Shoalhaven Heads Off leash dog park

The fenced off-leash area at Jerry Bailey Reserve is the town's main spot for letting a dog run without worrying about the road. It sits on Shoalhaven Heads Road beside the community centre, skate park and pump track, so it doubles as a family hub as much as a dog park.

The rules. The oval is fully fenced with a double-gated entry, which makes it the safe pick for dogs still learning their recall. One catch worth knowing: the space doubles as a junior cricket field, so if a game or training session is on, dogs go back on-leash. Shoalhaven City Council also lists timed off-leash windows for parts of the reserve (broadly afternoons and overnight, with on-leash daytime hours), and directory listings describe the fenced pen itself as usable whenever sport is not on. The two do not fully agree, so if you are relying on a specific hour, check the council off-leash guide before you go. Pick up after your dog and use the bins provided.

What's there. Secure high fencing, a double gate, water taps (bring your own bowl), and bag dispensers with bins. Seating is unshaded, so there is little relief on a hot afternoon. The adjacent reserve adds a picnic shelter, skate park, pump track and a public pool for the humans.

Getting there. The reserve is at 5013 Shoalhaven Heads Road, right on the main road into town. Parking is free and plentiful on-site, and local buses run along Shoalhaven Heads Road with stops near the reserve.

Nearby with the dogs. The 24-hour off-leash stretch of Shoalhaven Heads Beach starts about 200m north of the surf club, so you can pair the fenced run with a beach walk. For a feed afterwards, Hedy's Bistro at the Heads Hotel takes dogs on its river terrace, and Holiday Haven Shoalhaven Heads is close by for pet-friendly cabins and sites.

Weekends and sunny late afternoons are the busiest. A weekday morning around 7am gives you the run of the place, and if you are heading to the beach afterwards, aim for low tide for the widest, firmest sand.

Sources

• Dog off-leash and prohibited areas - Shoalhaven City Council · shoalhaven.nsw.gov.au

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