Mackay Off Lead Fenced Dog Park

The fenced off-lead dog park on Willis Street in North Mackay is known to Mackay Regional Council as the Police Dog Tunza Dog Park, though most locals just say the Gooseponds dog park after the wetland parklands it sits within. Fully fenced, open around the clock, and equipped with agility gear, it is one of the most complete off-leash setups in Mackay: a secure yard for the run, then a lagoon-side walk to cool the dog down without moving the car.

The dog setup

The enclosure is fully fenced, so dogs can go off-lead the moment they are through the gate. Inside there are shaded seating areas under mature trees, drinking water for dogs and owners, waste bins, and an agility course that gives working breeds something to think about beyond fetch. The council's conditions are the usual ones: your dog stays under your supervision and effective control even inside the fence, a lead stays on you at all times, waste is collected and binned (fines apply for not picking up), and any dog that bites, fights or shows aggression is leashed and taken straight out. Excessive barking is on you to manage, since houses sit close to the reserve.

One boundary matters here: only the fenced enclosure is off-leash. The wider Gooseponds reserve, with its shared paths around the wetlands, is strictly on-lead. That split is actually the park's best feature, because a fenced energy burn pairs neatly with a leashed loop past the lagoons afterwards.

Pepsi: do the agility gear first, then the on-lead wetland loop while your dog is too tired to drag you after the waterbirds.

Worth knowing

Early mornings and late afternoons are the busy windows, and weekends stay active through most of the morning. If your dog does better in a quieter yard, aim for mid-morning or mid-afternoon on a weekday. Bring your own waste bags as a backup; council supplies are good but not guaranteed.

Getting there and parking

The park sits on Willis Street opposite the North Mackay State Primary School, and parking is on-street right at the gate. From the Bruce Highway, Glenpark Street or Sams Road both get you there in a few minutes. Bus stops along Mackay-Bucasia Road are the closest public transport, but a car is the practical way to arrive, especially with a wet dog for the trip home.

While you're out there

Nearby Two Dogs Laughing and Middle Ground in Beaconsfield both make easy coffee stops after a park session, and Botanic Gardens Cafe pairs with a leashed wander through the gardens. Staying over? Mackay Caravan Park is in North Mackay itself.

More options across the region are on the Queensland dog parks guide and the North Mackay destination page.