Whitfords North Dog Exercise Area

Whitfords North Dog Exercise Area is Craigie's designated off-leash space, a large grassy reserve entered off Rosette Close in the City of Joondalup. It is a local exercise ground for suburban dogs rather than a facility heavy destination park.

The dog setup

The reserve is one of the City's designated dog exercise areas, so off-leash running is the point, provided dogs stay under effective control. That means reliable recall, no wildlife chasing and no charging other park users, per the council's dog control guidelines.

Check the signage on arrival for the boundaries, and note that nearby Craigie Open Space is a dog prohibited area, so the leash goes back on outside the marked exercise ground. Leash rules also apply in the car park and surrounding streets.

Shade trees, some seating and bins are on site, and the setup is straightforward, so bringing your own water bowl is the safe bet on warm days.

The vibe

Expect a local crowd of regulars rather than weekend tourists, with the quietest sessions on weekday mornings. Early evening in summer is the comfortable window once the grass has cooled off.

Pepsi: I like a park where I can hear my own paws. This one is big enough for a proper gallop and still close enough to home that nobody gets carsick.

Getting there

Street parking is available on Rosette Close and the surrounding Craigie streets. The reserve sits near Warrandyte Park and the Craigie Leisure Centre, which makes it easy to combine with either on the same trip, and Whitfords shopping area is a few minutes' drive away for supplies.

Close by with the dogs

Warrandyte Park offers an open neighbourhood option nearby, and if your dog needs a fully enclosed yard the Elcar Park Fenced Dog Park has separate small and large dog enclosures a short drive north.

For a coastal session, Hillarys Dog Beach is off-leash all year, and Grounded Cafe at Kallaroo covers the coffee run. More parks sit on the Craigie destination page and in the Western Australia parks guide.