Dog Friendly Park

Port Macquarie's main fenced off-leash dog park sits in the Stuart Park Regional Sporting Precinct at 2 Woods Street, in West Port Macquarie. It is the one to head for when you want a secure, fully enclosed run rather than an unfenced beach: double-gated, split into large and small dog areas, and only a few minutes from the town centre.

The rules. Dogs run off-leash only inside the designated fenced areas; in the surrounding parkland they must be on lead. Stay with your dog and keep it under effective control, clean up (bag dispensers and bins are provided), and remove any dog showing aggression toward other dogs or people. Check on-site signage on the day for any changes.

What's there. It is fully fenced with double-gated entry, and has separate enclosures for large dogs and for small or timid dogs. There is agility gear (a tunnel, hurdles, a sit-and-stay platform and a log and rock scramble), a water bubbler with a dog-bowl attachment, natural tree shade and bench seating for owners. Public toilets are available within the wider sporting precinct.

The terrain. The ground is a mix of grass and dirt or sand, so it turns dusty in dry spells and can get muddy or puddle after rain. Worth knowing before a white-dog day.

Getting there. The address is 2 Woods Street, in West Port Macquarie, easy to reach off the local roads. There is ample free on-site parking in the precinct, including accessible spaces. The town centre is a 3 to 4 minute drive.

Nearby with the dogs. Plenty of dog-friendly footpath cafes sit in the town centre a few minutes away, and Sandbox over near Flynns Beach is an easy add-on. Pepsi: the separate small-dog enclosure is brilliant for a shy or little dog, it gets a real run without the big boofheads barrelling through.

When to go. It is busiest on Saturday mornings and Tuesday evenings, and quietest on Thursday and Saturday nights. If your dog is timid, aim for a weekday or a late Sunday afternoon. Good for confident runners and, in the small-dog yard, the nervous ones too.

Sources

• Stuart Park Regional Sporting Precinct - Port Macquarie-Hastings Council · pmhc.nsw.gov.au

Compiled from public sources and verified listings. Always confirm current rules with the venue or council before you travel.