Norman Buchan Park

Norman Buchan Park on Rainworth Road, in Bardon rather than Red Hill, spreads over about 3.5 hectares of grass and trees beside Western Creek, with an unfenced off-leash area as its draw.

Leads and the off-lead area

Brisbane City Council manages the park. Dogs can go off the lead in the designated off-leash area and must be on a lead in the rest of the park.

With no fence around the off-leash section, a reliable recall matters.

The walk

Concrete paths and worn tracks over lawn cross open fields, shady trees and pockets of scrub along the creek. Playgrounds and picnic spots mean families are usually about.

Taps and bins are near the main paths, and street parking runs along Rainworth Road.

Make a day of it

Woolcock Park in Red Hill is another walk nearby, and the Hope and Anchor in Paddington suits a drink after.

The shade makes it a reasonable summer option. It suits social dogs with solid recall.