Paradise Point Parklands Off-Leash Area

The off-leash exercise area on this stretch of the Gold Coast Broadwater is the northern end of the parklands where The Esplanade meets The Sovereign Mile. It is a grass-and-foreshore zone with calm, shallow water right off the lawn, which makes it as much a swimming spot as a running one.

The dog setup

Only the northern end of the parklands is off-leash; the rest of the waterfront park stays on lead, and City of Gold Coast enforcement is strict about it. Lead your dog on before you enter and as you leave, keep them under effective voice control inside the zone, and keep dogs out of the children's playground and the swimming enclosure entirely. Bins and bag dispensers are provided, so clean up as you go.

Amenities suit a long stay: drinking water taps, waste-bag dispensers, seating and some tree shade on the grass, with public toilets and barbecues in the wider parklands. Direct sandy access means the water is steps away, and the Broadwater edge here is calm and shallow, gentle enough for cautious swimmers.

Pepsi: the water is right there off the grass, so bring a towel. A quick swim usually turns into three.

Swim etiquette keeps the zone pleasant for everyone: rinse-ball-obsessed dogs away from other swimmers, watch for jabiru and pelicans working the shallows, and remember the swimming enclosure for humans is out of bounds for dogs entirely. Towels in the car boot are the local convention for good reason.

Worth knowing

Parking along The Esplanade and The Sovereign Mile fills early on weekend mornings, when the parklands draw both dog owners and the general weekend crowd. Weekday or mid-morning visits are the relaxed ones, and the northerly end stays cooler thanks to the sea breeze.

Getting there and parking

The parklands front The Esplanade at the northern end of the suburb, roughly 15 minutes north of Southport. TransLink buses stop along the main road through the suburb with a short walk to the water.

While you're out there

Bayview Park Fenced Dog Park at Hollywell is the enclosed option nearby if your dog needs a fully fenced run, and The Spit Dog Beach is the broader sand-and-surf alternative to the south. Ripples Cafe & Bar at Runaway Bay keeps pet-friendly waterside tables.

More options are on the Queensland dog parks guide and the Runaway Bay destination page.