DogsNT & DODC Showgrounds Area

The DogsNT and DODC Showgrounds Area in Winnellie is the Northern Territory's headquarters for organised dog sport, home to Dogs NT and the Darwin Obedience Dog Club. Open grass grounds host agility, obedience and rally training, with the clubs based at the Winnellie Showgrounds on Shean Road, just off the Stuart Highway about ten minutes from Darwin's city centre.

The dog setup

This is a club and event venue rather than an open off-leash park, so casual visitors should keep dogs leashed and under control unless a session or event says otherwise. The showgrounds carry well-maintained open-air grass, agility grounds and club rooms, built for structured training rather than a fenced free-run. Dogs in season are not permitted, clean up after your dog, and during trials or training sessions dogs not entered in the event may need to stay leashed and clear of the competition area.

The Darwin Obedience Dog Club runs obedience classes on Monday nights, with advanced agility and rally on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month, taking a break over December and January, and new member intakes on the first Monday of the month. Check the club calendar before turning up on a club night.

Max: Time your visit against the Dogs NT calendar. On club training nights and during the July show circuit the grounds fill with entrants, which is no place for a casual wander.

Getting there

The showgrounds sit on Shean Road, Winnellie, with the Dogs NT office at 10 Shean Road in the corner of the grounds facing the Stuart Highway. On-site parking is available, and bus stops along the Stuart Highway are a short walk away.

Make a day of it

Besser on Coonawarra Road is the neighbourhood's standout cafe, a speciality coffee and brunch spot in the industrial heart of Winnellie that is famously pet-friendly and hands out dog biscuits to visiting pups. Discovery Parks Darwin offers pet-friendly holiday park accommodation nearby, and for a fenced off-leash run the Bundilla Fenced Dog Park at Fannie Bay is a short drive away.

Best visited for a specific club session or event, confirmed in advance; for a casual off-leash walk, the fenced parks closer to the coast are a better bet. See more Northern Territory dog parks or check what else is dog friendly in Winnellie.