I’m starting to think this annual feature should be renamed: ‘The Mis-adventures of Brendan and Maggie, The High-needs Sheepdog’. While we do have Maggie’s epilepsy and incontinence under control through medication, she hasn’t re-torn her cruciate ligament, given herself another skin rash by rolling in a dead hedgehog or even gone into anaphylaxis after being stung in the mouth by a wasp, she has still been no stranger to the local vet clinic. Off leash dog walks have also contributed their share of excitement to our adventures.
In August last year we were out walking in our hood when three vicious dogs broke out of their yard and attacked her. A bite administered before we managed to kick the dogs off became infected about a week after the attack and there she was, under the knife to get a drain installed in her chest before recovering at home where she was feeling very sorry for herself. I swear, that dog has had more surgery than Michael Jackson. Apart from this little mishap however, we’ve had another good year of the daily exercise regime that keeps me from going loco and Maggie from chewing every cushion in our house.
I prefer to exercise Maggie off leash and anybody who knows dogs knows how important it is for dogs to exercise off leash so they are free to roam at their own pace, sniffing and marking as they go. All the spots below are great for off leash dog walks and are relatively safe.
THE HACKETT TRACK
When I found myself with a whole day free of commitments back in January I decided to do a longer walk. I’d been meaning to spend more time in the Richmond Ranges, which, as a forest park rather than a national park, is okay for dogs.
We travelled up the Aniseed Valley, up behind Hope, and parked at the road head for the Hackett Track on a wonderfully warm summer’s day. The first part of the track takes you through pine forest and then along the true left of the Miner River.
After Maggie had her fourth dip in the river the pine forest gave way to lush native bush and the track became a genuine tramping track. By noon, we had reached Browning Hut, a classic backcountry hut and it even has dog kennels for those looking to overnight with their hounds. We had a leisurely lunch during which we were joined by a couple of trampers who were in the midst of completing the Te Araroa trail, the route along the entire length of New Zealand. The Hackett Track is part of that trail, passing through Pelorus Bridge to the north, or into Nelson Lakes National Park to the south. On ou rway back to the car park we took the parallel route past the Hackett Hut to check it out for a possible overnight tramp in the future. By the time we got back to the Hackett carpark the swimming hole located at the bridge was full of youngsters and family group shaving a wonderful time. Maggie had one last swim and we headed for home.
MAHANA RIDGE
Tasman’s Great Taste Trail contains a bunch of great sections where you can run or walk your dog safely off leash.
One of the more undulating, but relatively traffic-free sections of the Trail runs along Tasman View Road between Harley Road in Mahana and Community Road in Upper Moutere. The road is unsealed and it does contain some short but steep sections, but I’ve hardly ever encountered any cars whenever I have run along that ridgeline. The 360degree views are wonderful, and I’m always surprised at how many lifestyle blocks and new houses have popped up in that area. There is also a nice little lookout at the highest point with an information board and a canvas sail shade for when the sun is beating down.
KINA
The surface is a bit rocky, but there is enough of a beach to walk even on higher tides. A mate of mine reckons it’s a great place for an open fire which you can sit beside, staring out to sea while wondering what it’s all about. The Garden House Kina is a great place to pick up a takeaway coffee, or you can stop at the Tasman General Store on your way through to grab a cheese scone big enough to choke a donkey.
TE KUMARA
AKA Raumanuka And Motueka Sandspit Scenic Reserve but commonly known as “the Kumaras”, the area of the Motueka water front between Staples Street and Harbour Road, is a popular place for locals to exercise their dogs. That means you’ll need your pooch to be well socialised if you’re going to have a relaxing time here.
If you head to the left from the Staple Street car park you’ll find a short but lovely, tree-lined path down to a modest momentum to the landing of the first pākehā settlers to the area. If you walk the other way, to the south, you can cut across to the beach and down the
Motueka sandspit. If you’re going to walk down this way you will need to have good control over your dog so it doesn’t chase any of the shore-nesting birds you’ll find down that way. The beach is reasonably rocky to start with but it quickly becomes hard-packed sand and you’ll find yourself amazed that this little gem of a spot is so close to the centre of Motueka but still feels so removed from civilisation.
THE MĀRAHAU FORESHORE
When the tide is at its lowest there are literally acres of space to exercise your dog in Mārahau.
You’ll need to keep your dog away from the Otuwhero/sandspit at the southern end of Mārahau as that is the newly enforced dog-free zone, but the rest of the foreshore is yours to enjoy. You will need to wade through some of the tidal pools, and to skirt around the eel grass, to get right out to the open ocean, but that’s the fun of it really. On fuller tides you still walk along the main beach towards the entrance of the Abel Tasman, but the wetlands at the northern end of the beach won’t be crossable without you and the K9 getting reasonably wet.
Words & Photography by Brendan Alborn
Owner Operator
Brendan has a long association with the Abel Tasman, visiting it for the first time when his parents moved to Marahau in 1997. After spending much of his life overseas, Brendan and his family moved to the area at the end of 2010. When Brendan is not spending his time in the outdoors he seems to spend much of his time creating even flimsier justifications for spending more time in the outdoors.