Where can your dog actually run free on the North Shore? There are 107 off-leash areas across the region, spread over eight councils, and the rules change from one street to the next. Some are fully fenced dog parks, some are harbour beaches where dogs swim, and a large number are sports ovals with off-leash windows that close the moment a game starts. The Sydney Dog Parks Team has been through every one of them, so you know which fence is real, which hours apply and where you can park before you leave home.

North Shore Dog Park Map

Use our interactive map to find your local leash-free reserve. Blue pins mark the fenced enclosures, and orange pins mark the unfenced reserves, harbour beaches and time-share ovals where your dog needs reliable recall. Click any pin for the address and our full local review.

Fenced & Secure Dog Parks

Twenty-three North Shore off-leash areas are fully enclosed, which makes them the place to start with a puppy, a rescue still learning recall, or a dog that treats an open gate as an invitation. Ku-ring-gai and Lane Cove hold most of them. A few double as sports fields, so check the conditions noted against each one.

Blackman Park (Lane Cove West)

📍 Address: 33B Sirius Rd, Lane Cove West NSW 2066

Blackman Park is the most complete fenced dog park on the North Shore. Two large enclosures let you separate small, timid or older dogs from the boisterous ones, the main enclosure has an agility course with ramps, jumps and tunnels, and it’s floodlit for evening visits. Open 24 Hours, 7 Days, with a free car park at the gate, public toilets and the dog-focused Puppy Tail Cafe on site.

Insider Tip: The sports ovals outside the fenced enclosures run on a flag system. A red flag means the field is closed and dogs aren’t allowed on it, even on a lead. No flag means the ovals are open for off-leash use.

Full Review: Blackman Park →

Rofe Park (Hornsby Heights)

📍 Address: 100-112 Galston Road, Hornsby Heights NSW 2077

Rebuilt in May 2025, Rofe Park now has two separate fenced enclosures, one for small or timid dogs and a much larger main area, both with double-gated entries. The main enclosure has agility equipment, and there’s water, poo bags, picnic tables, public toilets and a large car park. Open 24 Hours, 7 Days, apart from the training club booking below. There are no dedicated floodlights, though light spills over from the sports fields next door.

Insider Tip: The Hornsby Dog Training Club has exclusive use every Sunday from 12:30pm to 4:30pm. Avoid that window for a casual visit, or turn up on purpose if you’re thinking about joining.

Full Review: Rofe Park →

Claude Cameron Grove (Wahroonga)

📍 Address: Kintore Street, Wahroonga NSW 2076

One of the few fenced parks on the Upper North Shore with real agility gear: weave poles, ramps and raised platforms, plus a paved loop path that gives the space more structure than a plain grass square. Fully fenced with a double-gate airlock entry, open 24 Hours, 7 Days, with water, poo bags, picnic tables and a dedicated car park. There are no toilets and no lighting, so daytime is the practical choice.

Insider Tip: Weekend mornings are the busiest and the grass takes the most wear then. Come on a weekday for a quieter visit and better footing. Most dogs need one or two guided passes on the ramps before they’ll use them on their own.

Full Review: Claude Cameron Grove →

Lofberg Fenced Dog Park (West Pymble)

📍 Address: 37 Yanko Rd, West Pymble NSW 2073

If you can only get out after work, this is the one. Lofberg has floodlighting strong enough to actually play under rather than just navigate by, which makes it the most usable winter evening park in Ku-ring-gai. It’s fully fenced with a double-gate airlock entry, open 24 Hours, 7 Days, with a water fountain, poo bags, seating and a free car park. It backs onto bushland and sits in a hollow ringed by mature trees, so it stays cool in summer.

Insider Tip: That same hollow drains slowly. Give it a day or two after heavy rain unless you’re happy to carry a muddy dog back to the car.

Full Review: Lofberg Dog Park →

North Turramurra Dog Park (North Turramurra)

📍 Address: Du Faur St, North Turramurra NSW 2074

A large fenced basin under the powerlines, with more room to sprint than most enclosed parks in the area. It’s lit at night, has two entry points at Du Faur Street and Kirkpatrick Street, water, poo bags, picnic tables, free parking at both ends and a community toy library hanging on the fence. Open 24 Hours, 7 Days. There are no toilets, and the basin holds water, so it turns muddy after rain.

Insider Tip: Find the water tap on the far side before your dog needs it, and check the low ground for waterlogging before you let them off. A towel in the boot becomes a habit here.

