Forestville Dog Off-leash Area

The Forestville Dog Off-leash Area is Northern Beaches Council's name for the two dedicated dog zones inside the Forestville War Memorial Playing Fields on Melwood Avenue: the fully fenced Purple Poppy Dog Park and a timed section of Field 3. It is the safer, more structured option if you want your dog off-leash without relying on open parkland.

The dog setup

Purple Poppy is fenced and off-leash around the clock, which takes the guesswork out of a visit. Field 3, at the southern end beside the synthetic sports fields, is off-leash only from 10pm to 8am on weekdays and 10pm to 7am on weekends, with dogs on-leash outside those windows. The synthetic sports fields are off limits to dogs entirely, keep at least 10 metres from playgrounds, and voice control is expected even inside the fence.

On site you get bench seating, water, and some lighting for early or late visits. The wider complex adds public toilets, cricket nets, a skate area, the Margaret Cliff courts and walking paths, and coffee carts often appear during busy weekend sport fixtures.

Pepsi: the fenced Purple Poppy side is the better bet if your dog gets distracted easily. The timed Field 3 window is a night-owl option, not a daytime one.

The vibe

This is a working sporting complex first and a dog area second, so expect juniors, cricketers and netballers sharing the grounds. Weekday early mornings and late afternoons draw steady crowds of locals, and weekend mornings are the busiest stretch overall. For a quieter fenced run, aim for the middle of a weekday, when the fields are empty and Purple Poppy is usually calm.

Getting there and parking

Access is via Melwood Avenue off Warringah Road, with dedicated parking inside the grounds and additional street parking along Melwood Avenue and Forestville Avenue. Bus stops along Warringah Road put the fields within a short walk if you are coming from the city side.

Close by with the dogs

For a more bush-surrounded run, the Currie Road dog park is the other main Forestville option, and Frenchs Forest Showground is close by. Behind the Beans covers the coffee stop on the way home.

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