Shale Hills Fenced Dog Park

Shale Hills Fenced Dog Park is a five-hectare purpose-built off-leash park inside the Western Sydney Parklands at the corner of Second Avenue and Mannow Avenue, West Hoxton. It is one of the largest fenced dog parks in the region, with rolling grass hills, separate enclosures and a full agility circuit, built for a proper outing rather than a quick stop.

The dog setup

The park splits into zones for large dogs and a separate enclosure for small or shy dogs, and both run to agility equipment including tunnels, weave poles and balance beams. A sensory garden planted with lavender and mint sits within the grounds, and the open hills between them give plenty of room for fetch at distance. Water fountains serve both dogs and people, poo bags are supplied, and binning waste is mandatory.

Worth knowing

The park is open to walkers around the clock, but the vehicle gate to the car park runs 6am to 6pm, extending to 8pm during daylight saving, so if you are driving, plan around that. Dogs must be leashed entering and leaving the fenced area and under effective control inside. Dogs on heat and registered dangerous dogs are not permitted. There are no public toilets on site, so sort that before you arrive; a shaded terrace with umbrellas and seating covers the human comfort side.

Max: five fenced hectares is rare in Sydney. Get here before the vehicle gate closes, start your dog on the agility circuit and let the hills do the rest.

Getting there

The park sits in the parklands between West Hoxton and Middleton Grange, approached off Second Avenue with a large free car park inside the gate. The M7 and Liverpool are both close, and the Shale Hills Loop walking track passes through the same parkland.

Close by with the dogs

Cirillo Reserve Fenced Dog Park in Middleton Grange is a smaller, quieter enclosed option with a sand play area, and Macleod Park Fenced Dog Park in Prestons is a short drive north. Middleton Brew is the nearest dog-friendly coffee stop.

More options are on the New South Wales parks guide and the West Hoxton destination page.