Full Review: North Turramurra Dog Park →

Karuah Park (Turramurra)

📍 Address: Karuah Road, Turramurra NSW 2074

A fenced bushland clearing rather than a mown square, with mature eucalypts and deciduous trees shading most of the ground and leaf litter underfoot. Three double-gate airlock entries, a water tap inside the fence, bench seating, a playground in the wider park and public toilets about 20 metres away. Open 24 Hours, 7 Days, though with no lighting it’s a daytime park. Real shade in February is what sets it apart from the local ovals.

Insider Tip: The sports oval next door is on-leash at all times, game or no game. Only the fenced clearing is off-leash. Bring your own poo bags and a portable bowl, since the tap and bucket are kept going by locals rather than the council.

Full Review: Karuah Park →

More fenced dog parks on the North Shore:

• Turrumburra Park Dog Park (Lane Cove): The best-equipped fenced park in Lane Cove: purpose-built enclosure in the north-west corner, open 24 Hours, 7 Days, with lighting, water, poo bags, toilets, a playground and a car park off Centennial Avenue. Don’t mistake the sports oval next door for the off-leash area.
• Asquith Park Fenced Dog Park (Asquith): A single-zone enclosure with shade from overhanging gums, lighting, water, bags, toilets and parking, open 24 Hours, 7 Days. The centre has worn to bare earth, so expect dust or mud. An expansion adding a separate small dog area, more seating and extra drinking fountains starts in early 2026, with the main area staying open during works.
• South Turramurra Dog Oval, Kissing Point Village Green (South Turramurra): A roomy fenced oval ringed by mature gums, open 24 Hours, 7 Days, with gated entries, a water tap, toilets, free parking, a bag dispenser at the gate and a fenced playground right alongside. Dogs must stay 10 metres clear of the playground. The solar lights are modest, so plan for daylight.
• St Ives Showground Fenced Dog Park (St Ives): Large fenced enclosures with room for fast dogs to open up properly, plus water, bags, toilets, seating and parking. Access is event dependent, so check the showground calendar before you drive out. Weekday mornings are the quiet window.
• Jim Watson Main Arena (St Ives): The fully fenced main arena at St Ives Showground, lit for evening use, with water, toilets, seating and parking. It’s a shared event space, so it closes to dogs whenever it’s booked. Check the calendar first, and bring your own poo bags.
• Queen Elizabeth Reserve Dog Park (Lindfield): Two setups in one reserve: a fully fenced enclosure, plus a large oval that’s off-leash 4:00pm to 10:00am daily when sport isn’t on. Water, toilets, playground, BBQs, lighting and parking. Friction between sports users and dog owners is a known issue here, so the enclosure is the lower-stress option. Bring your own bags.
• Turrumburra Park Fenced Dog Park (Lane Cove West): Formerly the Lane Cove West Fenced Off-Leash Area. A secure bushland enclosure with enough tree cover to feel like a country escape, open 24 Hours, 7 Days, with water, bags and parking at the gate. No toilets and no lights, so it suits a daily run rather than a long afternoon.
• Hunt Reserve Fenced Dog Park (Mount Colah): A shaded neighbourhood enclosure with a double-gated entry, open 24 Hours, 7 Days, with water, bags and seating. There’s no separate small dog zone and no toilets. The car park is small and sits directly on the Pacific Highway, so the turn in takes care during the morning rush.
• Lowanna Park Fenced Dog Park (Chatswood): A fenced patch on the corner of Fullers Road and Greville Street with water, bags, toilets and seating, off-leash 12:00am to 11:00am and 3:00pm to 12:00am daily. It backs onto the North Shore train line, so noise-sensitive dogs take a few visits to settle. No on-site parking.
• Crossroads Reserve Fenced Dog Park (Berowra Heights): Next to the shops, and the only North Shore fenced park with a mix of grass and synthetic turf, so you can visit after rain without a muddy dog. Open 24 Hours, 7 Days, with water, bags and seating. It’s not large, and the natural grass patches wear thin under heavy use.
• Frances O’Brien Dog Park (Wahroonga): A fenced bushland park with a leaf-litter floor instead of grass, which means it doesn’t turn to mud after rain, making it one of the better wet-weather options in Ku-ring-gai. Open 24 Hours, 7 Days, with seating. There’s no water, no bags, no toilets and no parking, so come prepared.
• Gamma Road Reserve (Lane Cove): A small fenced pocket park, open 24 Hours, 7 Days, with water on site. It trades size for security, and because it’s compact you’ll end up talking to the other owners. No bags, toilets, lighting or parking.
• Ilbery Reserve Park (Neutral Bay): One of very few fully fenced options on the Lower North Shore, open 24 Hours, 7 Days, with water, bags and a playground alongside. It’s a neighbourhood patch rather than a destination, and it’s busy with local families, so keep your dog 10 metres clear of the playground equipment.
• Barra Brui Reserve (St Ives): A fenced sportsground on Burraneer Avenue with a bushland feel rather than a sterile square, open 24 Hours, 7 Days, with water, seating and parking. No bags, toilets or lighting.
• Olympic Dog Park (Gladesville): A fenced off-leash park on the corner of Potts and Margaret Streets with a grassy hill and a chain-link fence and gate at the Potts Street entrance. Open 24 Hours, 7 Days, with water, bags, seating and a playground. No on-site car park.
• Peel Park (Gladesville): A fully fenced sports field, which is a rare combination: oval-sized space with a real perimeter. Off-leash whenever sport isn’t booked, so weekday daytime is your best shot. Toilets and a playground on site, but bring your own water and poo bags.
• Monash Park (Gladesville): A floodlit sportsground with a low picket fence. Worth being clear about what that fence does: it will hold most dogs during a game of fetch, but it won’t stop a determined escape artist, so treat it as a boundary rather than an enclosure. Off-leash when sport isn’t on, with bags, toilets, playground, seating and parking. No water.

