Ask Away: Travelling with man's best friend

A dog can be an energetic travelling companion. Photo / 123RF

Tail-wagging walks icecream and room service, pooch-perfect, says Eli Orzessek.

I will be travelling solo to Napier during the Christmas period with my dog. I've secured pet friendly accommodation but would like some travel advice on places I can go and things I can do with a dog in tow.

Please advise.

Thank you,
Karen

First of all let's get one thing straight: you're not travelling solo if a furry companion is coming along for the journey! And luckily, there's plenty to do with a dog in the Napier area - as you'd expect from a town with dog-friendly accommodation.

I've asked a few contacts and locals for tips and here they are:

Napier Council has a really cool agility track at Park Island as well as plenty of walking tracks for your pooch. There's also another dog park behind Pettigrew Green Arena for your dog to hang with other dogs.

Marine Parade is awesome for a decent leg stretch for you and your dog - and the views across to Cape Kidnappers are extraordinary. Be sure to check out the viewing platform too.

Visit the Napier Council website for more spots you can take your dog, on and off leash.

Overall, Napier is pretty pooch friendly - it's a little before you arrive, but there's even a themed doggy day out on November 13 called Bark Island (no prizes for guessing where it's being held) and there may be another next year.

You can also take your dog down to the Splash 'n' Play inflatable water playground at Pandora Pond, which is open till March. Have a bounce on the water tramp while your dog chills out on shore (on a lead of course). Stop in for an icecream at Cool Cats in Ahuriri after.

If your dog is quite energetic, you could go for a walk up Bluff Hill from the Ocean Spa entry - make sure you time it to catch sunset or sunrise.

If you're in need of some last-minute grooming, the Yellow Laundromutt will come to you for some last-minute grooming. And if you're staying at one of the Scenic Te Pania hotel's dog friendly suites, you can even share your room service with Rover.

I'm sure some of our readers from the area might have more tips to share, so feel free to send them in.

Readers respond:

Stacey Walden wrote in last week with some tips for Borneo - just a little correction, the name of the resort she stayed in was Sukau Rainforest Lodge. It's two hours along the river and she says it was "amazing".

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