Dog Parks and Dog Walks in Blenheim
Dog exercise areas, off-leash walks and dog-friendly beaches around Blenheim, with the council's rules for each.
In Blenheim and the rest of Marlborough, dogs must be under control in all public places, and can be off leash in the council's dog exercise areas, on most beaches and on the river berms. The Wither Hills Farm Park, Seymour Square, sports grounds and cemeteries are off limits, and the town centre and many reserves are on-leash. 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 (23)
Sheps Park
Off leashSeverne Street.
Directions Read the guideŌpaoa Walkway Reserve
Off leashAccess from Ching Park and Henderson Street Reserve.
Directions Read the guideAuckland Street Reserve
Off leashNo dogs on the Picton Skate Park.
DirectionsBob's Bay Reserve Track
On leashReached on leash along the road from Shelly Beach.
DirectionsChing Park
Off leashEndeavour Street.
DirectionsDillons Point River Reserve
Off leashDillons Point Road, behind the Nelson Street roundabout.
DirectionsEsson's Valley Tracks (Humphries Dam and Barnes Dam Tracks)
Off leashGarden Terrace.
DirectionsFultons Creek Reserve
Off leashKingwell Drive.
DirectionsHarling Park and walkway to Elmwood Avenue
Off leashHowick Road. No dogs in the fenced Japanese Gardens.
DirectionsHenderson Street Reserve
Some rulesOn leash near the playground, off leash past it towards the Ōpaoa River walkway.
DirectionsLions Reserve
Off leashHawkesbury Road.
DirectionsMarshall Place Reserve
Off leashIncludes the riverside area.
DirectionsMemorial Park
Off leashEntrance via Surrey Street. The entranceway from Waikawa Road and the marina is on leash on the formed path.
DirectionsMotuweka/Havelock Pathway
On leash DirectionsMurphys Reserve
Off leashHorne Place and Kingwell Drive.
DirectionsPicton to Waikawa Track (Victoria Domain)
Some rulesOff leash on the lower Picton to Waikawa track, but not in Endeavour Park. On leash on roadways and other formed tracks in Victoria Domain; no dogs on mountain bike tracks.
DirectionsSimonsen Reserve
Off leashMalthouse Road, off State Highway 1.
DirectionsSutherland Stream Reserve
Some rulesOff leash between Hospital Road and the Wither Hills Redwood Street car park, but on leash between Hospital Road and Alabama Road alongside Rewi Murray Polo Park and Whitehead Park.
DirectionsTaylor River and Riverside Park
Some rulesOff leash along long stretches of both banks from the Taylor Dam to Stuart Street and from Meadow Bank Road to the Sinclair Street rail bridge. On leash on the true right bank from Henry Street Bridge to the Sinclair Street rail bridge, and the true left bank from Alfred Street Bridge (Leeds Quay) to the rail bridge.
DirectionsTirimoana Reserve
Off leash DirectionsTirohanga Track
Off leashNewgate Street and Garden Terrace.
DirectionsWairau River banks and bed
Off leashDownstream of the Waihopai River confluence, including the Diversion banks. Excludes leased land closed to the public.
DirectionsWaitohi Domain
Off leashDublin Street.
DirectionsBeaches (4)
Flemings Road Esplanade Reserve
Off leashSeaview Road.
DirectionsHakahaka Bay Esplanade Reserve
Off leash DirectionsShelly Beach
On leashOn leash on the beach; no dogs on the grassed picnic area.
DirectionsWard Beach
Some rulesOff leash at the boat launching area. On leash in the car park and on the beach north to Chancet Rocks and south to Needles Point. No dogs north of Chancet Rocks to Marfells Beach or south of Needles Point.
DirectionsNo dogs (23)
Wither Hills Farm Park
No dogsIncluding the mountain bike tracks and Taylor Pass Road car park. Excludes the Redwood Street car park and Sutherland Stream Reserve.
Directions Read the guideBlack Jack Track
No dogsDOC: No dogs.
Directions Read the guideCullen Point tracks
No dogsDOC: No dogs, except with a DOC hunting permit.
