Woofside Fenced Dog Park

Woofside Fenced Dog Park is Mount Barker District Council's purpose-built off-leash park on Woodside Road in Nairne, opened after a community campaign for a proper dog park in the town. Its signature detail is the airlock double gate, so nervous or excitable dogs cannot bolt on the way in or out.

The dog setup

The council opened the park after residents lobbied for a dedicated fenced space, and the layout reflects that feedback: simple, secure and low-fuss rather than a sprawling adventure course. If your dog is new to off-leash parks, the single entry airlock and small footprint make it an easy first venue.

Off-leash play is permitted only inside the fenced enclosure, and dogs must be leashed immediately outside it. Carry a lead at all times, keep your dog under effective control and supervised, and bin waste using the dispensers and bins on site. Dogs showing aggression need to be leashed and removed, and declared dangerous or restricted breeds are not permitted in the off-leash area.

Inside, the park pairs 1.8-metre secure fencing with irrigated turf, a gravel footpath loop for laps, a water fountain with a dog bowl, sheltered seating, a few activity zones and scattered shade trees. Parking is an informal gravel car park on site.

Pepsi: the airlock gate is my favourite invention. Nobody escapes, everybody calms down, and then the gravel loop is all mine.

Worth knowing

As a newer facility the turf is still settling in patches; the gravel loop stays usable when the grass is soft after rain. Mornings draw Nairne's regulars, while midday visits often have the run to themselves.

Getting there and parking

The park sits on the corner of Woodside Road and Webber Drive, Nairne SA 5252, a couple of minutes off the Old Princes Highway. There is no dedicated public transport stop at the gate, so a car is the practical option.

Make a day of it

Maple and Myrtle on the Old Princes Highway keeps dog-friendly outdoor seating under its front verandah, and Howard Vineyard is close by if you want to stretch a park visit into an afternoon in the hills.

More runs are listed on the South Australian dog parks guide and the Nairne destination page.