Pet-Friendly Canberra: Dog Parks, Off-Leash Areas, Cafes and the Best Spots for Dogs in the Capital

Canberra is one of Australia's most extraordinarily dog-friendly cities, with the ACT government's extensive off-leash reserve network (the ACT has more off-leash reserves per capita than any other Australian capital city territory), the Lake Burley Griffin foreshore walking and cycling tracks, and the inner-city café culture of Braddon and Kingston providing an exceptional pet-owning environment. The ACT's bush capital character means that off-leash walks in genuine nature reserves (Mulligans Flat Woodland Sanctuary surrounds, the Canberra Nature Park) are available within 20 minutes of the CBD.

Off-leash reserves and parks — the ACT's off-leash reserve network is the best in Australia on a per-capita basis, with formal off-leash reserves in every Canberra district. The Weston Park dog park (Weston Creek, adjacent to Lake Burley Griffin) is one of Canberra's largest and most popular, with the lake foreshore access, the excellent grass areas, and the fenced dog agility equipment creating a complete dog park experience. The Civic (city) off-leash area at Glebe Park, the Braddon off-leash area, and the numerous suburban reserves in Gungahlin, Tuggeranong, and Belconnen provide network-wide coverage.

Lake Burley Griffin foreshore walking — the Lake Burley Griffin foreshore walking and cycling tracks (the 35-kilometre circuit around the lake) permit leashed dogs on most sections and provide Canberra's finest urban dog walking environment, with the lake views, the parliamentary triangle backdrop, and the bird life of the lake foreshore creating a walk of extraordinary beauty in the heart of the national capital.

Pet-friendly cafés in Braddon and Kingston — the Braddon and Kingston café precincts are particularly pet-welcoming, with the majority of outdoor café tables accepting leashed dogs. Ona Coffee Braddon, Lonsdale Street Roasters, and the Many Hands precinct café operators consistently provide dog water bowls and a warm welcome for the substantial dog-owning population of the inner-city Canberra suburbs.

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