Off-lead OKEasy
Gunns Bush Track
Waimate · Canterbury · Loop
↑ 103 m gain↓ 101 m descenthigh 368 msteepest 17 %
DISTANCE4.5 km
ASCENT103 m
DURATION1–1.5 hr
STEEPEST17 %
ROUTELoop
RATING · HIKERS 4.5 · 28
DOG EFFORT2.5 /5 paws
Nearest emergency vetDunedin Emergency & After-Hours Vet Clinic (DEVC), Dunedin
03 477 7233
The route
Good to know
Dogs can run off-lead here, one of only 287 tracks in Aotearoa where that’s allowed.
River swim spotsOpen track, carry water for the dog
Check the water before the dog swims. Toxic algae blooms in NZ rivers and lakes can kill a dog within hours. Scan the LAWA water quality map in warm months and keep dogs away from dark slime on rocks.
About Gunns Bush Track
This moderate-length track follows 4.5 km as a loop, near Waimate in Canterbury.
Graded easy, it climbs about 103 m overall, pitching up to 17 % at its steepest, and takes about 1–1.5 hr to walk.
The track takes in river frontage. Dogs are allowed off the lead on this one. Hikers rate it 4.5 / 5 across 28 reviews.