Dog-friendly parks that double as social fitness hubs

Central Coast Council opened an expanded off-leash zone at Kibble Park in Gosford on 15 March 2025 that now draws weekday morning exercise groups of 20 to 30 people.

Interest has risen because residents seek low-cost outdoor routines after indoor gym memberships climbed past $45 a week at many local facilities. The new zones allow dogs to run while owners join circuits that include body-weight moves and interval walks along the adjacent waterfront path.

Two established spots

At Avoca Beach the foreshore reserve behind the surf lifesaving club offers a fenced dog area that connects directly to the shared path toward Terrigal. Locals meet there on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7am for 45-minute sessions that mix beach sprints with stretches. Further north, the Tuggerah Lake cycleway near Chittaway Point includes a signed dog-friendly stretch where the Central Coast Canine Fitness group runs monthly Saturday events that start at 8am from the boat ramp car park.

These sites sit within easy reach of neighbourhoods such as East Gosford and Avoca, where parking remains free before 9am. Participants often bring water bowls and waste bags supplied by the council bins placed every 200 metres along the routes.

Numbers and next steps

Council registration data released in June 2026 shows 4,872 dogs listed on the Central Coast, a 14 percent rise from the same month in 2024. Of those owners, 68 percent reported using parks for at least two structured fitness sessions each week. No entry fees apply at either Kibble Park or the Avoca reserve, though dogs must remain on-lead outside the marked off-leash sections.

Anyone planning to join can check the council website for updated session times or start with a solo lap of the Gosford waterfront path before linking up with others. Always carry a leash and water, and check with a local vet before increasing exercise intensity for older dogs.