Shepparton Fenced Dog Park (Princess Park)

Shepparton's fenced off-leash park sits in the bushland north of the Runners Club building at Princess Park, on the corner of Quinan Parade and Nixon Street. A 1.8-metre perimeter fence and separate zones for big and small dogs make it the safest bet in town for a confident off-leash run, and solar lighting stretches the day at both ends.

The dog setup

Three zones split the dogs by size and temperament, including a quieter run for timid or single dogs, alongside basic agility equipment, established trees for shade, bench seating, bins with waste bags, and a water fountain with a dog-bowl attachment.

Under Greater Shepparton City Council rules, dogs are off-leash only inside the signposted fenced area, the handler must be 18 or over, and you need to stay inside and supervise directly. Leash up before entering and leaving, carry the lead at all times, and remove any dog showing aggression.

Worth knowing

Elsewhere in Princess Park and in every other council park, dogs must stay on a physical lead of up to three metres, so this enclosure is the only free-run zone in the reserve. Bring extra water in summer even with the fountain on site.

Max: the separate timid-dog run is the reason to come midweek. If your dog reads other dogs slowly, a quiet weekday morning in that zone beats the weekend scrum.

Getting there and parking

Access is off Nixon Street with parking near the Runners Club building and in the wider Princess Park bays, an easy run from the Shepparton CBD. Street parking is straightforward outside peak times.

Close by with the dogs

The Terminus Hotel and Aussie Hotel both welcome dogs in their outdoor beer gardens for a feed afterwards, and Ducat Reserve's fenced dog park is the council's other off-leash option.

More options are on the Victorian dog park guide and the Shepparton destination page.

Leash status

Off-leash inside the fenced zones only; on-lead (max three metres) everywhere else in the reserve.

Water

Fountain with dog bowl; top up your own bottle in hot weather.

When to go

Weekday mornings and mid-afternoons are quietest. Weekend mornings and weekdays after about 4:30pm draw the local crowd, and the solar lighting makes early and late visits safe year round.