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Off-Leash Dog Parks in Coastal NSW
North and South of Sydney ... rapidly expanding and soon to be split to four pages (Central Coast, Hunter Region, North Coast and South Coast)
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The following Councils have been contacted for the first time and I await their responses ... Ballina - Bega Valley - Bellingen - Coffs Harbour - Eurobodalla - Grafton - Great Lakes - Greater Taree Hastings - Lismore - Maclean - Nambucca - Pristine Waters (formerly Ulmarra and Nymboida) - Richmond Valley (formerly Casino and Richmond River) - Tweed |
On the road again ... |
In 1998, Byron Shire had five off-leash areas all of which were beaches but at the present time of writing, most of the approved dog exercise areas on the beach within this Shire area were under threat of being revoked by way of application from the National Parks and Wildlife Service NSW. Dogs were prohibited from all beaches other than the ones listed below in the areas specified and were also prohibited from grassed dunes, other pedestrian access points to the beaches and from most parks and garden areas. I have e-mailed for an update.
| Seven Mile Beach - from the southern boundary of the Shire to the southern property boundary of the Broken Head Nature Reserve, but only on the beach. |
| Suffolk Park - from the pedestrian access adjoining Jarmin Street, the first beach access north of Gaggin park, to the southern property boundary of the Cape Byron Headland Reserve, but only on the beach. The northern end of this beach may be accessed from Cosy Corner car park Byron Bay. |
| Byron Bay - approximately 200 metres west of the Main Beach car park or west of the First Sun Caravan Park to a point approximately 400 metres south of the Brunswick Heads Surf Life Saving Club, but only on the beach. Note: On the way to and from the off-leash area, dogs are to be leashed at all times. |
| Ocean Shores, New Brighton, South Golden Beach - from the northern side only of the North Break Wall of the Brunswick River to a point 500 metres south of Strand Avenue New Brighton, but only on the beach. Note: Access to this beach is gained from an established car park at the end of the bitumen road surface of North Head Road, New Brighton. |
| South Golden Beach - From a point approximately 200 metres north of Gloria Street to the northern property boundary of the Billinudgel Nature Reserve. |
In 1998, Gosford had 23 off-leash areas only 9 of which have a time-restriction and which actually included beaches! - brilliant! I have e-mailed for an update.
Lots of these areas are also endorsed by Ajax the West Highland terrier - but the only dogs he wants to visit him there are the ones with properly trained people who pick up after their dogs. If you are determined to spoil the fun for everybody, please stay away.
| Kariong - Retention basin on the eastern side of Langford Drive between Oakes and McCutcheon Streets. |
| Wamberal - Portion of beach (Terrigal end - from Terrigal Lagoon entrance north to unmade road between Lots 12 and 21 Ocean View Drive) from 6pm to 9am only. |
| Terrigal - Portion of Public Reserve east of Fishing Co-operative. |
| Kincumber - Retention Basin, northern side of Oberon Street between Taurus Close and Lyndall Close. |
| North Avoca - Portion of beach north of Avoca Lake to view Street from 6pm to 9am only. |
| McMasters Beach - From access to beach adjacent to Lakeside Drive to northern side of Cockrone Lagoon from 6pm to 9am only. |
| Putty Beach - Portion of beach north east from main car park to first creek from 6pm to 9am only. |
| Pretty Beach - Unmade section of Araluen Drive. |
| Woy Woy - Portion of Public Reserve in Hillview Street between Nambucca Drive and Railway Street. |
| Ettalong - Portion of beach adjacent to Barrenjoey Road from 6pm to 9am only. |
| West Gosford - Portion of Adcock Park, eastern side of velodrome. |
| Point Clare - Portion of Fagan park, eastern side of playing fields. |
| Narara - Public Reserve adjacent to Narara Valley Drive and Brancourt Crescent. |
| Niagara Park - Public Reserve off Yeo Street. |
| Wyoming - Portion of Wingello Creek Reserve off Dalton Street. |
| East Gosford - Corner of Wells and Coburg Streets. |
| Springfield - Portion of Hylton Moore Park, Newcastle Street (area between Fields 5 & 6 and Fields 7 & 8). |
| Saratoga - Portion of Public Reserve adjacent to western side of Saratoga Oval. |
| Davistown - Portion of Public Reserve off Malinya Road. |
| Patonga - Portion of beach from Brisk Street south to Camping Ground from 6pm to 9am only. |
| Pearl Beach - Portion of beach north of Agate Avenue from 6pm to 9am only. |
| Forresters - Portion of beach adjacent to Crystal Avenue from 6pm to 9am only. |
| Umina Beach - Portion of beach south from Umina Camping Ground from 6pm to 9am only. |
In 1998 Kiama didn't have any off-leash areas. Now they have two at Bombo Headland & Jubilee Park Gerringong. The currency can be checked ... direct ... on their website.
The 1998 letter from Lake Macquarie Council states that they 'adopt a pro-active approach to responsible dog ownership' and this is supported by the information that follows. The Council had a total of 15 leash free dog exercise areas.