Harbour, River & Beach Off-Leash Areas

Thirty-three North Shore off-leash areas give dogs direct access to water, from Mosman’s harbour beaches to the Lane Cove and Parramatta rivers. Every one of them is unfenced, and several run split timetables where the grass and the sand have different rules on the same day. Reliable recall matters more here than anywhere else on this page.

Sirius Cove Reserve (Mosman)

📍 Address: Sirius Cove Road, Mosman NSW 2088

The best-known dog beach on the North Shore, and the one worth learning the timetable for. The sheltered cove gives calm, shallow harbour water that suits dogs of any swimming ability, with a grassy reserve behind it, toilets, water and a playground. Off-leash all day on weekdays; on weekends and public holidays it’s on-leash between 9:00am and 4:00pm. Completely unfenced, with open access to the water.

Insider Tip: Parking is the hard part. On a sunny weekend a spot on narrow Sirius Cove Road is close to impossible. Arrive before 7am or come mid-week.

Full Review: Sirius Cove Reserve →

Clifton Gardens Reserve (Mosman)

📍 Address: Morella Road, Mosman NSW 2088

A netted harbour pool, which is a rare thing to be able to offer a dog: enclosed, calm water with no boat traffic. The reserve has toilets, bubblers you can fill a bowl from, rinse-off showers, a playground and a large paid car park. The catch is the timetable, which is among the strictest in Sydney. Weekdays only, before 9:00am and after 6:00pm in summer (October to March) or after 4:00pm in winter (April to September). Dogs are banned from the whole reserve on weekends and public holidays.

Safety Update: Rangers patrol here regularly and enforce the weekend ban. Treat this as a weekday-only outing. There are no poo bag dispensers on site, so bring your own.

Full Review: Clifton Gardens Reserve →

Bradfield Park (Milsons Point)

📍 Address: Alfred Street South, Milsons Point NSW 2061

Off-leash directly under the Harbour Bridge, 24 Hours, 7 Days. The designated area is the large lawn on the western side of the bridge pylons, the side away from the Opera House, with toilets, water, seating and a playground nearby. It’s completely unfenced and bordered by busy roads, pedestrian traffic and the harbour, in one of the most tourist-heavy spots in Sydney, so it only suits a dog whose recall holds under distraction.

Insider Tip: Leave the car at home. Metered street parking here is limited, expensive and heavily contested. Milsons Point station is a two-minute walk from the lawn.

Full Review: Bradfield Park →

Spit West Reserve (Mosman)

📍 Address: Spit Road, Mosman NSW 2088

Grass and sand in one visit, but the two run on separate timetables, which is the thing people get wrong here. On the grass, off-leash every day except Saturdays between 8:30am and 2:30pm. On the beach and in the water, off-leash all day Monday to Friday, and on weekends and public holidays only before 9:00am and after 4:00pm. Toilets, water, bags and seating on site, and a large paid car park that fills fast. Unfenced, with a busy main road alongside.

