John Baker Reserve Fenced Dog Park

John Baker Reserve Fenced Dog Park is a purpose-built off-leash park on Darlington Drive in Banora Point, opened in 2022 with separate fenced zones for large and small dogs plus agility equipment. It is one of the Tweed's newest dog parks, and the design shows in the details.

The dog setup

The park is off-leash within the fenced boundary and available around the clock, though daylight visits are the safer bet given the lighting. Entry runs through a double-gate airlock, so keep the lead on until both gates are behind you.

Dogs must be under effective control and supervised by a responsible adult at all times, and declared dangerous, menacing or restricted breeds are not permitted under the NSW Companion Animals Regulation. Pick up waste immediately; bins and a water fountain sit on site, with trees providing shade over parts of the run.

The tunnels and balance beams suit structured sessions with your own dog, and the water fountain covers most weather, though on hot Tweed days an extra bottle saves the queue. Ground surfaces drain quickly after the region's wet-season downpours, which is not true of every park in the shire.

The vibe

The split sizing is the draw for mixed households: small dogs get their own enclosure rather than watching the big dogs across an open field, and the agility equipment gives working breeds a job while the others socialise. Late afternoons are the busy social window; mid-morning weekdays are quiet enough for a nervous dog's first visit.

Getting there and parking

The reserve sits on Darlington Drive on the Banora Point side of the Pacific Motorway, minutes from Tweed Heads South, with on-site parking at the reserve. It is a workable stop for anyone passing through the Tweed on the Pacific Highway.

Close by with the dogs

Banora Point Dog Park is the suburb's other off-leash option if you want open ground instead of fencing. Dulcie and Edna and Felicity's Coffee Co both take dogs outside for the coffee leg, and Dayo Cafe is the pick in Tweed Heads. More grounds are on our NSW dog parks page and the Banora Point guide.