Off Leash Dog Areas in Canberra: The Complete ACT Guide

Glebe Park and the city centre

Glebe Park is one of the most searched dog-related locations in Canberra, and the answer most people are looking for is this: dogs are permitted in Glebe Park but must be on leash at all times.

The southern end of Glebe Park, bounded by Glebe Park Apartments and Coranderrk Street, was previously a dog-prohibited area. It changed to a dog on-leash area in 2024, which is why search results are inconsistent. The current rule is on-leash throughout the park.

Glebe Park is at London Circuit, Canberra City, directly beside the Canberra Centre. It is a pleasant grassed area with mature trees and is worth knowing about for city visits. For off-leash time near the city, the closest options are Haig Park in Braddon (unfenced, off-leash) and the Yarralumla Dog Park in Weston Park (fenced, off-leash), both within a short drive.

Fenced off-leash dog parks

Canberra has more fenced dog parks per capita than almost any other Australian city. These are the main ones worth knowing about.

Yarralumla Dog Park at Weston Park, Yarralumla. One of the most popular fenced parks in the city, with separate areas for large and small dogs. It is a short walk from Lake Burley Griffin and two dog-friendly beaches. Mostly dirt surface, which becomes muddy after rain. Water taps and benches available.

Belconnen Dog Park, near Lake Ginninderra in Belconnen. Two separate fenced sections with benches. Mostly dirt surface. Convenient to the dog-friendly swimming areas along Lake Ginninderra.

O'Connor Dog Park, Macarthur Avenue, O'Connor. A long-established park in the inner north. Grassy and shaded, with a friendly regular crowd. Good for dogs that need more space.

Franklin Dog Park, Flemington Road, Franklin. A newer park in the north of Canberra. Well laid out with separate small and large dog areas.

Forde Dog Park, Sharrow Street, Forde. Another northern suburbs option. Good surface and plenty of space.

Duffy Dog Park (also called Weston Creek Dog Park), Streeton Drive, Duffy. One of the newer fenced parks, with separate areas for small and large dogs and water stations.

Casey Dog Park, Springbank Rise, Casey. Separate areas shaded by mature eucalypts. Mostly dirt and gravel with grassy patches. Water stations on site.

Point Hut Dog Exercise Area, Point Hut Crossing Reserve, Gordon. Fenced off-leash area alongside a dog-friendly swimming spot on the Murrumbidgee River. One of the best combined dog park and swimming experiences in Canberra.

Tuggeranong Dog Park, near Lake Tuggeranong in Greenway. Beautiful setting with lake views, separate fenced sections for small and large dogs, benches, and a water tap.

Unfenced off-leash areas

Beyond the fenced parks, Canberra has a large network of unfenced off-leash areas suitable for dogs with reliable recall.

Haig Park, Haig Park Place, Braddon. A long grassy park in the inner north, off-leash and shaded by mature pines. Convenient to cafes and shops. No fencing, so only suitable for dogs with solid recall. Water available nearby.

The Bridge to Bridge Loop around Lake Burley Griffin has sections that are off-leash. The 6km route from Wendouree Drive takes in views of the National Library, National Museum, and the Captain Cook Memorial Jet. Check signage as leash rules vary along different sections of the lake foreshore.

Narrabundah Hill Nature Reserve allows dogs off-leash when no cattle are present. A solid 90-minute walk through native bush. Check the ACT Government map before visiting to confirm current access.

The ACT Government publishes an interactive dog exercise area map at accesscanberra.act.gov.au which shows all designated off-leash areas, on-leash areas, and dog-prohibited areas across the territory. It is the most reliable source for current rules, as areas do change.

Dog-friendly swimming in Canberra

Canberra has several designated dog swimming spots, which is unusual compared to most Australian cities.

Point Hut Crossing, Gordon. A river beach on the Murrumbidgee with a fenced dog park adjacent. One of the most complete dog destinations in Canberra. Dogs can swim in the designated area.

Yarralumla Dog Beach, Weston Park, Yarralumla. A small beach on Lake Burley Griffin with views of the Telstra Tower. Dogs can swim here. On-leash walk from the Yarralumla Dog Park.

Kurrajong Point Beach, Weston Park, Yarralumla. Another Lake Burley Griffin beach close to the Yarralumla Dog Park. Surrounded by shade and grass.

Lake Ginninderra near Joynton Smith Drive, Belconnen. A designated dog swimming area on Lake Ginninderra, close to the Belconnen Dog Park. Note that the area opposite the dog park is not a dog swimming area. Check signage carefully.

Dogs are only permitted to swim where areas are specifically signposted for dog use. Swimming in non-designated lake areas is prohibited and fines apply.

Where dogs are not permitted

This matters more in Canberra than most Australian cities because the ACT has large areas of protected nature reserve and national park where dogs are strictly prohibited.

Namadgi National Park. No dogs permitted anywhere in the park. This covers a large portion of the ACT's western and southern area.

Timddibilla Nature Reserve. No dogs permitted.

Canberra Nature Park (a network of 39 nature reserves). Dogs are not permitted in any of these reserves. This includes Black Mountain Nature Reserve, Mount Ainslie Nature Reserve, and Mount Majura Nature Reserve.

The Botanic Gardens. No dogs permitted.

Most lake foreshores. On-leash or prohibited depending on the specific section. Always check signage.

Fines under the Domestic Animals Act 2000 or the Nature Conservation Act 2014 apply for taking dogs into prohibited areas. The ACT takes this seriously.

ACT dog laws you need to know

The ACT has a specific set of dog rules that differ from what you might be used to in other states.

Dogs must be under effective control in all public spaces, whether on or off leash. In off-leash areas, effective control means your dog responds to voice commands and does not harass other dogs or people. Simply being in an off-leash area does not mean you can ignore your dog.

Dogs must be registered in the ACT if you are staying longer than 14 days. For short visits, your home state registration is sufficient.

Poop bags are mandatory. Fines apply for not cleaning up after your dog in any public area.

Dogs are not permitted on sports grounds during organised games, in playgrounds, or in any area with a dog-prohibited sign.

The ACT requires dogs to be microchipped and desexed unless an exemption applies. If your dog is not desexed and you are visiting from interstate, this does not affect you as a visitor but is worth knowing.

The Animal Welfare Act 1992 and the Domestic Animals Act 2000 together govern dog management in the ACT. More information is available at accesscanberra.act.gov.au.

Planning a trip to Canberra with your dog

Canberra is genuinely one of the best Australian capital cities to visit with a dog. The wide streets, abundance of parks, fenced dog areas, and dog-friendly cafe culture in suburbs like Braddon and Kingston make it an easy and enjoyable destination.

The best areas to stay if you have a dog are Braddon, Yarralumla, Kingston, and Belconnen, all of which have walking distance access to parks and dog-friendly cafes.

Pet-friendly accommodation in Canberra includes a range of options from apartments to houses. Stayz and Airbnb both list pet-friendly properties in Canberra. Always confirm the pet policy directly with the host before booking, as platform listings are not always up to date.

Bring water for your dog. Canberra's high altitude means the air is drier than coastal cities, and winters are genuinely cold. A travel bowl is worth having in the car for park visits.

The best seasons to visit with a dog are spring (September to November) and autumn (March to May). Summer in Canberra can be hot and dry, and winter brings genuine cold and occasionally frost. Both extremes are manageable but worth planning around.