4 minute read
Travelling with Pets - WEST COAST
CHECK OUT
Advertisement
CARING FOR PRECIOUS WILDLIFE It’s best not to put our furry friends in the position to get something wrong as even with the best intentions, a dog’s natural instincts on seeing, smelling or hearing a small creature may over-ride your voice control of them. Be mindful of wildlife at the beach and avoid allowing dogs to be off the leash above the high tide line, in dunes and in areas of beach-side vegetation. Little Blue penguins and other protected endangered species are known to nest on the foreshore across much of the West Coast.
KIWI AVERSION TRAINING To help protect native bird species from becoming disturbed, injured or even killed by dogs there are now avian awareness and aversion training courses available throughout the country.
To find out when the next training session is either contact your local DOC office or a local trainer – details are listed on the Save the Kiwi website. In some areas that have kiwi and other ground-dwelling birds, it is a requirement to have the certificate and be recorded on the database. However, this doesn’t mean your dog then gets a free pass through all DOC sites, as the training does not override any dog access restrictions for an area.
TOP & TAIL TIP
If your dog attacks or kills any protected wildlife, you’ll face a fine and your dog may be destroyed.
Cycling in Reefton
© West Coast Tourism
DOG PARKS
COBDEN DOG PARK, GREYMOUTH Located on the corner ofNelson Quay and Richmond Street in Cobden, it’s a great place for a pitstop to give those four legs a stretch. Fun times to be had playing in the fenced enclosure or on the agility equipment for some brain training.
PRESTON ROAD DOG PARK, GREYMOUTH You’ll find this one next to the SPCA. Fully fenced areas with plenty of space for catching frisbees and running with canine friends.
MORE…
• The Westport Domain, Westport
• Brougham Street Domain, Westport
• Bonar Drive Reserve, Hokitika
• Carters Beach Domain (southern end), Westport
• MacAndrew Square Gardens, Hokitika (alongside Hokitika Museum)
• Robbins Park – Airport Drive, Hokitika
• Prossers Bush, Hokitika
• The Strand, Reefton – adjacent to the racecourse on the Crampton Road Reserve and the old cemetery on Buller Road
WALKIES
CAPE FOULWIND WALKWAY, TAURANGA BAY, WESTPORT Moderate 7km return, on-leash
CONSTANT BAY LOOP, CHARLESTON Easy 1km loop, on-leash
Izzy
© Jackie Mathewson
BIG ADVENTURES
KŌKAKO WALK/CYCLEWAY, HAAST 5.3km each way, this wheelchair accessible and dog friendly track is perfect for either walking or running. It leaves from Haast township, threading through the bush, arriving at Haast Beach - stunning whatever the weather.
CHARMING CREEK NORTH WALKWAY, WESTPORT Moderate 11km return, some off-leash areas. Walk along the upper part of an historic bush tramway to historic mining sites, milling sites, and to a view of the Mangatini Falls.
TOP & TAIL TIP
Keep your dog extra close on the beach at dusk when penguins travel between the sea and their burrows.
Haast Pass
© Adobe Stock
DOG-FRIENDLY SPOTS
HOKITIKA BEACH SOUTH OF STAFFORD STREET TO SUNSET POINT Beach only; excluding public walkway and open space inland of the rock seawall.
HOKITIKA BEACH NORTH OF STAFFORD STREET Daylight hours only; non-vegetated tidal areas seaward of mean high-water springs only.
WADESON ISLAND AND RIVERBANK EAST OF SH 6 Excluding mown sports fields and West Coast Wilderness Trail.
Tauranga Bay, Westport
© Staci Offwood
HAPPY CAMPERS
• Carters Beach TOP 10 Holiday Park, Westport
• Goldsborough DOC Campsite, Awatuna
• Gillespies Beach DOC Campsite
• Lyell Campsite, Upper Buller Gorge
• Kōhaihai DOC Campsite, Karamea
• Fox Glacier TOP 10 Holiday Park
• Franz Josef TOP 10 Holiday Park
• Rainforest Retreat, Franz Josef
• Greymouth Seaside TOP 10Holiday Park
• Ross Beach TOP 10 Holiday Park
• Greymouth Kiwi Holiday Park
Kiara
© Ashley Jane Norden
TOP & TAIL TIP
Outside of the Hokitika urban area, all unsealed public places and the non-vegetated shores of all beaches, rivers and lakes are approved off-leash areas.
