Bayside Council - Off Lead Parks

UPDATED 1 May, 2024

PARKS WITHIN BAYSIDE CITY COUNCIL where dogs are allowed off lead (with restrictions). If you don't see the park that you want to go to - it means that dogs are not allowed OFF lead there at all. Read on for more information.

Bayside City Council offers 14 OFF LEAD parks for you and your dog. Foreshore Beach areas will be dealt with in another post.

See the list of City of Kingston Council off lead parks here

From the Bayside City Council Website

Your responsibilities in off-leash areas

Dogs must be on a chain, cord or leash if the dog is within 20 metres of:

a children’s play equipment area
an area where a public meeting is being held
a permanently designated barbeque and picnic area
an on-leash signed lake or pond
an area where an organised sporting event is taking place.

Also:

Dogs must be on leash in all car parks.
It is still your responsibility to take bags and pick up after your dog.
Owners must have effective control of their dog at all times. You must be able to recall your dog promptly and place it back on a leash if the need arises.
No more than 4 dogs per person
Dogs must be on lead when outside of the fenced area
Always maintain effective control
Scoop the poop (and bin it)

Here are ALL of the parks in Kingston where dogs are allowed off lead

click the suburb to learn more about their off lead parks

BEAUMARIS

Banksia Reserve

Oak Street, Beaumaris - 3.51ha

Gates have been removed from oval by Council so not secure

Dogs are permitted off leash and must always be under effective control.

This is a SHARED sports oval. This means that when there is a sports event happening (including training) your dog MUST be on lead.

Dog owners must keep their dogs on leash when within 20m of an area being used for organised sport and training, playground, bbqs and picnic areas.

There are public toilets, two poop bag dispensers, two rubbish bin stations, cricket nets, children's playground and at least 3 water stations

Donald MacDonald Reserve

Keating Street, Beaumaris - 1.45ha

Gates have been removed from oval by Council so not secure

Dogs are permitted off leash on the oval and must always be under effective control.

This is a SHARED sports oval. This means that when there is a sports event happening (including training) your dog MUST be on lead.

Dog owners must keep their dogs on leash when within 20m of an area being used for organised sport and training, playground, bbqs and picnic areas. Dogs are prohibited from flora and fauna reserve area.

This space offers lovely bushy walking tracks but dogs must be kept on lead in these areas There are a few rubbish bin stations along with poop bag dispensers. At the moment, a new pavilion is being constructed so there is a bit going on! There is just the one drink area for dogs that I saw - a red plastic bucket marked 'dogs' that the locals fill up

BRIGHTON

Elsternwick Park

Cnr of New and Bent Streets, Brighton - 11.91ha

This is a large recreation area that boasts two children's playgrounds - one fenced off from dogs etc, bbq's, public toilets, lake - also fenced off, skate bowl, walking tracks and more.

There are various poop bag dispensers which are usually well stocked and rubbish bins. Water is also provided but there is only ONE water station for dogs in the whole nearly 12 hectares and that is near the lake. This seems very inadequate for a) the amount of dogs there b) the size of the park and c) for summer.

Dogs are prohibited from fenced lake area.

The rest is off lead

Dog owners must keep their dogs on leash when within 20m of an area being used for organised sport and training, playground, bbqs and picnic areas.

Across Bent St is the new Nature Reserve where dogs are welcome ON leash only. No photos taken of this area.

William Street Reserve - CLOSED FOR 12 MONTHS FROM THE END OF SEPTEMBER 2023

80 William Street, Brighton - 1.92ha

Some gates have been removed from oval by Council so not 100% fully enclosed.

This is a SHARED sports oval. This means that when there is a sports event happening (including training) your dog MUST be on lead.

Dog owners must keep their dogs on leash when within 20m of an area being used for organised sport and training, playground, bbqs and picnic areas.

These shared grounds are popular with owners and their dogs. With a lovely white fence (some gates removed) it looks fabulous. The entry on busy Halifax St has a gate with a pool type lock which is a little more reassuring for those with dogs who like to escape! Outside this gate is the dog water station along with the dog poop bag dispenser and rubbish bin. Over on the opposite side (where the houses are) is an entry that is blocked by the orange roadworks type mesh. Not sure if this is official and always there though.

