The best dog-friendly cafes, parks & walks in Auckland

Looking for the ultimate dog-friendly day out in Auckland? Perhaps you’re a local looking for new pet-inclusive spots to explore, or you’re visiting Auckland with your best mate in tow and want to ensure they get to see the sights too.

Auckland ensures you don’t have to leave your canine companion behind!

Auckland’s canine cafe culture

The Paw Bar and Eatery

As the name suggests, this is the perfect place for pooches and their people. With a dedicated dog-friendly menu, your four-legged friend can knock back their own pint of dog beer (AKA bone broth), while you grab a bite. Their cocktail list for humans features some playful canine-themed creations, including ‘Chow Chow on a Beach,’ ‘The Sweet Pug,’ and ‘Pomeranian Playful.’

Ozone Coffee Roasters

Start your morning right at Ozone Coffee Roasters. This stylish Grey Lynn cafe has sunny outdoor seating, making it a popular mid-stroll stop for dog owners. Grab a puppuccino for your best mate, and enjoy a fresh brew made from beans roasted on site.

Cornwall Park Cafe

Located within the sprawling Cornwall Park, Cornwall Park Cafe is the perfect pre- or post-walk refreshment spot. Dogs are welcome in the outdoor seating area, or you can grab a cuppa to go and relax under the shady trees with your pooch. It’s ideal if you’re planning a morning stroll through the park, where dogs are welcome on a leash. Keep in mind that at certain times of the year (the lambing and calving season), there are restricted areas where dogs are not allowed.

The Bunker Cafe

On the North Shore, and tucked within Pupuke Golf Club, The Bunker Cafe welcomes dogs in their outdoor seating area, with views overlooking the greens. You don’t have to be a member to stop in here, and you’ll find great barista coffee, cabinet food, hot soups and homemade sandwiches.

Geeks on Sainsbury

Geeks on Sainsbury is a Mount Albert gem known for its excellent coffee and community vibe. Dogs are welcome in the sheltered outdoor seating area, and staff are quick to offer water bowls and dog treats. Inside, you’ll find their adorable ‘pet wall’ filled with polaroids of their cutest customers.

If your dog prefers grass under their paws, there’s green space directly opposite the café where you can sit in the shade while you wait for your brew, then head down the road to Fowld’s Park for a bit of extra exercise.

Crave Cafe

Crave is a Morningside institution with a loyal dog-owning following. Dogs are welcome on their outdoor deck, making it the ideal spot to take a pup-stop and down a turmeric latte after your morning walk. The staff are always happy to bring out a water bowl, and there’s plenty of space for pups to lounge while you tuck into brunch or something from the cabinet.

Dear Jervois

One for the stylish pups and humans. Dear Jervois offers outdoor seating with water bowls available on request. Their ‘dog parking’ area outside makes it easy to pop in for a takeaway coffee and scone, or you can settle in and enjoy the relaxed urban vibe while your pup watches the world go by. Afterwards, stroll the leafy Herne Bay streets to walk off your eggs bene.

The Island Grocer

Heading to Waiheke Island with your pup in tow? Well-behaved doggos are welcome onboard Fullers360 ferries, either kept on a leash at all times or, if you want to travel inside the cabin, within a suitable carrier or crate. Remember to pack your doggy clean up bags in case they’re needed on the trip.

After the 40-minute ferry ride, The Island Grocer is the perfect first stop. Grab a coffee and pastry to enjoy at a dog-friendly outdoor table, or stock up on fresh picnic supplies before hitting the island’s beaches and walking tracks. The friendly team love to meet visiting dogs and are always on hand with a smile and lots of pats for your four-legged companion.

The Heke

Set among native bush with a laid-back island vibe, The Heke is a top spot for a relaxed meal with your pup by your side. Well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome in the spacious outdoor area, where there’s plenty of shade and room to lounge. Come for the locally-brewed beer and small-batch gin and whiskey, stay for the woodfired eats and warm Waiheke Island hospitality.

Takapuna Beach Cafe

Takapuna Beach is a favourite for dog lovers – whether you’re walking your own or just love seeing the pure joy and excitement of a dog playing by the water, with the sea breeze in their face. The beach has on- and off-lead hours for dogs swimming, depending on the time of year: April-November is off-leash before 10am and after 2pm, on-leash between 10am and 2pm; December-March is off-leash before 10am and after 6pm, on-leash between 10am and 6pm.

After your pup has zoomed up and down the beach, refuel with an award-winning gelato or coffee at this beachside icon. Outdoor tables overlook the sand, there are water bowls aplenty so your dog can re-hydrate (especially important after an ocean dip), and it’s only steps back down to the surf if your dog fancies a second swim.

The Garden Shed

Hidden in plain sight on Mt Eden Road, The Garden Shed is a lush courtyard café where dogs are welcome to join you under the greenery. Their rustic, plant-filled outdoor area feels like a secret garden, which is the ideal under-cover outdoor spot on days when you’re looking for shade to cool off or for respite from the rain.

Vondel

At Vondel, everyone is welcome – vegans, meat lovers, and dogs! This Devonport eatery champions local producers with a menu full of seasonal and sustainable dishes. Dogs are invited to their sunny outdoor seating area, and after your meal, you can take your pup for an on-leash waterfront wander or head up Takarunga Mt Victoria for sweeping views over the harbour.

