Taroona Dog park

Taroona Dog park, also known as Taroona Park or Apex Park, is a declared off-lead dog exercise area in the southern Hobart suburb of Taroona, bordered by Taroona Crescent, Nubeena Crescent and Bachelor Way. The dual setup is the draw: a large unfenced grassy parkland backed by a separate declared off-lead beach section east of the boat ramp.

Leash status

Under Kingborough Council rules, dogs can run off lead across the main parkland and the designated eastern beach, but lead restrictions apply everywhere else. Dogs must be on lead in the car park, on the foreshore trail and on the grassed areas around the barbecue, exercise equipment and public toilets, and are prohibited within 10 metres of the playground. The beach boundary is strict: only the sand east of the boat ramp is off lead, with no dogs permitted on the rest of the shoreline. Effective control applies at all times, meaning dogs respond to commands, stay visible and do not hinder other people or animals.

Water and terrain

The parkland itself is open grass with some natural tree shade. The off-lead beach section runs east from the boat ramp and includes big rocks and boulders that need careful footing for both of you. Low tide exposes substantially more sand for running, while high tide covers most of the available beach, so time your visit around the tide chart if the beach is the priority.

Pepsi: check the tide times before you head down. Low tide gives you proper sand to run on, high tide leaves you a sliver of beach between the rocks and the water.

Getting there and parking

The park is roughly 15 minutes south of the Hobart CBD via the Channel Highway. Street parking is available along Nubeena Crescent, with a designated Taroona Park parking lot adjacent to Taroona Hall. Metro Tasmania services run along the Channel Highway, a short walk from the park entrance.

Worth knowing

Public toilets and a barbecue area sit within the wider park precinct, making it workable for a longer stay. Bring your own waste bags, as the on-site supply is unreliable, and keep an eye on dogs near the rocks below the high-tide line.

While you're out there

The Salty Dog Hotel at Kingston Beach is an appropriately named stop with dogs welcome in the outdoor areas, and the Kingston View Drive Fenced Dog Park is the fully enclosed alternative in the area. The Alum Cliffs Track makes a striking on-lead walk between the two suburbs.

More options are on the Tasmania dog parks guide and the Taroona destination page.