Camperdown Memorial Rest Park Off-Leash Area in Newtown, known locally as “Campo”, is where a lot of the inner west’s dog owners end up. It’s a wide, flat stretch of grass right next to St Stephen’s Church, shaded by mature pines, and it draws a crowd for a run and a chat.
Camperdown Memorial Rest Park Off-Leash Area: At a Glance
- The Vibe: Busy, eclectic and highly social, this is where a lot of Newtown walks its dogs.
- Best For: Very social dogs who love people-watching and can ignore a picnic blanket full of snacks.
- Off-Leash Hours: Weekdays are 24 Hours, 7 Days. Weekends are restricted to 5pm-9am (Daylight Saving) or 4pm-9am (Non-Daylight Saving).
- Fencing: Unfenced. The park borders busy roads, so recall is crucial.
- Parking: Very tough. Street parking on Federation Road and Lennox Street is highly competitive.
Dog Park Features & Amenities
For the Dogs
- Wide Grassy Flats: The Federation Road quadrant is a big, flat area that’s good for a group play session or chasing a ball.
- Fresh Water Taps: There are drinking fountains with ground-level dog bowls on the paths, making hydration easy.
- Strict Boundaries: Off-leash play is only allowed in the area bounded by Federation Road, Church Street, the St Stephen’s Church wall and the diagonal path connecting them, not the whole park. Dogs must stay at least 10 metres from the children’s playground, and stay on lead outside that zone, including near Lennox Street.
For the Humans
- Lit Paths: The paths through the park are lit, which helps for an early morning or evening walk, especially given how many roads run alongside the park.
- Public Toilets: There’s a public toilet block on-site, regularly maintained.
- Coffee and Food: You are right in the thick of Newtown, meaning you can easily grab a coffee from a nearby cafe before your walk.
Insider Tip: Watch the clock on weekends. Council rangers patrol “Campo” on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, and turning up even a few minutes late to clip the lead back on when the curfew starts can mean a fine. The grass also turns to mud quickly after heavy rain, so bring an old towel. Worth a look while you’re there: the sandstone wall along the church boundary doubles as a local canvas for street art.
The Final Verdict
Camperdown Memorial Rest Park Off-Leash Area is a highly social community space, and it earns that reputation honestly: good grass, good company, and it’s full of friendly locals. The main drawbacks are the difficult parking and the very strict weekend off-leash hours. If you can walk there and remember to check the clock, it’s one of the best parks in the Inner West.
For more official information, visit the Inner West Council website.
Camperdown Memorial Rest Park: FAQ
Q: Is the dog park fully fenced?
A: No, the park is completely unfenced and bordered by busy local roads.
Q: What are the off-leash times on the weekend?
A: During Daylight Saving Time, dogs are only allowed off-leash between 5:00 PM and 9:00 AM. Outside of DST, the hours are 4:00 PM to 9:00 AM.
Q: Are there public toilets available?
A: Yes, there is a public toilet block on-site.
