Anzac Park

Anzac Park sits on the Lindisfarne waterfront with the Tasman Bridge framed across the river, a flat grassy reserve built around the war memorial and its plaques. Clarence City Council designates it an off-lead dog exercise area, which makes this one of the most useful open spaces on Hobart's eastern shore for owners who want a proper run rather than a tight on-lead loop.

The off-lead rules

Council conditions apply: dogs may run off lead under effective control, and they must be kept at least 10 metres from the play equipment near the memorial end. The park is open around the clock, and a drinking fountain with a dedicated dog water station stands close to the memorial, so the water problem solves itself. The ground is mostly level lawn with mature shade along the edges, barbecues sit nearby for the human half of the outing, and the riverfront path gives an on-lead cool-down when the play is done.

Getting there and parking

The reserve fronts Park Road at 1 Park Rd, a couple of minutes off the East Derwent Highway and roughly ten from the city via the Tasman Bridge. Parking runs along Park Road and the adjacent side streets, and the whole reserve is walkable in a few minutes from either end. Because the council lists it as open 24 hours, early and late visits work too, though at night the lighting thins out toward the river end. The memorial lawn sits at the heart of the reserve and the river frontage along the northern edge is where most owners end up, with ducks on the shallows keeping dogs honest. Cyclists and prams share the riverside path, so keep a hand free to shorten the lead when the path narrows, and note that the reserve drains well after rain compared with much of the eastern shore.

Close by with the dogs

For dogs that want fenced running rather than open reserve access, the South Street Reserve Fenced Dog Park at Bellerive is a few minutes south and keeps everyone inside the gate. Afterwards, Moto Vecchia in Bellerive does coffee with dogs welcome outside, and Glass Garden By The Bay sits within walking distance of the reserve for a longer sit-down lunch. The wider list of dog friendly parks in Tasmania covers the rest of the state.