DirectionsFerndale tracks
No dogsDOC: No dogs, except with a DOC hunting permit.
DirectionsKumutoto Bay Track
No dogsDOC: No dogs.
DirectionsMomorangi Forest Experience Walk
No dogsDOC: No dogs.
DirectionsMotuara Island Lookout Track
No dogsDOC: No dogs.
DirectionsMount Robertson tracks
No dogsDOC: No dogs.
DirectionsMount Stokes Track
No dogsDOC: No dogs, except with a DOC hunting permit.
DirectionsMt Sunday/Mt Riley Track
No dogsDOC: No dogs, except with a DOC hunting permit.
DirectionsNydia Track
No dogsDOC: No dogs, except with a DOC hunting permit.
DirectionsOruawairua Walk
No dogsDOC: No dogs.
DirectionsPukaka Valley Track
No dogsDOC: No dogs.
DirectionsPukatea Walk
No dogsDOC: No dogs.
Directions Read the guidePutanui Point Track
No dogsDOC: Only with a DOC permit.
DirectionsQueen Charlotte Track
No dogsDOC: No dogs.
Directions Read the guideRarangi, Whites Bay Track
No dogsDOC: No dogs.
DirectionsWairau Lagoons Walkway
No dogsDOC: No dogs.
Directions Read the guideWakamarina Track
No dogsDOC: No dogs, except with a DOC hunting permit.
DirectionsJapanese Gardens in Harling Park (fenced area only)
No dogsThe rest of Harling Park is off leash.
DirectionsPicton Foreshore beach
No dogsPart of Picton Foreshore Reserve. On leash only to reach jetties and boat berths.
DirectionsSeymour Square, Blenheim
No dogs DirectionsWaikawa Bay beach
No dogsPart of Waikawa Bay Foreshore Reserve. On leash only to reach jetties and boat ramps.
DirectionsNo places match that search.
The rules at a glance
Off leashThe council's dog exercise areas, including long stretches of the Taylor River, the Ōpaoa Walkway, Harling Park, Sutherland Stream Reserve from Hospital Road to the Wither Hills Redwood Street car park, the Wairau River banks and Renwick Dog Park. Most Marlborough beaches, unless signed otherwise.
On a leashThe Blenheim town centre including the Quays, Pollard Park, Churchill Glade, Waterlea Gardens, Taylor Dam, Whitehead Park and more than 30 listed Blenheim reserves such as Ballinger Park and McKendry Park. In Picton, the town centre, Town Basin and Fisherman's Reserve.
No dogsWither Hills Farm Park (the Redwood Street car park and Sutherland Stream Reserve are fine), Seymour Square, Brayshaw Museum Park, the Japanese Gardens in Harling Park, Lansdowne Park, Horton Park and other sports grounds, cemeteries, war memorials, the Picton and Waikawa Bay foreshores, and public conservation land without DOC approval. Keep dogs 3 metres from playground safety surfacing.
Marlborough District Council off-leash areas Marlborough on-leash areas Marlborough dog prohibited areas
Dog services in Blenheim
VetsSmall Animal, Equine and Farm Practices
Pet groomersSalons, Mobile and In-Home Care
Dog trainersClasses, At Home and Puppy School
Common questions
Is there a fenced dog park in Blenheim?
The council's dog park is in Renwick, with three separate areas for large dogs, small dogs and a quiet zone, and agility equipment. The council page does not say whether it is fenced. In Blenheim itself, the main off-leash areas are along the Taylor River, the Ōpaoa Walkway and Harling Park.
Can I take my dog to the Wither Hills?
No. Dogs are not allowed in the Wither Hills Farm Park, including the mountain bike tracks and the Taylor Pass Road car park. The Redwood Street car park and Sutherland Stream Reserve are not part of the ban.
Do dogs have to be on a lead in Blenheim?
In the town centre and the reserves the council lists as on-leash, yes. In the dog exercise areas, on most beaches and on the river berms they can be off leash, as long as they are under control.
Sources: Marlborough District Council; Department of Conservation (DOC). Rules change, so check the signs when you arrive. Checked October 2026.