The 1998 Lake Macquarie off-leash areas were:
Barnsley - Part of Taylor Memorial Park, Government Road - east of the open drain between Victoria and Prince Streets. |
| Blackalls Park - Council Reserve east of Fassifern Road and bounded by Ashley Street and Fassifern Road to the Railway Line. |
Blacksmiths - Doblinson Park bounded by the Pacific Highway, Tirikki and Tirranna Streets. |
Bolton Point - Part of the Council Reserve (drainage basin) opposite 167 Bay Road between the shopping centre and Lochend Place |
Bonnells Bay - Pendlebury Park off Grand Parade, Bonnells Bay |
Cardiff - Council's Reserve bounded by Francis, First and John Streets. |
Caves Beach - Part of the Council Reserve at the corner of The Esplanade and Caves Beach Road. |
Croudace Bay - Part of Croudace Bay Park bounded by Croudace Bay Road, the access road to the Water Board Pumping Station, Lake Macquarie and Croudace Bay Soccer Field. |
Gateshead - Council's Reserve on the eastern side of Willow Road and opposite the netball courts and behind Goundry Street. |
Marks Point - Part of the Council Reserve on the corner of Haddon and Docker Streets. |
Rathmines - Part of Rathmines Park southeast of The Ex-Servicemens' Centre bounded by that Centre, Dorrington Road, Stilling Street, and the Christadelphian Society Buildings. |
Speers Point - Council's Reserve north of Speers Point Olympic Pool bounded by The Esplanade, Park Road, Reserve Road and the northern boundary of the pool enclosure. |
Swansea - Part of the Council Reserve off Lakeside Drive between Oxley and Kahibah Streets. |
West Wallsend - Part of Gregory Park bounded by Edden Street and the eastern boundary of Gregory Park south of the natural watercourse traversing Gregory Park and the eastern boundary of the Olympic Pool. |
Windale - All the parcel of land east of Bahloo Reserve fronting Munro Street. |
I have e-mailed for the update!
In 1998, Newcastle Council had 5 selected leash-free areas within its parks ...
| West Park in Adamstown between the signs |
| King Edward Park in the signposted area |
| Purdue Park in Mayfield in the signposted area |
| Upper Reserve in Wallsend between the signs |
| Braye Park in Waratah in the signposted areas |
I'm told there's a dog waste bin in all of these areas so make sure you make good use of it! I have e-mailed for an update as the website was not very informative (it is rare that searching the word 'dog' brings no results at all)
Port Stephens has 8 off-leash areas that I could identify. They said in their letter that they have 10 but the photocopy was cut off in places so I could only guarantee the information on eight which are listed below.
| Nelson Bay - the public reserve on the western side of Nelson Head to the western boundary of the public road. |
| Nelson Bay - the lot bounded by Shoal Bay Road, Beach Road and Harwood Avenue. |
| Raymond Terrace - Boomerang Park excluding the soccer fields. |
| Raymond Terrace - the public reserve in Dawson Road in Raymond Terrace. |
| Anna Bay - the part of Stockton Beach within the public reserve measured from a point 3km southwest of Birubi Point to the southern extremity of the shire. |
| Karuah - the public reserve allotment in Engel Avenue in Karuah. |
| Medowie - the public reserves in Kindlebark drive in Medowie. |
| Bagnalls Beach off Sandy Point Road and Government Road west (?) of the Dutchman's Bay Pumping Station |
I have e-mailed them for an update.
In 1998 Shellharbour had 6 off-leash areas ...
| Areas of Croome Regional Sporting Complex not set aside for organised sporting activities |
| Jock Brown Oval at the southern end of Lake Entrance Sportsfield |
| Vacant land on the southern end of Industrial Road adjacent to the Moore Street Oak Flats |
| The area on the western side of Boollwarroo Parade Shellharbour immediately south of Keith Hockey Oval |
| Alex Hoffman Reserve Mt Warrigal surrounding the Mt Warrigal Rest Home |
| From the bridge at the southern end of Boollwarroo Parade to the metal loader and east west to the high water mark in Boollwarroo Parade - not including any sandy beach area |
I have e-mailed them for an update.
In 1998, Shoalhaven Council had prohibited dogs from 24 public reserves and permits them in all others on a leash. It didn't have any off-leash areas. Now, of course, the Companion Animals Act requires at least one off-leash area to be available at all times. I have e-mailed them for more information.
In 1998 Wollongong City did not have any off-leash areas. By March 2000 a press release stated ... "Council has satisfied its obligation under the Act by designating a portion of Figtree Oval at Figtree as an off leash area for dogs, but we also recognise that having just one location doesn't benefit residents in other parts of the city. We'd like to have at least one designated area in each of our six wards where people can freely exercise their dogs off leash. It's very important for dogs to get regular exercise. A well-exercised and socialised dog is a much happier dog and will create fewer problems to its owners and neighbours. Having off leash areas for dogs and their owners allows a dog a maximum amount of exercise which they don't always get on the end of a leash." I have e-mailed to see if there are any more now ...
In the Wollongong UBD it's at Map 6 K15.
In 1998 and, again in 2001, Wyong had the same 9 off-leash areas so it is beautifully consistent ... however currency can always be checked ... direct ... (note that the Central Coast UBD is used) ...
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North Entrance Beach from Wyuna Avenue to Stewart Street (UBD 21 S24/25) |
The
information in these pages comes directly from the councils concerned,
however, it can only be considered current on the day it is
written. Always, always look for the signs in every park you visit.
If the rules have changed, these signs take precedence over anything
written in this site. If you do discover changes, please e-bark
me immediately!
Just a final few words ...
Always remember that even in off-leash areas all dogs must still be under effective control and must not leave any deposits. Please make sure that your dog - especially your puppy - is fully up-to-date with all their vaccinations before going to any parks. Our friend Leelou, the Rottweiler, contracted Parvo Virus as a puppy shortly after a park visit - though, of course, she could have picked it up anywhere. She has recovered brilliantly but not every puppy is so lucky. Ticks are also becoming more common in the Sydney Metropolitan Area. Please ask your vet for advice.