Insider Tip: Saturday is the day to plan around. Between 8:30am and 2:30pm the grass switches to on-leash while the beach stays off-leash, so know which side of the reserve you’re standing on.

Full Review: Spit West Reserve →

Tunks Park (Cammeray)

📍 Address: Brothers Ave, Cammeray NSW 2062

A large valley reserve that combines both things people usually have to choose between: sports fields big enough for a real run, and a boat ramp giving direct access to the calm water of Long Bay for a swim. Off-leash on the fields whenever organised sport isn’t on. Floodlighting covers the fields, so it works through winter, and there’s a car park, toilets, picnic tables and a playground. Unfenced, with open access to the bay.

Insider Tip: The ovals west of the bridge are the best part for an off-leash run. Poo bag dispensers are near the vehicle entrance off Brothers Avenue, so grab some on the way in. Weekends fill with sport, so weekdays give you more of the field.

Full Review: Tunks Park →

Riverglade Reserve (Huntleys Cove)

📍 Address: 2 Waruda Place, Huntleys Cove NSW 2111

Open fields, bush tracks and direct Parramatta River access in one reserve, which is why it feels closer to a country outing than a suburban park. Off-leash 24 Hours, 7 Days in the signposted zones, with water, poo bags, toilets, picnic tables, a playground and several free car parks. It’s entirely unfenced and opens onto bushland and the river, so it needs a dog you can call back.

Safety Update: Keep your dog well clear of the steep man-made canal running through the reserve. A dog that goes in would struggle to get back out. If the Waruda Place car park is full, the Joly Parade entrance is a quieter way in.

Full Review: Riverglade Reserve →

More waterside off-leash areas:

