St Ives Showground Fenced Dog Park

St Ives Showground on Mona Vale Road has two fully fenced, off-leash dog rings on its grounds, making it one of the more reliable enclosed spaces on Sydney's upper North Shore for a proper off-leash run without the risk of a dog bolting toward traffic.

The rules. Dogs must stay on-leash across the general showground grounds, but can run off-leash inside Dog Ring 6 or Dog Ring 7. Voice control is still required even inside the fenced rings, and owners must clean up immediately. The rings can also be booked for private training sessions through the council, so it is worth checking availability before you drive over, particularly on weekends.

What's there. Dog Ring 6 is the smaller of the two (roughly 45m by 33m), sitting near the Douglas Pickering Pavilion and suited to smaller or older dogs. Dog Ring 7 is larger (roughly 45m by 36m), runs parallel to Mona Vale Road, and gives high-energy dogs more room to sprint. Both rings have tap water and seating, with public toilets about 50-60 metres away.

Getting there. Free, ample parking is available throughout the showground, close to both rings, so driving is the easy option. Public transport is workable but roundabout: the nearest train station is Gordon, then a connecting bus toward St Ives.

Early mornings and late afternoons on weekends draw the biggest crowds; weekday mid-mornings and mid-afternoons are noticeably quieter. Good for owners after a genuinely secure space to let a boisterous dog off-leash without walking a creek trail first.

Sources

• Dog Ring 7 - Ku-ring-gai Council · krg.nsw.gov.au
• St Ives Showground Details | Bookable Ku-ring-gai Council · krg.bookable.net.au
• St Ives Showground map (PDF) · krg.nsw.gov.au

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