Riverside Gardens Dog Exercise Area

Riverside Gardens Dog Exercise Area is the off-leash side of Bayswater's big riverside reserve on the Swan River, reached from Milne Street, and it is built for dogs that want space to actually run rather than another footpath walk. Between the open eastern flats, a river beach for swimming and a fenced enclosure with agility gear, it covers most dogs' needs in one visit.

The dog setup

The eastern side of the reserve is off lead, provided your dog is under effective voice control, and there is a small river beach where confident swimmers can paddle. The western side near the playground is on lead only, so note which side you are on before unclipping.

A separate fenced area splits into sections for small and large dogs, useful if yours is nervous around bigger breeds or you would rather not chase a runner across open ground. It has agility equipment inside, and waste bags and bins are spread through the reserve. Dog water fountains, public toilets, picnic shelters and bench seating round out the facilities, with mature trees for shade.

Worth knowing

Weekends and summer evenings get busy, and flat sealed paths make the whole reserve easy to lap with a pram or mobility aid. Coffee vans often set up on weekends. Keep dogs clear of the Eric Singleton Bird Sanctuary next door, which is a protected wetland rather than part of the exercise area.

Getting there

Turn into Milne Street from King William Street. Large car parks sit on both the east and west sides, including ACROD bays, and they fill on weekends, so arrive early for a bay near the fenced area. Bayswater train station is a short walk or quick drive away.

Max: if your dog needs a hard boundary rather than open ground, head for the fenced section. It is split by size, so you are not managing a boisterous large dog around something smaller.

Pair it with

The Oarhouse sits right next door on Milne Street for a coffee with river views afterwards, and the Maylands Peninsular Loop continues the foreshore walking if the dogs still have legs.

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