Mangrove Jack Park - Dog Leash Free area - No Fence

Mangrove Jack Park sits beside a small lake in Monterey Keys, Helensvale, with the off-leash zone reached off Mangrove Jack Boulevard. It is a large, open, unfenced area where dogs can run and take a swim in the lake, which is the main reason locals make the trip. Heads-up: as of 2026 a big section of the park forms part of the Coomera Connector construction site, so confirm current access and parking before you go.

The rules. This is an unfenced off-leash area, so reliable recall matters. Your dog must stay under effective voice control and be supervised by someone 17 or over. Leash on before you enter and as you leave, and keep dogs at least 10 metres clear of the playground and BBQ areas. Registration tag on the collar, and don't let dogs chase the waterbirds around the lake.

What's there. Open grass for running, lake access for a swim, and waste bins on site. There are no public toilets in the park itself; the nearest are across Hope Island Road, reached via the pedestrian underpass at the Monterey Keys roundabout. Bring your own poo bags and a water bowl.

Getting there. Access is via Mangrove Jack Boulevard in Monterey Keys, with street parking nearby. It sits close to the M1, so it's an easy detour from the northern Gold Coast suburbs. Bus stops on Hope Island Road serve the area. Construction may eat into parking and open space, so allow extra time.

Watch-outs. The lake water level varies; skip a swim straight after heavy rain. Because the area is unfenced and now borders an active worksite, keep nervous or bolting dogs leashed near the boundaries.

Best visited early morning or late afternoon when locals are out walking; the middle of a weekday is quietest. Good for confident, water-loving dogs with a dependable recall.

Sources

• Mangrove Jack Park | City of Gold Coast · goldcoast.qld.gov.au
• Dog exercise area map - City of Gold Coast · goldcoast.qld.gov.au
• Mangrove Jack Park: Walk Around the Lake · elliesgoldcoastparks.com

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