• Spit East Reserve (Mosman): A sandy off-leash shore on the eastern side of the Spit, open 24 Hours, 7 Days, with water, toilets, seating and parking. Unfenced and open to the harbour. Bring your own poo bags.
• Rosherville Reserve (Mosman): A grassy reserve with Chinamans Beach right alongside, so a run and a swim in one stop. Timed off-leash access with strict hours, so check the signage before you unclip. Water, seating and parking on site; no toilets, bags or lighting.
• Reid Park (Mosman): A grassy harbourside slope running down to a calm sandy beach. Off-leash when organised sport isn’t on, with water, toilets, a playground, seating and parking. Unfenced; bring your own bags.
• Lawry Plunkett Reserve (Mosman): A quieter unfenced reserve open 24 Hours, 7 Days, with a water station, bag dispensers and shaded bench seating under mature trees. It opens straight onto a residential street, so reliable recall is essential. No toilets or parking.
• Blues Point Reserve (McMahons Point): A big sloping lawn running to the water’s edge with Harbour Bridge and Opera House views, open 24 Hours, 7 Days, with water, toilets, picnic tables and a playground. Unfenced with no barrier at the water. No bags or on-site parking.
• Sawmillers Reserve (McMahons Point): A quiet harbourside reserve with its own small beach, open 24 Hours, 7 Days, with water and seating. Unfenced with direct water access and no toilets, bags, parking or lighting.
• Kesterton Park (North Sydney): One of the easiest waterfront off-leash spots to reach on the Lower North Shore, open 24 Hours, 7 Days, with water, bags, toilets, seating and a playground. Busy with families, and unfenced right on the water.
• Kurraba Reserve (Kurraba Point): A multi-level harbourside park with some of the best free skyline views in Sydney and direct access to the water, open 24 Hours, 7 Days. Water, bags, seating and a playground on site; no toilets or parking.
• Carradah Park (Waverton): A former industrial site rebuilt as a multi-level park with winding trails, harbour views and grassy terraces, open 24 Hours, 7 Days, with water, bags, toilets and seating. Unfenced with steep drops in places. No on-site parking.
• Anderson Park (Neutral Bay): Open grass and a calm sandy beach in one unfenced reserve, open 24 Hours, 7 Days, with water, bags, toilets, seating and a playground. No on-site car park.
• Primrose Park (Cremorne): Five sports ovals with room for a fast dog to open up, plus water access, off-leash whenever the fields aren’t booked for sport. Fully serviced with water, bags, toilets, a playground, seating and parking.
• Cremorne Reserve (Cremorne Point): An unfenced harbourside reserve on Milson Road, open 24 Hours, 7 Days, with water, bags, toilets, seating, a playground and direct water access. No on-site parking, so expect a walk from the street.
• Berry Island Reserve (Wollstonecraft): A grassy causeway for a run, with the on-leash Gadyan Track circling the island for a longer walk afterwards. Open 24 Hours, 7 Days, with water, bags, toilets, a playground, seating and parking. Unlit.
• Smoothey Park (Wollstonecraft): A quiet bushland reserve beside the train station where a short off-leash run on the grass connects to longer bushland trails. Open 24 Hours, 7 Days, with seating. No water, bags or toilets.
• Lavender Bay Parklands (Lavender Bay): Harbour Bridge and skyline views along a waterfront walk, open 24 Hours, 7 Days, with water, toilets, seating and a playground. The precinct is strictly zoned, so check where off-leash access starts and stops before you unclip. No bags or parking.
• Fred Hutley Reserve Park (Cammeray): A wide sloping grassy hill with a playground at the top and on-leash bushwalking tracks below, open 24 Hours, 7 Days. Water, bags, toilets and seating all on site. Street parking only.
• O.H. Reid Reserve (Chatswood West): A large unfenced bushland reserve with direct Lane Cove River access, open 24 Hours, 7 Days, and one of the few places in Willoughby where a dog can swim. Water, toilets, seating and parking; bring your own bags.
• Blue Gum Reserve (Chatswood): Natural bushland with a creek, where off-leash access applies to the mowed area only and the surrounding bush is on-leash. Knowing the zoning is the whole trick here. Water, toilets, seating and parking on site.
• Ferndale Park, Dalrymple Ave Entry (Chatswood): A small unfenced grassy patch for a quick off-leash run, which then feeds into the Ferndale Park walking tracks. Those tracks are strictly on-leash. Open 24 hours, with bags and seating; no water or toilets.
• Burns Bay Reserve (Riverview): A large flat sports field with water access, off-leash whenever organised sport isn’t on. Water, toilets, a playground, seating and parking on site. Unfenced and unlit; bring your own bags.
• Tambourine Bay Park (Riverview): Grass for a run and calm bay water for a paddle, open 24 hours, with water, bags, toilets and seating. Completely open to the water and the walking tracks, so recall matters. No parking or lighting.
• Cunninghams Reach (Linley Point): A grassy hill inside the larger Burns Bay Reserve that slopes straight down to the Lane Cove River for a swim, off-leash 24 hours. Toilets, seating and parking on site; no water taps or bags, so bring both.
• Manns Point Park (Greenwich): An unfenced headland park with wide harbour views, open 24 Hours, 7 Days, with water, seating and parking. No toilets, bags or lighting.
• Clarkes Point Reserve (Woolwich): A large open lawn running to the harbour’s edge with Bridge and city views. Off-leash all day Monday to Friday, and until 9:30am on weekends. There’s no barrier at the water. Water, toilets, a playground, seating and parking on site.
• Lower Gladesville Reserve (Gladesville): A large waterside sports oval, off-leash all day Monday to Friday and until 9:30am on weekends. Water, seating and parking on site; no toilets, bags or lighting.
• Tarban Creek Reserve (Gladesville): A sprawling, rustic landscape better suited to a long sniff around than a game of fetch, with creek access, open 24 hours. Seating only, so bring water and bags. No toilets or parking.
• Meadowbank Dog Beach (Meadowbank): The off-leash area at Memorial Park, where the draw is direct Parramatta River access over a rustic shell-and-sand shore rather than grass. Water, toilets, seating and a playground nearby. Hours aren’t posted on the council listing, so check the on-site signage.

Timed & Conditional Sports Ovals

Twenty-four of the region’s off-leash areas are sports grounds shared with organised sport. Two patterns cover most of them: a weekday-only window before 9:00am and after 4:00pm, or open access that ends the moment a game or training session starts. They give you the most running room on the North Shore, and they’re the easiest rules to get wrong.

Beauchamp Park (Chatswood)

📍 Address: Nicholson St, Chatswood NSW 2067

The heritage-listed main oval is off-leash on weekdays only, from 4:00pm to 9:00am the following morning. There’s no off-leash access at all on weekends or public holidays, which catches people out more than any other rule in Chatswood. It’s a well-kept, completely unfenced oval with water, toilets, seating and a playground, and free street parking on the surrounding roads.

