Paradise Point Foreshore Dog Off Leash Area

The off-leash stretch sits at the northern end of the parklands where The Esplanade meets The Sovereign Mile on the northern Broadwater, with a sandy foreshore and calm, shallow water. It is a swim-and-socialise spot rather than a surf beach, and it is a favourite with Gold Coast dogs that like a paddle more than a wave.

The rules

Only the northern end of the parklands is off-leash, so keep your dog on the lead until you are inside the signed zone and lead it again on the way out. The City of Gold Coast requires dogs to be under effective voice control, with a person over 17 supervising, and a bag per dog carried for clean up. Dogs are prohibited from the children's playground and the swimming enclosure, and outside the zone the leash is mandatory.

The water

The Broadwater here is sheltered and shallow, so it is forgiving water for nervous or young swimmers. Tide matters more than swell: low tide leaves a wide sandy run, while high tide pushes the water up to the grass line and shrinks the play space considerably.

What's there

Waste-bag dispensers and bins sit along the foreshore, with drinking water taps, seating and some natural tree shade. The wider parklands add toilets, BBQs and walking paths, and cafes and shops are across the road. Note the zone itself is unfenced, so it works best for dogs with steady recall.

Max: check the tide before you commit. At high tide the sand all but disappears and the off-leash space gets cramped, which is no fun for a careful dog.

Getting there

Park along The Esplanade or The Sovereign Mile. Free street parking fills early on sunny weekend mornings, so aim before 8am or pick a weekday. TransLink buses run near the suburb centre with a short walk to the foreshore.

Watch-outs

Because the beach is unfenced and sits beside a popular walking path, keep an eye on dogs that drift toward passers-by or the playground. The swimming enclosure boundary is a hard no-go for dogs, and on busy weekends the crowd near the water can get tight for shy dogs.

Close by with the dogs

For a fully enclosed run nearby, the Saltwater Fenced Dog Park at Hope Island is a short drive south. After the swim, Ripples Cafe and Bar at Runaway Bay is a few minutes down the coast and welcomes dogs outdoors. If you are staying over, the NRMA Treasure Island Holiday Resort at Biggera Waters takes pets. More spots are on the Queensland beach guide and the Biggera Waters destination page.

When to go

Weekday mid mornings and low to mid tide give you the most sand and the most room. Weekend mornings get busy with regulars, which is great for social dogs but tight for careful ones. This is a good fit for water-loving dogs and steady swimmers, with the parklands paths as a warm-down.