Whitley Park Fenced Dog Park on Wentworth Street in Blackheath sits inside the old highway reserve at the top of the Blue Mountains, which makes it the fenced stop most drivers find when they need one. The enclosure is compact at around 0.43 hectares, and the tree cover is what sets it apart: mature radiata pines and big eucalypts over mown grass, on ground that slopes gently rather than sitting flat. Toilets, a picnic shelter, seating and parking are all in the reserve around the fence.
Whitley Park: At a Glance
- The Vibe: A pine and eucalypt grove with grass underneath, quiet apart from the highway behind the trees, and cool even in the middle of summer.
- Best For: Dogs who’d rather sniff than sprint, and travellers breaking up the drive across the mountains with a secure place to let the dog out.
- Off-Leash Hours: 24 Hours, 7 Days.
- Fencing: Fully Fenced, green steel loop-top along the entry side and chain-link mesh around the rest. Single gates only, with no airlock.
- Parking: Street parking on Wentworth Street, with more room in the reserve off the highway.
Dog Park Features & Amenities
For the Dogs
- Deep Shade: Stands of tall radiata pine and spreading eucalypts cover a good part of the enclosure. Most mountain dog parks leave you exposed at midday. This one doesn’t, which matters for a heavy-coated dog in January.
- Varied Ground: A gentle slope with open mown grass at the bottom, trees and scrub along the edges, and enough change in level to make a lap more interesting than a flat oval.
- Drinking Water: A rainwater tank and tap with a bowl. Worth carrying a bottle as backup, since a tank can run dry through a long dry spell.
- Ground Cover: Grass holds up well across most of it, but the ground inside the gate and through the middle is worn back to bare dirt. Blackheath weather being what it is, those patches turn boggy after rain.
For the Humans
- Picnic Shelter: A covered shelter with tables in the reserve, which earns its keep when the drizzle sets in and the dog isn’t finished.
- Seating: Benches inside the fence, sited under the trees with a view down the slope.
- Toilets: A brick amenities block sits at the edge of the reserve beside the parking, a short walk from the gate. That’s rare enough at a mountains dog park to be worth planning around.
- Poo Bags: Council dispensers and bins on-site, though a spare roll in the car costs you nothing.
Insider Tip: Watch the gate. Whitley Park uses single gates rather than a double-gated airlock, so there’s nothing between the latch and the road. Clip the lead on before you touch it if your dog is a door dasher, and wait for anyone coming the other way. The wider reserve is a recognised highway rest stop with room for caravans and big rigs, so it works as a proper break rather than a quick stop: park, use the amenities, let the dog out, then get back on the road. The park carries the name of Thomas Whitley, a Blackheath identity from the town’s early days.
The Final Verdict
Whitley Park Fenced Dog Park is the one to know if you’re crossing the mountains with a dog in the car. It’s not big at 0.43 hectares, so a greyhound won’t get to full speed, but that’s not really what it’s for. The pines and gums give it shade and smells that a flat suburban enclosure can’t match, and having toilets, a shelter and highway parking in the same reserve makes it a stop you can actually use. The single gate is the thing to be careful about, and the bare ground turns to mud after a wet week.
For more local information, visit the Blue Mountains City Council website.
Whitley Park: FAQ
Q: Is the park fully fenced?
A: Yes, the dog area is fully fenced, though it uses single gates rather than airlocks.
Q: How big is Whitley Park dog park?
A: About 0.43 hectares, so it’s a compact enclosure rather than a large open paddock.
Q: Are there toilets?
A: Yes, public toilets are in the reserve beside the parking, a short walk from the dog park gate.
Q: Is there shade?
A: Yes. Mature radiata pines and eucalypts shade much of the enclosure, and there’s a picnic shelter in the reserve.
