Did you know that most Canberra neighbourhood ovals and lots of parks around our suburbs are designated dog off leash areas? Dog walkers in the know meet up in these areas, usually late afternoon, to chat while their dogs play together, chase balls, socialise and sniff. It's a great way to meet other dog owners informally while your dogs have fun.
We've shared our very favourite Canberra off leash dog meeting places to get you started. Each provides extensive off leash areas. Most have natural borders providing protection from roads, such as banks, creeks or thickets, or low fencing on two or more sides (bearing in mind that, unlike fenced dog parks, a determined dog can still run onto a road). And there’s easy off street parking if you don’t live within walking distance. Most importantly, the regulars are really lovely people with very friendly dogs.
There's a google map at the bottom of this post showing locations - just expand it to view in detail.
General info and rules
Cook Neighbourhood Oval, Cook
Giralang Ovals, Giralang
Gordon Neighbourhood Oval, Gordon
Mawson Neighbourhood Oval, Mawson
Errol Kavanagh Memorial Oval, Narrabundah
O'Connor Oval, O'Connor
Forestry Oval, Yarralumla
Off leash meeting places map
General info and rules
First, here's a little info about some off leash area do's and don'ts.
These areas generally ‘self-select’ for experienced, friendly dog owners and well-socialised dogs. It’s a great opportunity to introduce a young dog to off leash situations in a relatively safe and supportive environment. If you or your dog find dog parks a bit too intense, we can highly recommend visiting these instead. But there are some rules of course.
ACT regulations allow dogs off leash on ovals only when sports aren’t in progress.
You’ll be most welcome if you closely monitor your dog’s interactions with other dogs, e.g. don’t let them ‘play’ with another dog to the point of harassment. Be cautious with dogs on leash who might not appreciate a strange, loose dog rushing up. You might need to begin with your dog on leash until he/she is a bit more settled and/or reliably comes when called.
It's also important to be respectful of other users and follow some basic etiquette in these shared pubic spaces, e.g. don’t let your dog chase children, steal soccer balls, or otherwise interfere with other people’s enjoyment!
You can learn more about training and socialising your dog with hands on help by joining one of Canberra's not-for-profit dog training clubs.
Cook Neighbourhood Oval - parking off Rowan or Biffin Streets
Inviting and accessible Cook Neighbourhood Oval is a popular destination for dog-loving locals to meet up after work with their furry best friends. There's a regular contingent of friendly dogs to socialise with as well as their welcoming humans. There are generous green buffers on all sides of the oval, which are planted with mature trees providng important shade in summer. There's plenty of free parking available behind the Cook shops off Rowan Street, or on an access road off Biffin Street. Bins and public toilets are available at the adjacent Cook shops. The shops also include a great dog friendly café, Little Oink and a pizza/beer/wine bar, To All My Friends. Finally, the oval is on the route of our fantastic self-guided, dog-friendly Cook walk.
Giralang Ovals - parking on Gari Place or Tucana Street
The enormous verdant Giralang Ovals are made up of the Giralang Soccer Grounds, the Giralang AFL Grounds and a whole lot of extra off leash space in between and all around. If you head to the middle area in between the two main 'grounds', you'll be surrounded by huge green space on two sides, a large storm water drain on another side, and the fenced Giralang Primary School on the fourth side. Parking is available on Gari Place or Tuca Street with bins next to Gari Place. The ovals are on the route of our fantastic self-guided, dog-friendly Kaleen-Giralang walk.
Gordon Neighbourhood Oval - parking via Midge Street
A generous lush open space with beautiful mountain views all around, our favourite of the two sports fields making up the Gordon Neighbourhood Oval, is bordered by large banks on two sides, a deep creek channel on another, and a second large oval on the fourth side. A small access road from Midge Street provides free parking and bisects the two sports fields. Choose the field/oval on your left, as you drive in. There are bins by the amenities block. The ovals are on the route of our fantastic self-guided, dog-friendly Conder-Gordon walk.
Mawson Neighbourhood Oval - parking off Ainsworth Street
A popular hang-out for locals and their well socialised dogs, Mawson's neighbourhood oval is fenced on three sides and offers an irrigated oval plus a scrubbier grassy border with shady trees. Locals wander down from around 4.30 pm (a few retirees here!) to let their dogs play, throw balls and generally socialise. There’s a bin near the amenities block by the car park.
Errol Kavanagh Memorial Oval - parking on Kyeema Street, Narrabundah
This huge, glorious, hidden, lush space is bordered on three sides by beautiful poplar-lined creeks and on the fourth side by high fencing. Dogs love the open space and investigating special smells along the creek banks. There are several bins along the Kyeema Street side, which is just the oval access road and car park. However, make sure you don't venture into the fenced areas which are strictly for baseball games only. It's also on the route of our fantastic self-guided, dog-friendly Narrabundah walk.
O’Connor Oval - parking off Pedder Street
Another huge and green open space, O’Connor Oval offers super variety for active dogs - an irrigated oval, a scrubby grass border, and a little creek perfect for summer cooling off. Dogs of all ages and sizes make an appearance throughout the late afternoon and evening. There’s fencing on three sides and bins next to the gravel car park. It's also on the route of our fantastic self-guided, dog-friendly Lyneham-O'Connor walk.
Forestry Oval - parking off Wilf Crane Crescent, Yarralumla
Totally hidden from casual sight, this sublime green space is bordered by beautiful mature deciduous trees and is usually - and amazingly - deserted (except when Canberra Dog Walks visits with a guided social pack walking group!). The oval is surrounded on three sides by steep banks rising to Will Crane Crescent (which is only an access road for the CSIRO buildings) and on the fourth side by an impenetrable thicket of spiky bushes and trees. There's a bin by the amenities block. It's also on the route of our fantastic self-guided, dog-friendly Yarralumla walk.
Off leash meeting places map
Click on the 'view larger map' icon at the top right hand corner of the map banner to see all locations in detail.
If you can recommend other dog friendly meeting places, we’d love to know! Use our contact page or leave a comment on our Facebook page.
For more information on regulations and off leash areas see the ACT Government dog regulations page.