Best off-leash dog parks in Leichhardt
Hawthorne Canal Reserve is the best pick in Leichhardt for most dog owners. Its dog area is fully fenced, open at all times and has a separate small-dog section. The other parks here are open lawns without a fence, so they suit owners who care more about space than security. What separates the parks is the fence, the water and whether bags are waiting at the bins.
Quick picks
- Fenced: Hawthorne Canal Reserve is the only fenced off-leash area on this page, with a small-dog section.
- Open lawn: War Memorial Park's southern lawn is off-leash at all times, with no fence and a water fountain with a dog bowl.
- Large area: Pioneers Memorial Park's eastern side is off-leash at all times, with bags and bins provided.
Hawthorne Canal Reserve: fenced, with a small-dog area
- Off-leash 24/7
- Fully fenced
- Water
- Poo bags
- Small dog area
- Toilets
- Parking
Hawthorne Canal Reserve has a fully fenced dog area that is open at all times, and that's the main reason to pick it over the others here. Inside the fence there's agility equipment, and a separate small-dog area suits smaller breeds. The dog park sits on the other side of the canal from the play equipment. There's natural water access for dogs, and poo bags are provided on site, so you don't need to bring your own. Seating and toilets are near the dog park, and there's on-site parking. The Hawthorne light rail station is nearby, which suits anyone coming by light rail.
Best for: Best for owners with small dogs, or dogs that need a fence.
War Memorial Park: the open southern lawn
- Off-leash 24/7
- Not fenced
- Water
- Toilets
- Parking
War Memorial Park's southern lawn is off-leash at all times, but unlike Hawthorne Canal Reserve it has no fence. The lawn has open boundaries along Catherine Street and Moore Street, so the roads are close to where dogs run. Dogs can drink from a fountain with a bowl fixed to it. Bags can't be relied on at the bins, so take your own. The toilets include a unisex accessible one with a baby change. There's no car park on site, so plan on the street, and weekend mornings fill up quickly. Keep dogs on the lead across the northern section, and at least 10 metres from the playground.
Best for: Best for owners who don't need a fence and will bring their own poo bags.
Pioneers Memorial Park: about a third of the park off-leash
- Off-leash 24/7
- Not fenced
- Poo bags
- Toilets
- Parking
Pioneers Memorial Park has an unfenced off-leash area on its eastern side, covering about one-third of the park, and it's open at all times. Unlike Hawthorne Canal Reserve, there's no fence here. The western side is leash-only, and dogs can't go near the children's playground. Dog-waste bag dispensers and bins are provided, so you won't need your own bags. The toilet sits close to the playground, and cars can park beside the park or on the streets around it. The cafes and restaurants on Norton Street sit close by.
Best for: Best for owners who want a big off-leash area and parking right next to the park.
When and where dogs can run
Off-leash hours
By area
Every off-leash area in and near Leichhardt
The table below lists every off-leash area in and near Leichhardt, with the hours, fencing, water, poo bags and toilets for each.
| Park | Off-leash | Fenced | Water | Poo bags | Toilets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.Hawthorne Canal Reserve | 24/7 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 2.War Memorial Park | 24/7 | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
| 3.Pioneers Memorial Park | 24/7 | ✗ | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| Nearby, outside Leichhardt | |||||
| Cohen Park · Annandale | – | – | – | – | ✓ |
| Callan Park · Lilyfield | – | – | – | – | ✓ |
| Whites Creek Valley Park · Annandale | – | ✗ | – | – | – |
| Hinsby Park · Annandale | – | – | – | – | ✗ |
How we picked
We compared the parks on fencing, water, size, facilities and distance from Leichhardt's centre. A park needs enough known details to write about before it can be a pick. Where a detail is unconfirmed, the table carries a dash, not a no. Parks where dogs can't be off the lead are left off the page.
FAQ
Is there a fenced dog park in Leichhardt?
Yes, the dog area at Hawthorne Canal Reserve is fully enclosed, and smaller breeds get their own section. The off-leash areas at Pioneers Memorial Park and War Memorial Park aren't fenced.
Which Leichhardt park has water for dogs?
Hawthorne Canal Reserve has natural water access for dogs. War Memorial Park also has a fountain with a bowl for dogs.
Do I need to bring poo bags to the off-leash parks in Leichhardt?
You don't need to bring bags to Hawthorne Canal Reserve or Pioneers Memorial Park, because bags are provided there. At War Memorial Park, plan on bringing your own, as bag supply is unreliable.
Where in Pioneers Memorial Park can dogs run off the lead?
Dogs can run off the lead on the eastern side of Pioneers Memorial Park, about one-third of the park, at all times. That part is not fenced, so there's no barrier at its edges.