Dog exercise areas

Dogs need to be walked daily, while some more active dogs will require additional exercise to stay happy and healthy. Taking your dog to an exercise area can be a great way for them to use up more of their energy and help reduce barking.

Hamilton has more than 30 off-lead areas where you can exercise your dog safely. There is also a fully fenced off-leash dog exercise area at Minogue Park in Forest Lake. This is a controlled environment for dogs to run around safely, and features lots of native trees, seats, and a doggy water fountain too.

While enjoying these off-lead parks please ensure dogs are kept under control, do not roam outside the designated area and are cleaned up after.

Check out the map and information below to find out where you:

can exercise your dog off lead
can’t take your dog.

Access rules

Prohibited areas	Dogs are not permitted in these areas. Working dogs are exempt only when working.
Off-lead dog exercise areas	Are designated dog exercise areas and are shared spaces for all users. Dogs (excluding female dogs in season) can be off lead but must remain under control. Please note that if an off-lead dog exercise area is fenced, the enclosed area is a priority area for dogs and their owners.
Off-lead dog exercise areas (specified times)	Are designated dog exercise areas and are shared spaces for all users. Dogs (excluding female dogs in season) can be off lead at certain times but must remain under control.  Off lead and on lead times are identified in Schedule 1 of the Dog Control Policy.

Dogs in other public places

Dogs that are on-lead are also welcome on city streets, river pathways and most other public places (provided they are not a prohibited area – please check map or refer to ‘exclusion areas’ information below). Dogs must always be on lead and must remain under control.

Exclusion areas

There are some general areas you can’t take your dog. This includes:

within 10 metres of all playgrounds
skateparks

You also cannot take your dog to the specified areas below:

the enclosed gardens at Hamilton Gardens
Waiwhakareke Natural Heritage Park
all cemeteries including Hamilton Park Cemetery at Newstead
Miropiko Reserve
the playground and lawn surrounding The Verandah Café at Hamilton Lake Domain
the athletics/sports stadium at Porritt Stadium.

Service dogs

A Service Dog – also known as a Disability Assist Dog – is a specially trained and certified dog that assists a person with a disability.

In Aotearoa New Zealand Service Dogs have the right to access any public place and private business, including supermarkets, health facilities, shops and malls, food outlets, motels or hotels, movie theatres and restaurants. They are also entitled to travel on all forms of public transport, including in taxis.  

These rights are outlined in the Dog Control Act 1996 and are also protected under the anti-discrimination laws in the Human Rights Act. 

You can find out more about Service Dogs, how to identify them and their rights under the Dog Control Act here.