We love taking our dog for walks on Saunders Beach north of Townsville, however it is not an off-leash area.
The Townsville City Council has designated OFF LEASH AREAS where your dog run free.
Off-leash beach area close to Townsville.
Pallarenda Off Leash Area.
This area is closer to Townsville than Saunders Beach. The designated area is between Access Areas 8 and 9 on Cape Pallarenda Road which you can also see on the above map. It is the road that leads from North Ward, hugging the coast through Rowes Bay on it’s way to Pallarenda.
It was a windy day when Budget Daughter and I secured Buffy in the back of our old station wagon and headed to Pallarenda. Not so windy that the sand was blowing, but enough to ruffle the hair and keep us cool.
We missed Access 8 and pulled into Access Area 9. There was a Council provided Doggy Doo Bag dispenser in the carpark and a rubbish bin to deposit used bags in on departure.
Buffy had a great time smelling everything in sight and running crazily into and out of the water, then rolling in the seaweed washed up on the beach, which for some reason she adores. She took on a slightly terrified persona when a thirteen month old wolfhound, still in the goofy puppy stage, but already about ten times her size, tried to play with her. His lovely owners were eager to make sure there were no problems, telling us how it was his first visit to the beach. It seems size doesn’t matter when it comes to being scared – they tried enticing him into the ocean, but he planted himself firmly at the water’s edge, averted his head and wouldn’t budge!
While we were on the beach four planes took off from the nearby Townsville Airport – with the flight path directly over our heads the views were amazing.
Speaking of views, I quite liked the different side that Castle Hill presented when viewed from Cape Pallarenda.
Verdict
It was a winner.
Fairly close to Town
Other dog owners and dogs we met were friendly
It was handy having the Doggy Doo Bags available.
Downside.
The distance between Access Point 8 and 9 was not big enough, so we had to keep on walking backward and forward.
Remember.
As there is no shade, take hat and sunscreen, drinking water for yourself and your dog and maybe a towel to dry the dog with!
There may be marine stingers in the water in Summer.
And Happy Beachcombing.
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It sounds like such a great place to hang out with your dog! 🙂 The views of the airplanes are fantastic – like something out of a movie. 🙂
Nice for somewhere different and as you know – I love the ocean 🙂
I love finding places to walk a dog – we used to have one when we lived in Mackay many years ago {when we only had two boys!} and he loved the beach, mind you I always had trouble with him when I let him off the lease – he would run off like crazy.
The bigger dog would have freaked out your little one, good to hear he had great owners 🙂
Buffy likes to run off, but then she comes tearing back, and then takes off again. It is too hard for you to have pets at the moment, but one day you might get another dog 🙂
Nice to know that you have beaches wher dogs aer allowed off leash. There’s nothing meaner, in my opinion, than municipalities that don’t recognse this need. Happy outings to you, and your dog!
Agreed Andrew – I do think that people should pick up after their dogs though 🙁