Best off-leash dog parks in Chatswood
Last updatedBeauchamp Park is the top pick for dog owners in Chatswood, with a fenced run and a water fountain. Blue Gum Reserve is the choice for a larger run, with open mowed grass and a river swim. The other parks suit owners who want a shorter outing or are happy with the hours on offer, so the right pick depends on how your dog plays.
Quick picks
- Best fenced option: Beauchamp Park has a fully fenced off-leash dog area with a water fountain.
- Best for a big run: Blue Gum Reserve has mowed off-leash grass and a river where dogs can swim.
- Best for a simple walk: Ferndale Park has a grassed off-leash strip beside Dalrymple Avenue.
- Best for early starts: Bales Park suits owners who walk around dawn or dusk.
Beauchamp Park: a fenced run with a water fountain
- Limited hours
- Fully fenced
- Water
- Poo bags
- Toilets
- Parking
Beauchamp Park's off-leash area is fully fenced and has a water fountain inside it, so dogs can drink without leaving the run. Poo bags are on hand for owners. The oval is off-leash only when no sport is being played, and dogs are kept off the rest of the park. The park is a nature park with trees, walking trails and a cricket field. There are no separate enclosures for big and small dogs. An upper car park holds about 15 to 18 cars, and free street parking gives two hours.
Blue Gum Reserve: open grass that opens onto the river
- Off-leash 24/7
- Not fenced
- Water
- Toilets
- Parking
Blue Gum Reserve's mowed off-leash area is open 24 hours a day, with a dog drinking station and a public restroom nearby. The area is unfenced and has no small dog area, so smaller dogs need extra watching. The river runs along the edge of that run, and some dogs take to it for a swim. Dogs are not allowed in Blue Gum Park until 27 Nov 2026 for fox baiting, so check before you go.
Ferndale Park: a grassed strip beside Dalrymple Avenue
- Off-leash 24/7
- Not fenced
- Toilets
Ferndale Park's grassed ground beside Dalrymple Avenue is the one spot for off-leash play, and it has no set hours. Anywhere in the bush, including the formal tracks, a dog needs its lead. That strip gives dogs room to stretch their legs. A toilet sits about 14 metres from the start of the Ferndale Park Loop track, and the park is not fenced. Owners heading deeper into the reserve should plan a leashed walk.
Bales Park: the lower oval at dawn and dusk
- Limited hours
- Toilets
- Parking
Bales Park's lower oval is open to dogs from one hour before sunset to one hour after sunrise only. The oval is shared with ball games and junior sport. Dogs are kept out of the children's play areas, and owners need to bring their own poo bags. The loos are in a block across the oval, away from the play area. The car park on the site sits off Stanley Street, with more spots on the street, and the park can also be reached from Ranelagh Crescent or Sydney Street.
When and where dogs can run
By area
Every off-leash area in and near Chatswood
The table lists each Chatswood off-leash park, with the nearby ones after, in order of what is known about each.
| Park | Off-leash | Fenced | Water | Poo bags | Toilets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.Beauchamp Park | Limited‡ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 2.Blue Gum Reserve | 24/7 | ✗ | ✓ | – | ✓ |
| 3.Ferndale Park | 24/7 | ✗ | – | – | ✓ |
| 4.Bales Park | Limited‡ | – | – | ✗ | ✓ |
| 5.Campbell Park | – | ✓ | – | – | ✓ |
| 6.Lowanna Park | Limited‡ | ✗ | – | – | ✓ |
| Nearby, outside Chatswood | |||||
| Helen Street Reserve · Lane Cove North | – | – | – | – | ✓ |
| Stringybark Reserve · Lane Cove North | – | – | – | – | ✗ |
‡ Off-leash only at certain times, such as when no organised sport is on; see the park's page.
How we picked
Each park was judged on fencing, water, size, bags, toilets, parking and hours, from its own page and the council's off-leash rules alone. Each pick must rest on at least six known facts, which keeps every section grounded. Blank details show as dashes, not as a no. Parks with the most known facts rank highest in the table, and picks come from the top of that list.
FAQ
Is there a fenced dog park in Chatswood?
Beauchamp Park's fenced run has water, and it opens whenever the oval is not in use for sport. Dogs use the run as a fenced area, so the gate matters on busy days.
Which Chatswood dog park is open all day?
Blue Gum Reserve's mowed off-leash area is open 24 hours a day, and Ferndale Park's grassed strip has no time limits. Bales Park's lower oval only opens around dawn and dusk.
Can dogs swim in Chatswood?
Blue Gum Reserve is the one Chatswood park here with river access for swimming, from its off-leash grass. Plan around the fox baiting window, which runs to 27 Nov 2026.