Dog Parks & Exercising Areas

Socialising your dog

Dogs are social animals by nature so it’s important to walk your dog regularly to help your pooch socialise with people and other dogs. It’s also a great way to relieve boredom – one of the most common reasons for dogs to misbehave.

Whenever you are out and about with your dog it’s compulsory to:

  • Have your dog on a leash (unless in a dog off-leash area)
  • Use designated dog off-leash areas if you want to have your pet off lead
  • Pick up their poop.

Council can issue $287 on-the-spot fines to owners not adhering to these rules.

Designated off-leash areas

There are 7 dog off-leash areas in Douglas Shire.

In an an off-dog leash area you must have effective control of your dog. This means being able to call your dog back to you with out it disturbing others.

Most of our dog off-leash areas are shared spaces, meaning other people may also be using the area for recreation such as walking, jogging, riding bikes, playing ball games or using playgrounds and fitness equipment. Please respect other users.

The dog off-leash areas are:

Port Douglas

Southern end of Four Mile Beach, south of Four Mile Park, Barrier St entrance

Mossman

Foxton Avenue, Mossman (Northern fenced section of George Davis Park)

Cooya Beach

Northern end of Cooya Beach (north of the public toilet block).

Newell Beach

Northern end of Newell Beach (including the foreshore area to the end of Marine Parade, north of Phillip Street)

Wonga Beach

North Wonga Beach (starting at Giblin St to Vixies Rd)

Cow Bay

Cow Bay beach (south of Buchanan Creek Rd car park area)

Diwan

Diwan Reserve, (behind Douglas Shire Council Depot)

Dog prohibited areas

Dog prohibited areas include:

  • The designated swimming area between the red and yellow flags at Four Mile Beach where the lifeguards patrol
  • Port Douglas cemetery
  • Mossman cemetery

Whether your pet is on or off lead, unless it is a registered support animal.