Henry Kendall Canine Park

Henry Kendall Canine Park is a fully fenced off-leash dog park inside Henry Kendall Reserve on Ocean Drive, on the western edge of Laurieton on the NSW Mid North Coast. It pairs open grass with simple agility equipment, and the reserve itself runs down towards Stingray Creek, so a trip here can stretch well past the fence line if you keep the leash on outside it.

The dog setup

The enclosure is fully fenced with a double-gated entry, so dogs can run free safely. Inside you will find basic agility obstacles, a water bubbler with a dog bowl, and poo bag dispensers and bins around the perimeter. It is a single shared space rather than separate small and large dog yards, so nervous dogs should be watched closely. Dogs must stay under effective voice control even inside the fence, and an aggressive dog needs to be leashed and removed straight away. Waste pickup is expected immediately, same as anywhere in the Port Macquarie Hastings council area.

Worth knowing

Off-leash status applies only to the fenced canine park. The wider Henry Kendall Reserve is on-leash, and it is a popular spot with walkers and paddlers, so clip the leash back on once you cross the boundary. Shade and seating inside the enclosure are basic rather than generous, so bring a hat in summer. Early mornings and late afternoons draw the regulars; mid-morning is the calmer window if your dog prefers quiet company. If your dog fancies a paddle in Stingray Creek beyond the reserve, check tide times before you plan it.

Max: treat the fence line as the off-leash boundary. The riverfront bushland beyond it is lovely, but it is leash-on territory.

Getting there and parking

The park sits on Ocean Drive a few minutes' drive west of the Laurieton town centre, with a free gravel car park on site. If you are staying close by, pedestrian paths along Ocean Drive make it an easy walk. Laurieton is roughly 30 minutes south of Port Macquarie along Ocean Drive.

Close by with the dogs

For a coffee after the session, my people and Bold Espresso Bar are both in town. If you are turning it into a Camden Haven weekend, Diamond Waters Caravan Park at Dunbogan takes dogs, and the rest of the area is covered on the Laurieton destination page.

More options across the state are on the NSW dog parks guide.