Best Dog Walks in Christchurch

Victoria Park  

101 Victoria Park Road – Off Dyers Pass Road or off Victoria Park Road. 

Victoria Park is a great spot for dog walking with panoramic views of Christchurch everywhere you turn. Great for dogs as there is a huge, securely fenced area with grasslands and fresh drinking water available.  

This is also a great place to head out with family and friends. With picnic tables and plenty of beautiful spots to lay out a blanket. The Tawhairaunui Trail is a great walk for anyone, the track is built just after the dog exercise park with boardwalks and two viewing platforms along the way! Dogs must remain on a leash through this track.  

Gates close 6 pm in winter and 9 pm in summer. 

Rapaki Track  

Rapaki Road, Hillsborough.  

Another great walk with scenic views of Lyttleton harbour and banks peninsula for dogs with higher exercise needs. 

The track is accessed from the intersection of Centaurus Road and Rapaki Road. Continue down Rapaki Road until the track begins. It is a gradual track where your able to take in the beautiful views and once reached the top you can sit and enjoy the scenery on top of the hills. Dogs must remain on a leash through this track. 

Styx Mill Reserve Dog Park  

Entrances from Hussey Road and Styx Mill Road. 

This reserve has a huge fenced off area nestled within the reserve. Accessed through a long driveway off Hussey road before the residential area. It contains a winding track through trees that will take 10 to 15 minutes depending on the friendly pet parents you stop and talk to. This Park has a pond with varied water quality due to algae for those who choose to use it.  

Its opening hours are 7:30 am daily and closes at 5:30 pm during winter or half an hour before sunsets in the summer.  

Godley Heads Loop Track  

Taylors mistake carpark  

The track starts from the car park at Taylors Mistake beach, one of Christchurch's premier surf breaks and a great spot for swimming and picnicking in summer. Pick up the walkway on the southern side of the bay that leads towards Godley Head, past a row of historic baches. 

This track offers historical landmarks that date back to the 1940s with old coastal defence battery with gun emplacements, old military buildings and tunnels. With this track hugging the coastline it offers views back to whitewash head and you're able to see from Pegasus Bay through to the Kaikoura Ranges. With lots of wildlife around along the way, you may even be lucky enough to spot a pod of rare Hector’s Dolphins, seals or even whales. Dogs must be kept on a leash through this track.  

Quarry Rim Track, Halswell Quarry 

Main car park, Halswell Quarry, Kennedys Bush Road 

A 2km track that starts off at the main car park loop. Perfect for a fun day out with family or friends with its many tracks and historic sites along the way. With viewing platforms along the way you're able to see the southern alps and panoramic views of the garden city! The track descends to Findlay's picnic area where you're able to sit and enjoy the view, perfect on a sunny day, from there you follow the track back to the main car park. Dogs must be kept on a leash through this track.