Sydney Parks Combine Dog Exercise With Group Fitness Classes

Centennial Parklands recorded its highest July attendance figures last week, with dog owners accounting for nearly half the weekday morning visitors who also joined organised fitness sessions.

The surge follows a City of Sydney report released in May that showed a 12 percent rise in registered dogs across Paddington and Surry Hills since 2023, pushing more residents outdoors as temperatures climb toward spring. Parks that once served mainly as walking routes now host regular group workouts where owners stretch, run intervals and cool down together while their dogs socialise nearby.

Two inner-east spots drawing the crowds

Centennial Parklands on Oxford Street remains the largest option, with its fenced off-leash zone near the Duck Pond open from 6am and a Monday-Wednesday 7am boot-camp run by local trainers that costs $15 per session. A short walk south, Prince Alfred Park on Chalmers Street in Surry Hills offers a smaller fenced dog area beside the tennis courts and hosts a free Saturday yoga class at 8am run by the Surry Hills Neighbourhood Centre that started in April 2025 and now draws 25 to 30 participants each week.

Both sites sit within easy reach of Bondi Junction and Central stations, letting residents combine the commute with a workout before office hours. Park rangers note that the fenced zones reduce conflicts with other users and allow dogs to stay off-lead for the full duration of classes.

Numbers behind the trend

City of Sydney data from the 2025 annual parks survey counted 1,840 daily dog visits at Centennial Parklands during July, up from 1,620 the previous year. The same report logged 420 participants across organised fitness activities that explicitly welcome dogs at Prince Alfred Park between January and June. Entry remains free, though the paid boot-camp at Centennial requires advance booking through the park trust website.

Residents planning to try either location should check current opening times on the City of Sydney website and carry a current council dog tag. Early morning slots fill fastest on weekdays, and water bowls are available at both main entrances.