Woodhill Forest

This place is GINORMOUS and an absolute haven for pooches. A friend and I took ours here on Saturday and they had an absolute hoot of a time off-roading through the forest.

Just a few handy tips...

1. Keep your pups on a leash until your on the track. Apparently logging trucks go through here on the reg.

2. Take water! Before you know it you've walked for 3 hours and both and your pooch are panting.

3. If your dogs don't have very good recall, keep them on the leash. There are a tonne of smells in the forrest and it's huge. Apparently it's not uncommon for dogs to get lost!

Woodhill is definitely worth a visit, with or without dogs. Next time we are definitely going to make a day trip out of it and take the costal path down to the beach!

Old fav. A working Forrest, I think it's cool they share it with the community. Horse tracks, bike tracks, adventure playgrounds and of course the reason I go, lots of places to walk/run the dogs. Stretching from Muriwai Beach in the south to South Head in the north (figure that one out) there is everything from beaches to streams to forests to venture through. To keep everyone please remember water and sunscreen (yes for pooch), to keep your dog on lead if they're prey driven or nose driven and be aware of your surroundings, where trees are being harvested and stay away. For more info or if in doubt as to where you can and can't go call the forest recreation services on 09 420 9566, they're very helpful. Remember no smoking, fires or firearms in the Forrest. Oh and lastly, being a sand based Forrest it is less muddy in winter.

The day I took the dogs for a walk in Woodhill Forrest it was stinking hot, yet under the canopy of trees with a breeze coming off the beach it was shaded and cool. This a great place to let your dog run free and experience the smells of a rural Forrest. On one occasion the dog put up a deer who came running passed us as we looked on in amazement. There are walking trails which ensure you don't get lost.I will definitely be back.