Plenty of parking along Halifax St, along William St and at the back of the pavilion where the playground and basketball ring is. There are toilets at the pavilion but I did not check if they were accessible to all.

Drawback - I noticed a lot of divots in the grounds dug by dogs. Please stop your dog from digging in sports grounds. Dangerous and it gives clubs and council another reason to take these wonderful spaces away.

CLOSED FOR 12 MONTHS FROM THE END OF SEPTEMBER 2023

BRIGHTON EAST

Dendy Park

Cummins Rd, Brighton East - 18ha

NO FENCES

This is a SHARED sports oval. This means that when there is a sports event happening (including training) your dog MUST be on lead.

Large area - includes BBQs, a couple of children's playgrounds, public toilets, plenty of rubbish bins, dog poop bag dispensers, dog water available.

Dog owners must keep their dogs on leash when within 20m of an area being used for organised sport and training, playground, bbqs and picnic areas.

Lots of entrance points as well. Can park on Cummins Rd or there is a large carpark off Dendy Street.

Hurlingham Park

581 Nepean Hwy, Brighton East - 3.95ha

Gates have been removed from oval by Council so not secure

This is a SHARED sports oval. This means that when there is a sports event happening (including training) your dog MUST be on lead.

Dog owners must keep their dogs on leash when within 20m of an area being used for organised sport and training, playground, bbqs and picnic areas.

Hurlingham Park is a large off lead area - the main oval, a smaller, much greener oval and all the surrounds. There are public toilets, bbqs, large children's playground, water stations for both dogs and humans, rubbish bins, dog poop bag dispensers and bench seats sporadically throughout. There is a lovely path and lots of nice trees.

CHELTENHAM

Cheltenham Park

Park Road, Cheltenham - 4.72ha

Dogs are permitted off leash and must always be under effective control.

This is a large park that boasts bbqs, playground, picnic area. It is also a shared space with sports teams

Dog owners must keep their dogs on leash when within 20m of an area being used for organised sport, training, playground, bbqs and picnic areas.

Dogs are prohibited from flora and fauna reserve area.

Lovely, bushy walking track, water stations, public toilets, dog poop bag dispensers and rubbish bins. Very large children's playground. There are two oval areas and this park shares a boundary with Cheltenham Golf Club. Dogs must be on lead on the greens AND you MUST pick up after them. The oval areas are surrounded by lovely native bush which gives the dogs lots of sniffing opportunities. Be aware of snakes.

HAMPTON

RJ Sillitoe Reserve

Lawson Street, Hampton - 2.5ha

While this is now a FULLY enclosed park this is STILL a SHARED facility with both Soccer and Cricket. This means that when there is a sports event happening (including training) your dog MUST be on lead.

"Dog owners must keep their dogs on leash when within 20m of an area being used for organised sport and training."

Wishart Reserve remains the ONLY dedicated fully OFF LEAD park in Bayside. See the description in Hampton East section

These are large grassy grounds with a cricket pitch in the middle and cricket nets on the Lawson St end.

There is a pavilion and public toilets up the Lawson Street end. A small carpark here which now has a closing gate at this entry/exit point. There is a drinking fountain near the building.

There is a rubbish bin and but alas, no dog poop bag dispenser near the carpark entrance. The carpark gate is approx 3 to 4ft tall. Another couple of rubbish bins are up at the Ludstone Street entrance along with a dog poop bag dispenser. An entrance gate with dog poop bag dispenser is on Lawson St - no bin and finally, there is an entrance gate in Olive St (no bin or bags there though).

There is one bench seat up near the Ludstone Street entrance and another down past the cricket nets at Lawson Street.

WL Simpson Reserve

81 Fewster Rd, Hampton - 2.5ha

Gates have been removed from oval by Council so not secure

This is a SHARED sports oval. This means that when there is a sports event happening (including training) your dog MUST be on lead.

Dog owners must keep their dogs on leash when within 20m of an area being used for organised sport and training.

This reserve has a children's playground, cricket nets, water for dogs and humans near the playground, dog poop bag dispensers, rubbish bins, some bench seats and public toilets. The grounds are large and lots of running space!

