Shaftesbury Street Big and Small Dog Parks

Shaftesbury Street is Tarragindi's dedicated off-leash park: a fully fenced, roughly half-acre site split into separate sections for big dogs and small dogs, open 24 hours. It is one of the more popular fenced parks on Brisbane's southside, with returfed grass, shade trees and a social scene that keeps the regulars coming back most evenings.

The dog setup

Two separately fenced enclosures run behind double-gated entries, one for big dogs and one for small, with returfed grass underfoot and shade from mature trees. Water fountains serve dogs and people, bag stations and bins are placed throughout, and a sheltered picnic gazebo gives owners a place to sit. Even inside the fence, Brisbane City Council conditions apply: dogs under effective voice control, owners supervising, and it is on you to keep your dog in the correct size section. Off-leash applies within the enclosures only; the surrounding parkland and streets stay on-lead.

Worth knowing

The wider parkland adds public toilets, a playground and basketball courts, and there is a dog wash and treat vending machine right beside the park, which earns practical points after a dusty session. The park is accessible 24/7 with lighting for evening visits, but bring a torch for the darker corners after dark. Weekend mornings and Friday afternoons draw the biggest crowds, Sunday morning loudest of all; mid-week mornings and evenings are the calm windows for a nervous or older dog.

Max: Check which gate you're at before you let your dog off the lead. The big and small dog sections are separately fenced, so it's easy to end up in the wrong one if you're new to the park.

Getting there and parking

The park is at 51 Shaftesbury Street, Tarragindi, a few kilometres south of the Brisbane CBD. Free street parking runs along Shaftesbury Street directly outside, and local bus routes serve the surrounding streets.

Close by with the dogs

Tarragindi Small Dog Park gives small breeds a second option if the small-dog enclosure here is busy, and the Toohey Forest tracks are next door for an on-lead bushwalk. For coffee, Botanicafe at Moorooka is a short drive away, and The Willow Hotel covers a pub meal with the dog in tow.

More options are on the Queensland dog parks list, or browse dog friendly Tarragindi.