Australia Doesn’t Need More Dog Parks. It Needs More Dog-Friendly Bushwalks.

Australia loves to call itself an outdoor country.

We talk about the bush, the beaches, the tracks, the waterfalls, the weekend escapes and the freedom of getting outside. But if you have a dog, that freedom suddenly becomes very limited.

Because the truth is, a lot of Australia is not very dog friendly when it comes to actual nature.

Sure, we have dog parks. We have fenced-off squares of grass where dogs can run in circles, sniff the same tree, dodge a few questionable tennis balls and hopefully not get flattened by someone else’s overexcited Labrador.

And don’t get me wrong, dog parks have their place.

But for a lot of us, that is not what we are asking for. We don’t need more tiny fenced-in patches beside busy roads.

We need more dog-friendly bushwalks.

We need more places where dogs can be on lead, out in nature, walking beside their families. Places with shade, creeks, views, dirt tracks, trees, swimming holes and that feeling of actually being out in the wild.

Because dogs are family. And for many people, getting outside with their dog is not just a nice little extra. It is their exercise, their mental health break, their weekend plan and their way of connecting with nature.

At the moment, though, so much of the best bushland and so many of the most beautiful walking tracks sit inside national parks, where dogs are generally not allowed. Across Australia, around 22.57% of the landmass is protected, and in NSW, national parks and reserves make up a major part of the protected-area system. That means a huge amount of the places people want to explore are automatically off limits to dog owners.

And yes, I understand some of the reasons.

There are sensitive ecosystems. There is native wildlife. There are nesting birds, threatened species, baiting programs and areas where dogs genuinely should not be. I am not saying every single track should suddenly become dog friendly.

Some places absolutely need protection. But that does not mean dogs should be banned from every single trail, in every single national park, no matter the location, the track type or the behaviour of the owner.

There has to be room for common sense.

If a dog is on lead, under control, kept to the track and the owner cleans up after them, surely there are some trails where responsible access could be trialled. Even if it was selected tracks only. Even if it was seasonal. Even if it came with strict rules.

Because honestly, I have seen far more damage done to flora and fauna by humans than I have by dogs.

I have seen rubbish left behind.

I have seen people blasting music in quiet bushland.

I have seen illegal dumping, broken bottles, toilet paper, graffiti, people going off track, people trampling sensitive areas and the damage caused by 4WDs, quads and motorbikes tearing through places they should not be. Yet somehow, the responsible dog owner walking quietly with their dog on lead is treated like the biggest threat in the bush.

That is the part that feels frustrating.

State forests are often suggested as the dog-friendly alternative, and yes, they can be beautiful. In NSW, dogs are welcome in State forests, which is great. But if you actually hike regularly with your dog, you know it is not always that simple.

A lot of State Forest areas are harder to navigate. Tracks can be less maintained, less clearly marked and sometimes more suited to 4WDs than walkers. And finding those beautiful adventure-style walks with waterfalls, swimming holes, creeks and scenic trails can be difficult.

And when you do find them, half the time they are absolutely crawling with leeches.

Now, I personally have my leech spray, which has been a lifesaver for me on muddy, wet, leechy hikes. But what works for my shoes and socks is not something I want to be relying on for my dog.

Dogs are closer to the ground, they sniff everything, lick themselves and walk through every bit of wet grass they can find. So while State Forests are an option, they are not always the easy answer people make them out to be.

This is why the conversation needs to be bigger than just “take your dog to a dog park” or “go to a State Forest.”

Dog owners want proper nature access too.

And maybe, finally, things are starting to shift.

Port Stephens Council has recently asked the community for feedback on how dogs use local parks, beaches and open spaces as part of developing a Dogs in Public Places Plan. They are looking at where dogs can be off lead, where they should stay on lead and where they should not go at all.

To me, that feels like a step in the right direction.

Not because every space should suddenly become dog friendly, but because they are actually asking the public. They are opening the conversation. They are recognising that dog-friendly spaces matter and that people want more than one fenced dog park and a beach with confusing time restrictions.

Does this mean we are finally moving forward? I hope so.

Because responsible dog owners are not asking to destroy protected areas. We are not asking for dogs to run wild through sensitive habitat. We are not asking to ignore wildlife, leave poo bags behind or let dogs chase anything that moves.

We are asking for balance.

We are asking for selected, well-managed, on-lead bushwalks where dogs can safely enjoy nature with their families.

We are asking for the same thing so many other outdoor users already get: access, consideration and a fair place in the conversation.

Australia does not need more dog parks pretending to be the answer. It needs more dog-friendly bushwalks.

Because dogs deserve more than a fenced square of grass.

And so do we