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Last reviewed: Wed, 14 Jul 2010

Dogs on beaches

In certain areas and times of the year dogs are prohibited from being on the beach.

Photo of man walking dog on beach.

From 1 December until 1 March dogs are prohibited from beaches between 9am and 7pm.

Because the Christchurch City and Banks Peninsula districts have so many coastal beach areas where wildlife live and people use for recreation, there are limitations on when it is okay to take a dog to a beach.

As a general rule during the summer months, when there are large numbers of people, dogs are not allowed at the popular swimming beaches. You may, however, walk a dog through in passing as long as it is on a leash.

Look for the signposts in these areas. Details of where these restrictions apply are outlined below.

Christchurch City

Spencer Park Beach

100m either side of Surf Life Saving Club pavilion

Waimairi Beach Park

100m either side of Surf Life Saving Club pavilion

North Beach

100m either side of Surf Life Saving Club pavilion

New Brighton Beach

Surf Life Saving Club pavilion to 100m south of Christchurch Pier

South New Brighton Beach

100m either side of Surf Life Saving Club pavilion

Sumner Beach

100m north of Surf Life Saving Club pavilion and south to Cave Rock

Taylor’s Mistake Beach

50m either side of Surf Life Saving Club pavilion

Banks Peninsula

  • Corsair Bay Reserve and Foreshore
  • Cass Bay
  • Diamond Harbour Beach
  • Duvauchelle Beach area
  • French Farm Foreshore
  • Le Bons Bay Foreshore
  • Little Akaloa Foreshore
  • Okains Bay Beach
  • Paradise Beach
  • Pigeon Bay Foreshore
  • Port Levy
  • Purau Foreshore
  • Rapaki Wharf and Foreshore
  • Sandy Beach
  • Tikao Bay.

From 1 September to 1 March, dogs are prohibited 24 hours a day on Oashore Bay.

The following areas are prohibited to dogs all year round:

  • Akaroa Foreshore – from Rue Brittan to Akaroa Cruising club jetty
  • Camp Bay Beach
  • Tumbledown Bay
  • Any area of beach between red and yellow flags patrolled by surf live saving clubs.

Dogs must always be on a leash along the Sumner/Scarborough Esplanade and through Nicholson Park in Scarborough.

 

Authorising Unit: Inspections and Enforcement

Last reviewed: Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Next review: Thursday, July 14, 2011

Keywords: beach, dog