Franklin Dog Park

Franklin Dog Park is a purpose-built, fully fenced off-leash enclosure at the corner of Nullarbor Avenue and Oodgeroo Avenue in Gungahlin. At 2,870 square metres with a 1.7 metre chain-link perimeter and a proper agility setup, it's a compact but thoughtfully fitted-out space that punches above its size for a suburb dog park.

The dog setup

Irrigated grass covers the main run, good for ball and frisbee work, and a dedicated agility zone carries weave poles, a pyramid ramp, hoops, bar jumps and logs. A covered seating shelter and a dog drinking fountain sit on site, and an accessible loop path circles the interior. Bag dispensers and bins are provided. Forty-eight young trees have been planted for future shade and habitat, though for now cover is limited on bright days.

Max: weave poles, then the pyramid ramp, then pretend I did it all by choice. Agility is just fetch with paperwork.

The rules

Off-leash applies inside the fence only; the surrounding paths and reserves are on-lead territory. ACT rules under the Domestic Animals Act require you to stay in the park and keep your dog under effective control, and dogs showing aggression must be leashed and taken home. Female dogs on heat and unvaccinated puppies don't belong here. Share the agility zone fairly, and give a new dog room to settle before running the course.

Getting there and parking

The small asphalt car park holds seven spaces, two of them accessible, plus five bike rails, and that's the hard limit: it fills fast at peak times. The Franklin light rail stop on Flemington Road is a short walk away, which makes leaving the car behind the practical option, and local pathways connect the park to the surrounding Franklin streets on foot or bike.

The vibe

Weekday mornings and late afternoons are busy; weekends see steady use all day. For a calmer session, aim for mid-morning to early afternoon on a weekday. The regular crowd skews friendly and the agility gear gives high-energy dogs a job to do, which keeps the main field from turning into pure chaos.

Close by with the dogs

When Franklin is full, Forde Dog Park is the nearest alternative enclosure in Gungahlin, and Springbank Rise Dog Park in Casey adds separate small-dog and large-dog areas. The Yerrabi Pond Loop makes a good on-lead warm-up. After the run, Caffe al Lago in the Gungahlin town centre is an easy stop with the dog.

Browse more dog parks across the ACT or see the rest of what's dog friendly in Franklin.