list the beach itself, so the rural beach leash rule applies there.
DirectionsNo dogs (15)
Tūtira Regional Park
No dogsHawke's Bay Regional Council park; dogs and other pets strictly prohibited
Directions Read the guideComet Road end to Shutes Hut
No dogsDOC: No dogs, except with a DOC hunting permit.
DirectionsElsthorpe Scenic Reserve Loop Track
No dogsDOC: No dogs.
DirectionsMangleton Road to Parks Peak Ridge
No dogsDOC: No dogs, except with a DOC hunting permit.
DirectionsMasters Shelter to Golden Crown Ridge
No dogsDOC: No dogs, except with a DOC hunting permit.
DirectionsNo Man's Road area tramping tracks
No dogsDOC: No dogs.
DirectionsPoutaki Track
No dogsDOC: No dogs.
Directions Read the guideTangoio Falls Scenic Reserve tracks
No dogsDOC: No dogs.
Directions Read the guideYeoman's Track
No dogsDOC: No dogs.
DirectionsŌtātara Pā Historic Reserve Walk
No dogsDOC: No dogs.
DirectionsCape Kidnappers Gannet Reserve
No dogsDepartment of Conservation reserve; dogs and horses not permitted
DirectionsHastings District Council civic building
No dogsLyndon Road, Hastings
DirectionsHutchinson Domain
No dogsFarm animals on site
DirectionsPekapeka Regional Park
No dogsHawke's Bay Regional Council wetland park; no dogs because of the wildlife
DirectionsRangaiika Beach
No dogsDog prohibited area, on or off leash
DirectionsNo places match that search.
The rules at a glance
Off leashListed dog exercise areas, such as Pakowhai Regional Park, Te Mata Park, the Havelock North reserves (Tainui, Tanner, Tauroa, Hikanui, Kingsgate, James Cook Street and Palmbrook), the Karamu Stream banks, Duke Street Reserve, Flaxmere Green Belt, the Haumoana to Te Awanga beach, and the open ends of Ocean Beach, Waimārama and Waipatiki. Carry a leash and keep your dog under control.
On a leashAll public places in town, and rural parks, reserves, beaches, walkways and cycleways that aren't listed. Also Duart House and Gardens, most of Keirunga Gardens, and the Haumoana beachfront between 3 and 41 Clifton Road.
No dogsSports fields (even on a leash), public playgrounds, libraries and public pools, the council civic building, Rangaiika Beach, the Cape Kidnappers Gannet Reserve, Hutchinson Domain, and Tūtira and Pekapeka regional parks.
Summer and seasonal rulesOcean Beach settlement beachfront: on a leash 7.30am to 7.30pm in daylight saving, 7am to 6pm the rest of the year. Waimārama, from the settlement to the Puhokio Stream: off leash only 7.30pm to 7.30am in daylight saving, 6pm to 7am the rest of the year. Waipatiki settlement beachfront: on a leash 7.30am to 7.30pm in daylight saving, 10am to 4pm the rest of the year. Ebbett Park: off leash 5pm to 8am only. Pakowhai Regional Park: take extra care with karaka berries, which are toxic to dogs, from January to April.
Hastings District Council dog exercise areas Hawke's Bay Regional Council, Pakowhai Regional Park
Dog services in Hastings
VetsCompanion Animal, Equine and Livestock Care
Pet groomersFull Clips, Hand Stripping and Puppy Grooms
Dog trainersPositive Reinforcement Experts
Pet shopsPet Food, Supplies and Puppy Training
Common questions
Is there a fenced dog park in Hastings?
The council doesn't name a fenced dog park. Pakowhai Regional Park, known locally as The Dog Park, has an agility course, parking and poo bags, but the regional council doesn't say whether it is fenced. Te Mata Park and the Havelock North reserves are other popular off-leash areas.
Can I take my dog to Te Mata Peak?
Yes. The whole of Te Mata Park is off leash. Carry a leash, keep your dog in sight and under control where stock graze, and don't bring a female dog in heat. Dog access can be suspended during pest control.
Do dogs have to be on a lead in Hastings?
Yes, in all public places in town, and in rural parks, reserves, beaches, walkways and cycleways, unless the place is a listed dog exercise area. In those areas they can be off leash, but you must carry a leash and keep them under control.
Sources: Hawke's Bay Regional Council; Te Mata Park Trust; Hastings District Council; Department of Conservation (DOC). Rules change, so check the signs when you arrive. Checked October 2026.