Insider Tip: The park fills with picnics and family gatherings on weekends, when dogs must be leashed the whole time. Mid-week afternoons are when the oval is quiet enough for a proper run.

Full Review: Beauchamp Park →

Weekday-window ovals (before 9:00am and after 4:00pm, weekdays only):

• Bales Park (Chatswood): The lower oval is the off-leash area, on weekdays only. It’s the nearest off-leash alternative for anyone who has turned up at Chatswood Oval by mistake, about 15 minutes’ walk away. Water, toilets, a playground, seating and parking on site.
• Artarmon Reserve (Artarmon): A large oval in a quiet valley backed by mature gums, with a grandstand and an on-site car park. Weekdays only, before 9:00am and after 4:00pm. Water, toilets, a playground and seating; bring your own bags.
• Willoughby Park (Willoughby): Well-mown playing fields with mature gums along the boundary and a rotunda in the grounds, off-leash on weekdays only. Water, toilets, a playground, seating and parking on site.
• Naremburn Park (Naremburn): A large oval off-leash weekdays from 4:00pm to 9:00am, and strictly on-leash at all other times including all weekend. Water, toilets, BBQs, picnic tables and parking on site. Completely unfenced.

Open unless sport is on:

• Pottery Green (Lane Cove): A big flat oval in the middle of Lane Cove, floodlit and off-leash any time sport isn’t scheduled. Water, toilets, a playground, seating and parking. Unfenced; bring your own bags.
• Tantallon Oval (Lane Cove West): Powerful floodlights make this one of the better after-dark options in Lane Cove. Off-leash on a time-share basis around organised sport, with water, toilets, a playground, seating and parking.
• Kingsford Smith Oval (Longueville): A large floodlit oval, off-leash when sport isn’t scheduled. Water, toilets, a playground, seating and parking on site. Unfenced, so check the field before you arrive and bring your own bags.
• Killara Park Oval (Killara): A large floodlit Ku-ring-gai oval on a time-share basis, with a playground, car park and public toilets. Unfenced; bring your own bags.
• Kent Oval (Turramurra): A large flat sportsground with floodlighting, a water station, toilets, a playground, picnic tables and a dedicated car park. Off-leash whenever organised sport isn’t in use. Completely unfenced.
• Warrimoo Oval (St Ives): A proper grass field with bright floodlights, which makes it a workable winter evening option. Off-leash when sport isn’t on, with water, toilets, a playground, seating and parking.
• Acron Oval (St Ives): A large open oval with a regular local crowd who know each other, off-leash whenever a match isn’t on. Water, toilets, seating and parking on site; bring your own bags.
• Toolang Oval (St Ives Chase): A shared-use sports ground on the corner of Toolang Road and Warrimoo Avenue, off-leash when games aren’t on and subject to events. Water, bags and toilets on site, but no car park and few other facilities.
• Rawson Park Oval (Mosman): A large grassy oval in a major sports precinct, running on a time-share basis, with floodlighting, water, toilets, a playground, seating and parking. Unfenced.
• Cammeray Park (Cammeray): A grassy sports ground that draws a big local dog crowd, off-leash on the oval when it isn’t booked for sport. Water, bags, toilets, a playground, seating and parking all on site.
• Forsyth Park (Neutral Bay): A rare amount of open field for the Lower North Shore, off-leash on the ovals when sport isn’t on. Water, bags, toilets, a playground, seating and parking.
• Brightmore Reserve (Cremorne): A large oval that works well in winter thanks to the floodlights, off-leash when the field isn’t in use for sport. Water, bags, toilets, a playground, seating and parking on site.
• Boronia Park Oval 3 (Hunters Hill): Oval 3 is the designated off-leash ground, and only Oval 3. A huge unfenced field on a time-share basis, floodlit, with water, toilets, a playground, seating and parking.
• Ron Payne Reserve (North Epping): A large unfenced cricket and sports oval backed by mature gums, with a grandstand and floodlights. Off-leash at any time unless organised sport is in progress. Water and seating on site; no toilets, bags or parking.
• Newlands Park (St Leonards): A large sports field that doubles as an off-leash space during set hours, with water, toilets, a playground, seating and parking. Unfenced and unlit.
• Edenborough Park (Lindfield): A major sports hub with stadium lighting and a well-kept grass surface, which makes it a reliable after-work option when the fields are free. Water, seating and parking on site; no toilets or bags.

