Balga Fenced Dog Park

Balga Fenced Dog Park is a fully enclosed off-leash facility inside Princess Wallington Reserve, at the corner of Princess Road and Balga Avenue in Perth's northern suburbs. It runs two separate gated play zones, one sized for large dogs and one for small dogs, so a kelpie and a cavoodle can both get a proper run without sharing the same space.

The dog setup

Both enclosures are fully fenced with a double-gate entry, and the ground is a mix of open grass and sand. The large dog area has ramps and obstacles for a bit of enrichment, and there is a sand pit for dogs that like to dig. Water taps keep the bowls topped up through hot Perth afternoons, shade cover and seating give owners somewhere to settle, and waste bags are generally stocked on site although it pays to carry spares.

Inside the fences, dogs run off-leash under City of Stirling local laws, which still expect them in sight and under control the whole time. Outside the enclosures, the rest of Princess Wallington Reserve is on-leash, so keep the lead on from the car park until both gates are shut behind you.

Max: close the first gate before you open the second. The double-gate setup only works if everyone plays along.

The vibe

This is a neighbourhood park with a steady local crowd rather than a destination. Weekday evenings, particularly Tuesdays and Thursdays, and weekend mornings draw the regulars; Monday and Wednesday mornings tend to be the calmest windows. The wider reserve has playgrounds, BBQs, public toilets and skate and BMX facilities, which makes it an easy compromise stop for households split between kids and dogs.

Getting there and parking

The park sits within Princess Wallington Reserve at Balga Avenue and Princess Road, Balga WA 6061. Free car parks inside the reserve put you within a short walk of the enclosures, and Transperth buses run along Balga Avenue and Princess Road if you are coming without a car. The park itself is open 24 hours.

Close by with the dogs

There is not much dog-friendly dining right at the reserve, but you have options a few minutes' drive away. Marshi's Kitchen in Stirling and Patch Kitchen & Garden both welcome dogs in outdoor areas. If you want to stack a second off-leash session onto the trip, the Wright Road Fenced Dog Park is another fully fenced option nearby.

More options are on the Western Australia dog parks guide and the Balga destination page.