Ferndale Park (Dalrymple Ave Entry)

The Dalrymple Avenue entry to Ferndale Park opens onto a small, sunny grass patch in Chatswood that doubles as the park's only off-leash zone, with shaded bushland tracks and a creek line beyond it. It is a quieter alternative to the parks closer to the Chatswood CBD, but the off-leash arrangement is specific: this is one of those parks where you need to know exactly where the boundary is before you unclip.

The dog setup

Only the open grass area right at the Dalrymple Avenue entrance is off-leash. The rest of Ferndale Park is a designated wildlife protection area, so dogs stay strictly on-leash on the formal walking tracks through the fern gullies, and the reserve is an important habitat for native species including Powerful Owls, echidnas and bandicoots. Keep dogs away from the children's play area, and bag and bin waste, with bins provided near the entrance. There are no water taps, dog fountains or public toilets, so bring water for both of you.

Max: the off-leash patch is small and right by the road, so keep new or excitable dogs on a long line until you know they will come back before letting them off near the entrance.

The vibe

Go early on a weekday for a quiet, shaded loop and you will mostly share the tracks with birdwatchers and locals. Weekend foot traffic builds at the entrance, and the bushland paths turn muddy after rain, so expect wet paws if it has been wet. This is a park for a short off-leash play plus an on-leash bushwalk rather than a big off-leash run, and the nearby Campbell Park off-leash trial is Willoughby Council's answer for owners wanting more room.

Getting there and parking

The entrance is on Dalrymple Avenue, Chatswood NSW 2067, reached via Mowbray Road or Fullers Road. Parking is informal, free street parking along Dalrymple Avenue, so arrive early on weekends. Buses run along Mowbray Road with a five to ten minute walk from the nearest stop.

Close by with the dogs

If the small off-leash patch is not enough room, Unleashed Dog Exercise Area is Chatswood's dedicated off-leash ground, and Roseville Park Off-Leash Area is one suburb north. For a coffee afterward, The Incinerator Cafe in Willoughby is a short drive away with dog-friendly outdoor seating.

More options are in the New South Wales dog parks guide and on the Chatswood destination page.