Other set-hours parks:

• Friars Field Dog Park (Pymble): A large unfenced oval, off-leash from 5:00pm to 8:00am daily, since the field hosts organised sport through the day. A water tap with a dog bowl, poo bag dispensers and bins sit at the entrance. No toilets or car park.
• Golden Jubilee Field (Wahroonga): A large unfenced oval, off-leash from 1:00pm to midnight when no organised sport is on. Floodlighting, a water station, toilets, a playground, picnic tables and a free car park all on site.
• Castle Cove Park (Castle Cove): A well-kept sports oval with off-leash access 9:00am to 5:00pm Monday to Friday and none at all on weekends, which is the reverse of most parks here. The turf is maintained for sport, so the surface is flat and even. Water, bags and parking on site.

Open Neighbourhood Reserves

The everyday parks: unfenced, open 24 Hours, 7 Days, with no water access and no sports timetable to work around. Most are small local patches for the daily run rather than places you’d drive to. All of them need a dog that comes back when called, since nearly every one opens straight onto a street.

St Leonards Park (North Sydney)

📍 Address: Miller St, North Sydney NSW 2060

The largest stretch of open off-leash lawn close to central North Sydney, available 24 Hours, 7 Days, with toilets, water, poo bags, lighting, seating and a playground. The limits are worth knowing before you go: dogs aren’t allowed on North Sydney Oval or Bon Andrews Oval at any time, even when no sport is on, and must stay 10 metres clear of the playground and barbecues. It’s unfenced and sits beside busy roads.

Safety Update: The off-leash lawns run close to Miller Street and other busy roads with no barrier. Keep your dog leashed near the roads, the formal gardens and the playground, and let them off only once you’re well into the open space.

Full Review: St Leonards Park →

More open reserves across the North Shore:

• St Thomas Rest Park (Crows Nest): A historic park set in a former cemetery, off-leash 24 Hours, 7 Days, with water, bags, toilets and seating. The paths and headstones make the footing uneven in places, so it suits a walk and a sniff more than a hard run. No on-site parking.
• Milson Park (Kirribilli): Open grass by the water in Kirribilli, off-leash 24 Hours, 7 Days, with water, bags, toilets, seating and a playground. Unfenced and social, so recall matters. No car park.
• Waverton Park (Waverton): A heritage-listed park with views across Balls Head Bay, off-leash 24 Hours, 7 Days, and one of the better-equipped open reserves here: water, bags, toilets, a playground, seating and parking.
• Ted Mack Civic Park (North Sydney): An urban green space in the middle of the North Sydney CBD, off-leash 24 Hours, 7 Days, with water, toilets, seating and a playground. It hosts community events, so it isn’t always available. No parking.
• Green Park (Cammeray): An unfenced park beside the Cammeray golf course with water, bags, toilets, seating and two playgrounds, plus tennis courts, a basketball hoop and outdoor gym equipment. Open 24 Hours, 7 Days.
• Grasmere Reserve (Cremorne): A relaxed neighbourhood reserve with Middle Harbour views and a playground beside the grass, open 24 Hours, 7 Days, with water and seating. No bags or toilets; street parking only.
• Brennan Park (Wollstonecraft): A village-green style patch that’s lit at night, open 24 Hours, 7 Days, with water, bags, toilets, seating and a playground. Unfenced, so it suits dogs that listen well.
• Wollstonecraft Station Park (Wollstonecraft): Right beside the train station, which makes it useful for a quick run either side of the commute. Open 24 Hours, 7 Days, with water, seating and a playground. No bags or toilets; street parking only.
• Watt Park (Lavender Bay): A quiet sloping stretch of grass in Lavender Bay running down to a small sandy beach, open 24 Hours, 7 Days, with water, toilets, seating and a playground. No bags, parking or lighting.
• Hodgsons Lookout Park (Kurraba Point): A small shaded knoll with harbour views through the trees, open 24 Hours, 7 Days, with water, bags, seating and a playground. Quieter than the bigger parks nearby, which suits dogs that find busy places overwhelming. No toilets.
• Tye Park (Waverton): A tiny local green with a playground, open 24 Hours, 7 Days. There’s no water, no bags and no toilets, so it works as a convenient quick stop rather than an outing.
• Mitchell Street Park (McMahons Point): A pocket park for a quick off-leash break, open 24 Hours, 7 Days, with a water tap. No bags or toilets, and street parking only.
• Morona Avenue Reserve (Wahroonga): One of the better-equipped unfenced reserves in Ku-ring-gai, open 24 Hours, 7 Days, with water, bags, toilets, a playground, picnic tables and parking. Unlit, so daytime is the practical choice.
• Helen Street Reserve (Lane Cove North): Well-equipped for a local reserve, with toilets, BBQs, a playground and an outdoor gym, open 24 Hours, 7 Days. It’s completely open to the street, the car park and the bushland, so recall is essential.
• Stringybark Reserve (Lane Cove North): A leafy open reserve that works best as the start of a longer outing, since it leads straight onto the Harry Howard Bushwalk. Open 24 hours, with water, bags, toilets, seating and a playground. The playing fields are unlit.
• Ludowici Reserve (Lane Cove West): A quiet sloping reserve off Penrose Street with water and seating, open 24 Hours, 7 Days. It’s unfenced and opens straight onto the street. The grass at the bottom of the slope stays damp for days after rain.
• Lloyd Rees Park (Northwood): More of a scenic lookout than a dog park, with steep grassy slopes, sandstone terraces and views over the Lane Cove River. Open 24 hours and unlit. Bags, seating and a playground on site; no water or toilets. The terrain is rugged, so watch your footing.
• Shell Park (Greenwich): A quiet, leafy reserve with bushland views, open 24 Hours, 7 Days, with toilets and seating. Not fully enclosed, so keep your dog in sight. No water, bags or parking.
• Ronald Park (Greenwich): A friendly suburban patch where the local owners tend to know each other, open 24 Hours, 7 Days, with water, toilets, seating and a playground. No bags, parking or lighting.
• Hyndes Park (Lindfield): A quiet reserve on Lady Game Drive for a relaxed daily walk with some shade, open 24 Hours, 7 Days, with water, bags, seating and parking. It’s completely open to the street, so recall matters. No toilets or lighting.
• Mitchell Crescent Reserve (Warrawee): A quiet, leafy local reserve, unfenced and open 24 Hours, 7 Days. There’s no water, no bags, no toilets and no parking, so bring everything you need.
• Transmission Park (St Ives): A quiet neighbourhood patch on Yarralumla Avenue that avoids the crowds at the bigger St Ives reserves. Open 24 Hours, 7 Days, wide open and unfenced, with no water, bags, toilets or parking.
• Roseville Park Off-Leash Area (Roseville): Wide open grass for long-distance fetch plus a shallow natural creek for a summer splash, open 24 hours and lit at night. Water and bags on site; no toilets or car park.

