May Tarang
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No matter what kind of fur baby you’re raising, every dog loves a trip to the beach. Shy Tess may prefer to quietly bury her sticks in the sand, while the wild Bandit breaks all the rules of the land, biting the waves and clawing her way through the chalk. But while Sydney is blessed with world-renowned beaches, these avid beachgoers aren’t allowed to roam all the sandy beaches.
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If you want to take your dogs into the salt water, you need to find one of these dog-friendly beaches. Some have year-round off-leash zones, while others have time-limited puppy free-play areas, so you’ll want to know the rules to avoid good or bad interactions with dog walkers.
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Not in the mood to get wet? Hit the best dog parks in Sydney or hang out at these dog-friendly pubs. Otherwise, take yourself and your crew to one of Sydney’s top 50 beaches.
There is not much sand from the reserve to the Bayview water, but four-legged friends can roam the entire area. The small beach and nearby park are off-leash areas throughout, and if old Rover’s nose is a little fuzzy, you’ll always find a mobile dog groomer in the area at weekends. The revamped, dog-friendly Newport pub is also across the water.
West of Taronga Zoo is Sirius Cove Reserve – a small beach popular with families with dogs among children. This area is off-limits all day on weekdays, but on weekends and holidays you can let your dog out before 9:00am and after 4:00pm. If you’re going to spend the morning meeting your animal friends at the zoo, meet your four-legged family on the boardwalk and stroll along the beach.
The reserve is not directly on the water, but the grassy dunes near Curl Curl Beach are perfect for adventurous dogs to take up and down until they eat. It’s an idyllic spot in all seasons, and the lagoon is perfect for dog paddling. This area is frequented when it comes to doo-doo bags and also has important bathroom facilities for people with two legs.
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Don’t let the grass fool you: this dog-friendly park also promises the pleasant smell of wet dogs. You can access the running water of the harbor in a few steps and let the Dutchman play carefree in this completely off-leash area. We have dog owner authority that the dog parent park community is good too. It’s also a good place to start the coastal walk to Blackwattle Bay – keep a leash handy.
A day trip to Bundeena in the Royal National Park is the perfect adventure for active dogs and owners. If you’ve brought up a well-behaved dog, you can catch the ferry from Cronulla to get to Horderns Beach, where puppies play off-leash 24 hours a day from September to April. Unfortunately, furry family members are not welcome on weekends during the rest of the year, but midweek leashes or free runs are available.
Your dog is free to play in the water and sand anytime between piers three and four at Bonna Point Preserve. Please keep them under control, however, as dogs are prohibited at all other Silver Beach locations. Kurnell’s quiet stretch of sand is a great place for lazy walks with little waves to piss off your best friend before heading home.
This is the only dog-friendly beach in Sydney that faces the ocean directly and is not a bay or harbour. However, there are some drawbacks. Visitors with off-leash dogs are only allowed daily before 10:00 and after 16:00, but dogs are prohibited (strictly) at other times and there is no possibility of people bathing in unpatrolled water.
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The water in this leafy preserve is a great place to dry Kipper off while relaxing in the shady shade. The relaxed area overlooks the Spit Bridge and gently swaying boats in the sheltered harbor and has BBQ facilities, bathrooms and a children’s play area if you want to soak up the sun. The isolated sand ball itself is reserved for Sandy Bay, located at the northern end of the reserve.
Rose Bay Foreshore is a happy off-leash area, making it the perfect place for inner-city pumperinas to stretch their legs and enjoy the sea breeze. Even those who like to swim laps can strike gold at any time in calm waters. If you enter the Dumaresq reserve on the north side, remember that there are free games before 8.30am and after 4.30pm.
© 2024 Time Out England Limited and associated companies owned by Time Out Group Plc. All rights reserved. Time Out is a registered trademark of Time Out Digital Limited. Sydney is home to many beautiful beaches. But if you have a dog, dogs are unfortunately mostly prohibited. So if you want to hit the beach with your dog, if you want to scale the sand or swim in the water, what are your dog friendly options in Sydney?
Choose from these dog-friendly beaches in Sydney (after checking the schedule, of course), almost all of which I’ve personally visited with my dog, and other great beaches nearby…
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Sydney’s Northern Beaches area is home to many of Sydney’s dog-friendly beaches. However, none of these dog beaches are ocean view beaches, at least not yet.
There is a proposal from the Northern Beaches Council to allow off-leash dogs for limited hours at the southern end of Mona Vale Beach and the northern end of Palm Beach. However, a final decision has yet to be made, and after the last update on the process in August 2023, it appears that the test will also not be until 2024.
For now, head north to Pittwater or south to Sydney Harbor or check out some dog-friendly lagoons. Check out these dog friendly beaches on the Northern Beaches…
For a dog-friendly outing in Sydney’s far north any time of day or season, head to Rowland Reserve Dog Park in Bayview. (Search “Bayview Dog Park” on Google Maps).
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This grass reserve and the surrounding waters of Pittwater are completely off-limits all day, with no pesky restrictions. No wonder people drive here with their pooch from all over Sydney!
Being in Pittwater, this Sydney dog beach is relatively calm, not far from deeper water swimming for more confident dog swimmers. There is usually a dog washing van parked nearby.
Try to find one of the designated one-hour parking spots next to the off-leash area if you’re not staying long, otherwise parking can be expensive in my experience. Then consider driving around the bay and enjoying a drink in The Newport’s large dog-friendly beer garden.
Although none of the many true northern beaches are dog-friendly, there are a few dog-friendly areas along the lagoons behind the beaches. The northernmost of these is in Curl Curl Lagoon.
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Head to the Flora and Ritchie Roberts Reserve on the south side of Curl Curl Lagoon where dogs are allowed off-leash and many dogs enjoy swimming in the lagoon. (Adam Street Reserve on the west side of Griffin Road also allows off-leash dogs and is near the lagoon, but does not have a sandy beach.)
Just a word of caution, the lagoons can get dirty, especially after heavy rain, so be careful, especially if your dog ventures into deeper waters. Also note that dogs are not allowed on the sand at Curl Curl Beach, which borders the Flora and Ritchie Roberts Reserve. There is a charge for parking in the reserve, but there is free parking nearby.
Not to the south is another lagoon where dogs can swim. Manly Lagoon is located at the northern end of Manly Beach in the suburb of Queenscliff.
Both Manly Lagoon Park and Lagoon Park West, also called “Lagoon Reserve” on Google Maps, are designated off-leash dog parks. And of course, there is nothing to stop many off-leash dogs from going into the lagoon water.
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As with Curl Curl Lagoon, be aware that the water quality may not be the best, especially a few days after heavy rain. In this case, maybe keep your dog on a leash if you don’t want him swimming in the lagoon.
For a pre- or off-leash walk, consider walking your dog on the footpath that runs behind Queenscliff Beach and Manly Beach, as far south as Fairy Bower and Shelly Beach. It’s a lovely beach walk, but remember that dogs are not allowed on the sand at any of these beaches. There are also many of them
