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Travelling with Pets - WAIKATO & WAITOMO
WALKIES
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LAKE HAKANOA, HUNTLY Easy 4km loop, on-leash
LAKE PUKETIRINI, HUNTLY Easy 3.5km loop, on-leash
KAINUI LAKE LOOP, HAMILTON Easy 3km loop, on-leash
TAITUA ARBORETUM WALK, HAMILTON Easy 2km loop, on-leash
JUBILEE PARK WALK, HAMILTON Easy 2.5km loop, on-leash
HAMILTON LAKE DOMAIN, HAMILTON Easy 4km loop, on-leash
NEWSTEAD WALKWAY, HAMILTON Easy 2.5km return, on-leash
LAKE TE KOO UTU RESERVE, CAMBRIDGE Easy 1.5km loop, off-leash
YARDLEY’S BUSH WALK, TE AWAMUTU Easy 1.5km loop, on-leash
LAKE NGĀROTO WALKWAY, TE AWAMUTU Easy 6km loop, on-leash
Tongue of the dog sculpture, Hamilton
© Hamilton & Waikato Tourism
CHECK OUT
JET PARK HOTEL HAMILTON AIRPORT has nailed it when it comes to spoiling your pooch with their Pampered Pet Package. Your dog will receive a goodie bag with treats, a toy and a water bowl to help settle in before a cosy night’s sleep on their own plush bed right next to yours. Based between central Hamilton, Cambridge and Te Awamutu, it’s a good spot to be based while exploring the Waikato.
THE KEG ROOM, HAMILTON If you thought ‘pet -friendly’ meant allowing dogs to hang outside with a water bowl, then this place will knock your socks off! They love animals so much they not only welcome your pet, they’ve created a degustation menu in their honour, complete with desserts.
HAPPY CAMPERS
• Cambridge TOP 10 Holiday Park
• Waitomo TOP 10 Holiday Park
DOG PARKS
DAYS PARK, HAMILTON Dogs that love a swim and making new friends will adore their time here. This well-kept park is located right next to the Waikato River and has plenty of space for them to rush around like crazy to their heart’s content.
RESTHILLS PARK, HAMILTON Quieter than Days Park but none the less enjoyable, Resthills offers bush, woodland and grassy areas to keep your pooch busy. The vast open spaces and many offleash areas make it ideal for the athletic kinds.
WORDSWORTH DOG PARK, CAMBRIDGE The massive 1.4ha dog park in Leamington has agility equipment for those astute pups, with plenty of room for fetch and zoomies in the off-leash areas, perfect for burning off energy. Visit the ‘Pooch Photobooth’ frame to get some great snaps of your pride and joy.
MCKINNON PARK, CAMBRIDGE This excellent park is a mere stone’s throw from SH 1, ideal for a leg-stretch after a few hours in the car on a road trip north or south. It has plenty of trees for shade and water bowls to help out on hot days.
AFFCO PARK, HOROTIU This fully fenced park is next to the playground on the corner of SH1 and Horotiu Road. The kids can keep busy while the dogs set to work on the agility equipment.
MORE…
• Pukete Farm Park, Hamilton
• Mangaokewa Gorge Scenic Reserve, Te Kuiti
• Kihikihi Domain, Kihikihi
• Wainui Reserve, Raglan
• Papahua Domain, Raglan
Scruffy
© Holly Mills
BIG ADVENTURES
TE AWA TRACK, CAMBRIDGE Between Hooker Road and the velodrome is a 7.5km path. Dogs on-leash.
MAUNGAKAWA SUMMIT, VIA TE TAPU TRACK, WALTON This moderately challenging 6.5km loop includes sections of bush and great views from the top across to the Kaimai Ranges and the Firth of Thames. Dogs on-leash.
TE AWA RIVER RIDE This scenic 70km river ride runs between Ngāruawāhia and Horahora. Pass over the iconic Perry Bridge, a 120m cycle and walk suspension bridge on the Horotiu the River Ride. Dogs on-leash.
DOG-FRIENDLY SPOTS
• Hamilton Lake
• Ngarunui Beach, Raglan
• Sunset Beach, Port Waikato – beyond 250 metres north or south of any lifesaving patrolled areas
Tirau
© Adobe Stock
