Fenced Dog Parks on the Northern Gold Coast: All 17, Ranked

8 min read

Three dogs playing together inside a fenced off-leash dog park

The short version

The northern Gold Coast has more fenced dog parks than most people realise. We read City of Gold Coast's own Park Finder pages for the north end's off-leash areas, from Southport to Jacobs Well, and found 17 council parks with a fenced dog exercise area, ten of them with agility equipment. Our five favourites are Bayview Park in Hollywell, Regatta Lake in Oxenford, Scenic Park in Benowa, Saltwater Park in Hope Island and Galapagos Park in Pacific Pines. The full list, by suburb, is further down.

Last checked 28/10/2026. Every park rule here comes from the council or park authority's own pages, every venue from its own website or socials plus its Google listing, and each fact was checked a second time before we published.

Why fenced matters

An open off-leash area is fine for a dog with rock-solid recall. A fenced one is for everyone else: puppies still learning their name, rescues you're getting to know, sighthounds that see a bird and forget you exist, and older dogs who just want to potter without you hovering. A fence also means you can relax enough to actually enjoy it. One thing a fence doesn't change: council's rules still apply inside, so your dog must be under effective control, supervised by someone aged 17 or over, and on a lead on the way in and out.

How we ranked them

Every park on this page is fenced, according to council's own description. To pick our favourites we looked at what council says each park has on top of the fence: agility gear, a second yard for small or nervous dogs, water for dogs, toilets for humans, shade, and what else you can do there. It's our opinion, not a council ranking, and the "best" park is honestly the closest one your dog loves.

Our top five fenced dog parks

1. Bayview Park, Hollywell

The best all-rounder on the northern Gold Coast. Council describes Bayview Park as a completely fenced, off-leash dog park with agility equipment, plus a second, smaller fenced area. That second yard is the clincher: it gives small dogs, puppies and older dogs somewhere to play without getting flattened. There are two playgrounds (dogs aren't allowed in either) and picnic shelters, but no toilets, so plan ahead.

Where: Hyacinth Avenue, Hollywell
Agility: yes
Small-dog yard: yes, a second smaller fenced area
Toilets: no

More in our Runaway Bay, Hollywell and Paradise Point guide.

2. Damian Leeding Memorial Park (Regatta Lake), Oxenford

The best day out. Council says the park has a fenced dog exercise area with agility equipment, about 400 metres from the Watersports Centre, and a 3.9 kilometre walking track that loops around the lake. Do the loop on a lead, then let them loose in the fenced area. Public toilets are as you enter Michael Shelley Way. One rule to know: council says swimming isn't permitted in the lake because of water quality, and the banks drop quickly into deep water, so keep your dog out of it.

Where: Michael Shelley Way, Oxenford
Agility: yes
Toilets: yes, at the entrance
Bonus: 3.9km lake loop, on-lead

3. Scenic Park, Benowa

The biggest fenced space for the size of the park. Council says the fully fenced off-leash dog exercise area takes up most of the park, with a water fountain and agility equipment. The playground is separately fenced and shaded. There are no toilets.

Where: Scenic Avenue, Benowa
Agility: yes
Water for dogs: yes, a water fountain
Toilets: no

4. Saltwater Park, Hope Island

The only fenced park on this list where council describes an area for dogs to swim. Saltwater Park is a wetland reserve beside Saltwater Creek with a large fenced off-leash area, agility equipment and a dog swimming area. It's quiet and leafy. There's a dog prohibited area north of the pond, and there are no toilets.

Where: Helensvale Road, Hope Island
Agility: yes
Swim: yes, a council-described dog swimming area
Toilets: no

More in our Hope Island and Sanctuary Cove guide.

5. Galapagos Park, Pacific Pines

Two parks in one. Council says the whole park is a designated off-leash area, with a fenced dog agility area in the middle. Confident dogs can roam the bushland paths while the fenced section is there for training or for dogs who need the safety net. No public toilets.

Where: Galapagos Way, Pacific Pines
Agility: yes, in the fenced area
Toilets: no

More in our Gaven and Pacific Pines guide.

While you're here: Pets Juicy PLUS+

No pressure, just a heads-up in case it's useful. Pets Juicy PLUS+ is our rewards program, and there's nothing to join.

$25 store credit for every $500 you spend on grooms, washes and daycare
Every customer is in automatically, no card, no app
Credit lands in your account and lasts 12 months

Our studio is in Miami for now, but you never know where we'll pop up next. Pop your email in and you'll hear about Pets Juicy PLUS+, new local dog guides like this one, and anything else worth a tail wag first.