Bodega Eatery

West Auckland pups get VIP (very important pooch) service at Bodega Eatery. Not only do they serve up puppuccinos for your best pal, but they also provide cute artificial grass mats so your dog has a comfy spot to sit. With plenty of outdoor seating and a (real) grassy field right next door, it’s the perfect spot to relax with a coffee while your dog lounges happily or gets their zoomies out after brunch.

Pocket Bar & Kitchen

This Grey Lynn favourite welcomes pups both inside and out, and even hosts their legendary ‘Dog and Grog’ events where the beer garden transforms into an off-leash playground. While your four-legged friend makes new mates, you can kick back with craft beers, gourmet tapas, and epic share dishes. It’s the perfect spot for an afternoon drink with your sidekick curled up at your feet.

Wynyard Pavilion

If your pup loves people-watching as much as you do, Wynyard Pavilion is the place to be. Set right on the water in Wynyard Quarter, this spacious spot welcomes dogs in its outdoor seating area, where they can lounge in the sun while you enjoy brunch, cocktails, or dinner overlooking the marina. With water bowls at the ready and plenty of space to stretch out, it’s the perfect spot for a lazy afternoon soaking up Auckland’s harbour vibes together.

The Red Shed Palazzo

With sprawling garden space and plenty of outdoor seating, The Red Shed Palazzo in Karaka is perfect for pups (and kids) to enjoy while you relax under the shady trees. It’s relaxed, rustic and ideal for a lazy weekend outing with your furry friend by your side, with excellent food and coffee to match.

Where to walk and explore

Meola Reef Dog Park

Up there as one of Auckland’s best off-leash parks, Meola Reef in Point Chevalier boasts a massive fenced wonderland which is made for zoomies, muddy paws, and spontaneous sniffing circles. The views across the Waitematā are an added bonus.

Waiatarua Reserve

New Zealand’s largest urban wetland restoration project in Remuera doubles as a dog’s dream day out. The wetland loop is flat, easy to navigate, and full of fun smells (we asked the dogs). It’s the perfect weekend wander, especially for pups who like to lead the way. Well-behaved pooches can roam in the reserve, but will need to be back on their leash around the wetland areas.

Auckland Botanic Gardens

Dogs on-lead are welcome throughout most of the Botanic Gardens, where winding paths, colourful blooms and wide open lawns create a sensory experience for two- and four-legged visitors alike. Flower sniffing is encouraged, but please advise your pooch that digging is not allowed. 

Ōwairaka Te Ahi-Kā-a-Rakataura Mt Albert

A local favourite with a laid-back vibe, Ōwairaka Te Ahi-Kā-a-Rakataura Mt Albert is perfect for dogs who like a bit of everything. There’s a dedicated off-leash area where they can sprint, sniff and socialise, plus gentle trails that loop around the maunga for a cruisy on-lead stroll. Think of it as the neighbourhood’s built-in adventure park for pups, with bonus skyline views for you.

Ōrākei Basin Reserve

Water views, leafy tracks, and plenty of variety make Ōrākei Basin a top pick for curious canines. The loop walk offers a mix of bush, boardwalk, and shoreline, with off-leash zones to burn off energy and on-lead stretches to keep things cruisy. It’s the kind of walk that keeps both you and your pup engaged from start to finish.

Craigavon Park

This is West Auckland’s best-kept secret for high-energy hounds. With native bush trails, wide open spaces, and a generous off-leash zone, Craigavon Park in Blockhouse Bay is a sniff-to-your-heart’s-content kind of place. Ideal for active pups with energy to burn, and humans who want a shady, peaceful stroll with fewer crowds.

Te Tātua-a-Riukiuta Big King Reserve

Expansive views and large spaces to run; Big King in Mt Roskill lives up to the name. This volcanic reserve, one of the Auckland region's 14 Tūpuna Maunga (ancestral mountains), offers an expansive off-leash playground for dogs who love to chase balls, sprint uphill, and feel the wind in their fur. The skyline panoramas aren’t bad either.

Monte Cecilia Park

Monte Cecilia brings the grandeur with wide lawns, heritage and exotic trees and the stately Pah Homestead at its heart. The pathways and green-space are on-lead only, but your pup won’t mind, there’s plenty to explore, shade to nap in, and the peaceful vibe is top-tier. 

Churchill Park

Tucked into the suburb of Glendowie with a countryside feel, Churchill Park is a sprawling slice of dog heaven. Off-leash zones wind through grassy hills and shady groves, while cows graze peacefully behind fences. Take a ball or a frisbee for chasing and soak in the views over the Tāmaki Estuary.

Macleans Park

This East Auckland gem serves up the full package: coastal views, shaded tracks, and big open spaces where dogs can run free. The off-leash areas meander through native bush and sunny clearings, giving your pup plenty to explore. And if the weather’s warm, Eastern Beach is just down the hill, perfect for a post-walk splash and shake.

Brick Bay Sculpture Trail

It’s one part outdoor art gallery and one part nature trail, which equals adventure for your cultured canine! Brick Bay in Snells Beach offers a scenic stroll through native bush dotted with contemporary sculptures. Dogs are welcome on-lead, so your companion can join the experience and help you sniff out some abstract artwork along the way. Finish up with a glass of wine at the dog-friendly Glass House.