Small dog Park Gawler

The small dog park in Gawler is the dedicated little breeds run inside the fenced dog park at Clonlea Reserve, Willaston, just north of the Gawler town centre. It is a separate fully fenced enclosure walled off from the main dog run, so small dogs and puppies can play off lead without the big runners in the mix.

Max: aproper small dog yard with its own gate, no need to watch the big dogs the whole visit.

The dog setup

The enclosure is fenced off from the adjoining large dog run, and entry is through a double gate airlock, which is the detail that matters most if your small dog bolts at an opening gate. Ground underfoot is grassed with mounds and feature logs to poke around. There is a drinking fountain with a tilt tray dog bowl, sheltered seating for owners, and bins on site. The section is intended for small dogs and puppies; that separation is the whole point of the second fence.

Worth knowing

Off lead applies inside the enclosure only. The rest of Clonlea Reserve, including the river paths, is on lead. Supervise your dog the whole visit, close both gates behind you, pick up and use the bins. If a dog is getting rough, the etiquette is to leash up and step out rather than wait it out. There are no stated opening hour restrictions, so early mornings and weekday middays are the quiet windows if your dog is shy.

Getting there and parking

The reserve sits on Murray Road, Willaston, on the banks of the North Para River. Car parks are spread through the reserve, and the dog park is a short walk from the nearest bays. The wider reserve carries a playground, picnic tables, BBQs, toilets, tennis courts and the Gawler skate park, so it handles a mixed family visit.

While you're out there

Clonlea Reserve is the trailhead for the Gawler Rivers Path, a flat shared trail looping through river red gums, good for an on lead warm up before or after the run. For the full rundown on gates, the main enclosure and quiet times, see the Clonlea Reserve dog park guide. If the visit turns into a morning out, Cafe Nova in Gawler is a coffee stop, and Gawler Caravan Park suits travellers passing through with a dog. More runs across South Australia and around Gawler.