wellness
Dog-friendly parks that double as social fitness hubs
Townsville residents are using designated off-leash areas to combine daily dog exercise with group fitness sessions.
How we reported this
More than 180 dog owners now meet weekly at two Townsville parks for structured walks and bodyweight circuits that start at 6:30am.
Interest has grown since Townsville Hospital released its June 2026 community health snapshot showing a 14 percent rise in adults reporting low physical activity levels compared with the same period in 2024.
Castle Hill base and Rowes Bay foreshore
The lower car park at Castle Hill on Stanley Street serves as the main assembly point on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Participants complete the 2.5km sealed climb with their dogs on lead before returning for a 20-minute stretch circle. On weekends the same group shifts to the fenced off-leash zone at Rowes Bay foreshore near the Strand Waterpark entrance. The flat grass and water access let dogs cool down while owners run intervals along the adjacent path.
Townsville City Council opened the Rowes Bay dog area in March 2025 after residents petitioned for a second dedicated space north of the river. The site includes free drinking fountains and waste-bag dispensers that are refilled every Monday.
Numbers and next steps
Council data from the 2025-26 financial year recorded 47,200 visits to the two dog parks, up from 31,800 the previous year. Entry remains free, though participants in the informal fitness groups contribute $5 each month toward printed route maps and first-aid kits stored at the Castle Hill noticeboard.
Anyone can join by arriving at the Castle Hill lower car park on a Tuesday morning or checking the Townsville City Council website for updated start times. New arrivals are asked to bring their dog’s current vaccination record and a lead for the shared sections of the climb.