On-Leash Only: Three Parks People Get Wrong

Three well-known North Shore parks turn up in off-leash searches but require a lead at all times. Getting these wrong risks a fine, so they’re worth knowing before you arrive.

Wendy Whiteley’s Secret Garden (Lavender Bay)

📍 Address: Lavender Street, Lavender Bay NSW 2060

Despite what a lot of online listings claim, this is on-leash only throughout. The garden is a rambling labyrinth of hidden paths, sculptures and harbour views built on a steep hillside, and it rewards a slow, curious walk rather than a run. Dogs are welcome on a lead, and the restriction protects both the plantings and the quiet the garden is known for. There are no amenities, and the stairs and uneven paths make it unsuitable for wheelchairs or limited mobility.

Insider Tip: There are no large signs, which is part of the point. Walk from Milsons Point Station and look for the big Moreton Bay fig on Lavender Street. The main entrance is just downhill from it. On-street parking is limited and timed.

Full Review: Wendy’s Secret Garden →

• Chatswood Oval (Chatswood): The enclosed grandstand oval leads people to assume it’s an off-leash park. It isn’t. Willoughby Council keeps dogs on-leash here at all times to protect the sports turf. For an off-leash run nearby, Bales Park on Stanley Street is about 15 minutes’ walk and is off-leash on weekdays from 4:00pm to 9:00am.
• Carlson Park (North Willoughby): A leafy reserve on High Street that’s valued as a quiet local walk, but it’s an on-leash area only. Good for a steady stroll and a sniff; not the place to unclip the lead.

The North Shore spans eight councils, and each sets its own off-leash rules. For official updates and sportsground closures, check North Sydney Council, Willoughby City Council, Ku-ring-gai Council, Lane Cove Council, Mosman Council, Hornsby Shire Council, City of Ryde or Hunter’s Hill Council.