Chittaway Bay Dog Exercise Area

Chittaway Bay Dog Exercise Area, also known as Lees Reserve, is an open, unfenced grass reserve on James Watt Drive on the Central Coast, designated by Central Coast Council as a 24/7 off-leash area. Despite the name, there is no sand and no swimming: this is a grassy exercise field where local dogs run at any hour, not a waterfront spot. Its whole appeal is freedom around the clock and a short walk from home for Chittaway Bay owners.

Leash status

Off-leash applies across the reserve around the clock, confirmed by the council's green signage, and the space is open every day with no time windows. Dogs must be under the effective control of a competent person at all times, with a maximum of four dogs per person, and on lead on the footpaths and streets outside the signed zone. Dogs also stay at least 10 metres clear of any children's playground equipment, and picking up after your dog is a condition of use. Because the field is unfenced and runs alongside roads, a reliable recall is the entry fee here.

Water and terrain

Expect open grass and little else. There is no water station, no real shade and minimal seating, so carry your own water and something to sit on. The ground is generally flat, but the middle of the field collects water after heavy rain and stays soggy for a couple of days, so work the higher edges in a wet week. Check the on-site signage when you arrive, since council reviews occasionally touch the reserve's designation.

Max: no fence, no shade, no water. This is a field for dogs that genuinely come back when you call, not a place to test a new recall.

Getting there and parking

The reserve sits on James Watt Drive, Chittaway Bay, reached via Wyong Road off the M1 Pacific Motorway. Free on-street parking lines the drive beside the field, and buses along Wyong Road leave you a short walk away. Tuggerah's shops and the Wyong River bridges are minutes away if you are combining the trip with errands.

Worth knowing

It is rarely crowded: weekday afternoons between 4pm and 6pm and weekend mornings from 8am to 10am draw the most regulars, but you will often have the field nearly to yourself outside those windows. Bring everything you need, since the reserve itself has no facilities beyond bins. If you want actual sand, the coast is a short drive east.

When to go

Early morning and late evening suit this spot best, especially in summer when the unshaded field heats up. Avoid the low ground for a day or two after rain. Twilight visits in winter are the quietest sessions of the week.

While you're out there

For a proper swim, North Shelly Beach Dog Beach and North Entrance Dog Beach are both within about 20 minutes by car and offer genuine off-leash sand.

More options are on the New South Wales dog beaches guide and the Chittaway Bay destination page.