Dog-Friendly Parks Perth: Fitness Groups & Off-Leash Zones

Perth dog owners now meet at designated parks for combined walks and fitness classes that run every weekend.

Interest has grown since City of Perth expanded off-leash zones in 2024, allowing more residents to exercise with pets rather than leave them at home. July winter mornings still draw steady groups because the mild temperatures suit both people and dogs on trails that stay dry most weeks.

Kings Park trails and Swan River paths

Kings Park offers five-kilometre loop trails where owners meet for Saturday morning runs that finish with cool-down stretches near the war memorial. The same park hosts the weekly Kings Park parkrun that starts at 8am and welcomes dogs on leads along the outer paths. Further east, the Swan River foreshore near South Perth provides flat cycling routes that double as dog-walking corridors, with several fitness trainers leading body-weight circuits at the water’s edge on Sunday afternoons.

These locations sit within short drives from central neighbourhoods such as Subiaco and East Perth, so participants can reach them without special transport. Both sites include water stations and waste bins that the City of Perth services twice weekly.

Numbers and costs

City records from 2025 list 1,850 registered dogs using Kings Park off-leash areas each month, up from 1,420 the previous year. The parkrun event records an average of 140 finishers on Saturdays, with roughly one-third bringing dogs. Entry stays free, though participants pay two dollars for an optional coffee voucher at the nearby kiosk after the run.

Residents who want to join can check the City of Perth website for updated off-leash maps or sign up for the parkrun newsletter that lists start times and any temporary trail closures. New visitors are advised to bring water for their dogs and arrive fifteen minutes early to meet the volunteer marshals who explain the course.