Gateshead Dog Exercise Area

Gateshead Dog Exercise Area is an unfenced sports oval on the corner of Goundry Street and Willow Road, and the drawcard is a strict weekday off-leash window rather than any facilities, this is a quiet, no-frills field for a well-trained dog to stretch its legs before work.

The rules. Off-leash is permitted weekdays only, from sunrise to 10am. Outside that window dogs must be on a leash. Dogs need to be under effective voice control at all times, and any dog showing aggression or antisocial behaviour must be leashed and removed immediately. Lake Macquarie Council fines for an off-leash dog outside the permitted hours run to $330, so do not assume the field is off-leash on weekends, it is not.

What's there. Waste bins are provided, but bring your own bags, water and a bowl, there is no tap on site. There is no shade, no seating and no toilets, it is an open, exposed field that gets hot in summer sun and muddy after rain.

Getting there. The oval sits just off the Pacific Highway (A1), reached via the Charlestown or Warners Bay exits following signs to Gateshead. Free, unrestricted street parking runs along both Goundry Street and Willow Road. Bus stops on the Pacific Highway near Goundry Street are the nearest public transport, with a short walk in to the oval.

Nearby with the dogs. Gateshead itself is light on cafes, but Kahibah and Charlestown nearby have pet-friendly outdoor seating options worth checking, and Best Western Plus Apollo International in Kahibah is worth a call if you need pet-friendly accommodation in the area.

When to go. Get there right on sunrise on a weekday for the quietest, coolest run. Once 10am hits, leads go back on, and the field is best avoided altogether on hot, shadeless afternoons.

Sources

• LOVE YOUR DOG AND COMMUNITY · lakemac.com.au

Compiled from public sources and verified listings. Always confirm current rules with the venue or council before you travel.