By signing up you agree to receive marketing emails from Pets Juicy. Unsubscribe any time. We handle your details as set out in our privacy policy. Read how rewards work on the Pets Juicy PLUS+ page.

Every fenced council dog park on the northern Gold Coast

All 17, checked against each park's council page. "Not listed" means council doesn't mention it, not that it definitely isn't there.

Park	Suburb	Agility	Worth knowing
Nick Pavlis Park, Whiting Street	Labrador	Yes	Playground, picnic facilities and shelter
Bayview Park, Hyacinth Avenue	Hollywell	Yes	Second smaller fenced yard; no toilets
Abbott Park, Parkwood Boulevard	Parkwood	Yes	BMX track, basketball and shaded playgrounds
Christina Ryan Park, 297 Napper Road	Arundel	Not listed	Good for obedience training; the rest of the park is dog prohibited
Scenic Park, Scenic Avenue	Benowa	Yes	Water fountain; no toilets
Saltwater Park, Helensvale Road	Hope Island	Yes	Dog swimming area; no toilets
Galapagos Park, Galapagos Way	Pacific Pines	Yes	Whole park off-leash, fenced agility area in the middle; no toilets
Weka Parklands, Binstead Way	Oxenford	Not listed	Restrooms including accessible toilets
Damian Leeding Memorial Park, Michael Shelley Way	Oxenford	Yes	3.9km lake loop; no swimming in the lake
Baker Creek Parklands, Stone Creek Drive	Upper Coomera	Not listed	Good for socialising and obedience training
Jacob Court Reserve, Gannon Way	Upper Coomera	Not listed	Fenced space for obedience training within the off-leash area
Rufous Whistler Park, Beadman Street	Pimpama	Yes	Skate park and basketball nearby
Propinqua Reserve, The Heights Boulevard	Pimpama	Not listed	Toilet block, barbecues and picnic shelters; named in council's 2026 review of dog areas, so check the signs
Vennor Reserve, 17 Vennor Drive	Ormeau	Yes	Fenced off-leash area for exercising and socialising
Maidenwell Park, 71A Maidenwell Road	Ormeau	Not listed	Separate dog obedience training area
Big Blue Gum Park, River Run Circuit	Ormeau Hills	Yes	Dog area on the Terania Avenue side; council also lists it as Ormeau Ridge Park
Riesenweber Park, 27 Bay Drive	Jacobs Well	Not listed	Beside sports fields, tennis courts and a skate area

Best fenced park for...

Small, old or nervous dogs: Bayview Park, for its second, smaller fenced yard.
A swim: Saltwater Park, the only one here with a council-described dog swimming area.
A long walk as well: Regatta Lake, with its 3.9km loop.
Toilets for the humans: Regatta Lake, Weka Parklands or Propinqua Reserve.
Training and recall work: Christina Ryan Park, Baker Creek Parklands, Jacob Court Reserve or Maidenwell Park, which council calls out for obedience training.
Agility fans: ten parks have agility gear, from Nick Pavlis Park in Labrador to Big Blue Gum Park in Ormeau Hills.

Fenced dog park manners

Lead on until you're inside the gate, and close each gate behind you, especially at double gates
Take toys out if another dog is possessive, and leave if your dog is getting overwhelmed or pushy
Puppies should be fully vaccinated before they visit a busy dog park; ask your vet when
Pick up after your dog, every time
Bring water on hot days, as most of these parks don't list water for dogs
Check for ticks after any park with long grass or bushland

Off-leash but not fenced? Our Gold Coast off-leash dog parks guide covers the rest of the city, and our northern Gold Coast dog guide links every suburb guide.

FAQs

What's the best fenced dog park on the northern Gold Coast?

Our pick is Bayview Park in Hollywell: it's completely fenced, has agility equipment and a second, smaller fenced yard for small or nervous dogs. Bring water and plan for no toilets.

Is there a fenced dog park with a swimming area?

Yes. Saltwater Park on Helensvale Road, Hope Island, has a large fenced off-leash area and council describes an area where dogs can swim.

Which fenced dog parks have toilets?

Council lists toilets at Damian Leeding Memorial Park (Regatta Lake), Weka Parklands and Propinqua Reserve. Bayview, Scenic, Saltwater and Galapagos parks don't have toilets.

How many fenced dog parks are on the northern Gold Coast?

We counted 17 City of Gold Coast parks between Southport and Jacobs Well where council describes a fenced dog exercise area, ten with agility equipment.

Checked 28/10/2026. We're humans working from public council, park and venue sources, and rules, hours, fees and dog policies change without notice. Always check the signs on the day and confirm with the venue, park or council before you go. Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we'll fix it.