Paws Park

Paws Park is a fenced, off-leash dog park inside Tucker Family Park in the Brentwood Forest estate, Bellbird Park. The enclosure covers around 1,600 square metres, is open 24 hours, and is split into separate zones for small and large dogs, which makes it a solid pick if you have a nervous or older dog who does not want to be bowled over by the big-dog crowd.

The dog setup

Dogs must stay under effective voice control even inside the fence, and aggressive dogs need to be leashed and removed straight away. Pick up after your dog immediately; bins are on site but can run out during busy periods, so carry a spare bag. Dogs should be fully vaccinated before using the park, and children should be supervised around the off-leash areas. Entry is through a double-gate system, and agility-style equipment, shade trees and benches fill out the space.

Max: close the first gate fully before you open the second. The double-gate setup only works if you use both, and it is the one job people rush.

Worth knowing

Water points exist in the vicinity but are not guaranteed to be running, so bring your own bowl and water to be safe. The grass turns to mud fast after heavy rain, so give it a day or two to dry out. Weekday mornings are the quietest window, while Saturday afternoons and weekday evenings draw the biggest crowds. The broader Tucker Family Park sits right alongside, with a playground, play tower and outdoor gym for the rest of the family.

Getting there and parking

The park sits at 77 Meadows Circuit, Bellbird Park, reached via the Centenary Highway (M5), roughly 30 to 40 minutes from Brisbane or 15 minutes from Ipswich. On-street parking runs along Meadows Circuit, and bus stops on Redbank Plains Road are within a short walk.

While you're out there

The second enclosure in the same park, Tucker Family Park Dog Off-Leash Area, gives you an alternative yard if Paws Park is busy, and Opossum Creek Parklands Fenced Dog Park in Brookwater is a few minutes away for a change of scenery. For a dog-friendly coffee afterwards, Remedy Espresso Cafe at Springfield Lakes takes dogs at its outdoor tables.

More options are on the Queensland dog parks guide and the Bellbird Park destination page.