HAMPTON EAST

NG Wishart Reserve

Wishart Street, Hampton East - 0.91ha

This is the ONLY fully enclosed dedicated off lead dog park in all of Bayside City Council

Off lead area is wel under a hectare. Completely fenced and gated. You can access the dog park from both Wishart Street and from Bluff Rd. There is basically NO parking on the Bluff Rd side. There IS parking in Wishart St - please be mindful to not block residents driveways.

On the Wishart St side there is also a tennis wall, basketball and netball rings, an updated children's playground which are all outside the off lead area. There are lots of native trees and plantings in this area as well. This area is ALL on lead

Dog owners must keep their dogs on leash when within 20m of playground, barbeques and picnic areas.

There are TWO access airlock gates on the Wishart side. One also has a rubbish bin and poop bag station on the outside of the park. The other gate access on Wishart end does not have a rubbish bin or poop bags.

This newly revamped park features lots of new tree and shrub plantings throughout. Loads of tan bark sections which already (2nd day of opening) has a tonne or weeds and grass growing through. My dogs find tan bark uncomfortable to walk on. May be fine for others.

The park features one airlock gate with bin and poop bag station at the Bluff Rd end. There is one water station up near the Wishart gates and another in the middle of the park.

The lovely silver table and bench seats have been removed but there are at least 4 new bench type seats around the park. Other features include agility equipment by Paws4Play. It is splinter-free patented composite recycled plastic and apparently very durable. There are two river bed rock features near each drinking station but water does not go onto them so not sure of their purpose. There are logs and rock formations around and a large sandpit area for digging.

Outside the dog park, near the playground there is one picnic table, one Rubbish Bin and a water tap.

This park is NOT a shared park with sporting teams etc. It is a 24hr, 7 day a week off lead dog park.

There are NO BBQs, Solid Shelter or Public Toilets at this park.

HIGHETT

Lyle Anderson Reserve

Highett Grove, Highett - 0.64ha

Dogs are permitted off lead at ALL times but must always be under effective control.

This park is NOT enclosed

This is a sweet park that backs on to the railway track - there is a very high fence to prevent dogs getting on to the tracks.

Dog owners must keep their dogs on leash when within 20m of playground, barbeques and picnic areas.

There is a bbq, a table or two, children's playground and oldish public toilets. It is a small area for dogs but lovely. There is an old fashioned water bubbler and a very small aluminium cat sized bowl for dog water. Rubbish bins and dog poop bag dispensers too.

Lots of great sniffing opportunities. A hidden gem.

SANDRINGHAM

Merindah Park

George Street, Sandringham - 2.05ha

Dogs are permitted off lead at ALL times but must always be under effective control

This park is NOT enclosed.

Water bowls and poo bags are available. There is a large, open space for playing ball etc. The lovely walking tracks running into George street reserve are all off leash.

No public toilets

There are NO on lead sections except for the fenced off area in George Street reserve. The rest of George street reserve is OFF lead. People should not let their dogs run amock in the vegetated parts where small plantings have been done. Keep to the tracks, and it is a lovely walk. Beware snakes in warm weather though.

RG Chisholm Reserve Oval

Duncan Street, Sandringham - 1.22ha

Gates have been removed from oval by Council so not secure

This is a SHARED sports oval. This means that when there is a sports event happening (including training) your dog MUST be on lead.

Dog owners must keep their dogs on leash when within 20m of an area being used for organised sport and training. Dog owners must keep their dogs on leash when within 20m of playground, barbeques and picnic areas.

These grounds have one water tap outside the oval, 2 x dog poop bag dispensers and rubbish bins, children's playground public toilets and cricket nets.

Royal Avenue Park

Royal Avenue, Sandringham - 2.13ha

NO FENCES

Dogs are permitted off lead at ALL times but must always be under effective control

This park boasts a fenced children's playground Dogs Prohibited inside this area

Public Toilets, bbqs, tennis wall, basketball ring, skate bowl and more

Dog owners must keep their dogs on leash when within 20m of playground, barbeques and picnic areas.

There is a walking track around the off lead area, large shade trees with seats, water bowls and drinking station, dog poop bag dispensers and rubbish bins. Lots of vegetation for the dogs to rummage around in. Beware of snakes in summer.