Best Dog Friendly Walks Sydney – No matter what time of year it is, it’s a great time to get out and about in Sydney, whether it’s a walk along the river or a stroll through the many bushes that fill the city.
But what if you want to take your dog with you? Since most walking trails in Sydney don’t allow dogs to join you, I’ve dug up some of the best dog walking trails around Sydney that are great for walking with your pup by your side.
Best Dog Friendly Walks Sydney
There are many great coastal walks in Sydney that are perfect for dog walking. Although most Sydney beaches do not allow dogs on the sand, dogs are usually allowed on the walkways next to them.
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The Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk is one of Sydney’s most popular walks. It runs for 6km along the Eastern Suburbs Beach and passes many of Sydney’s most popular beaches.
Although none of the beaches allow dogs on the sand, dogs are welcome to join you on the adventure. Most are on a leash, although dogs may be off-leash in some parks along the way.
At Marks Park, on the southern border of Bondi Beach, dogs are allowed after 4:30 p.m. and until 8:30 a.m., except during Sea Sculpture. Burrows Park to the south of Waverley Cemetery allows dogs to run all day, while Bronte Park is open for weekend fun between 10am and 3pm.
This walk is best done in the cooler months or early or late in the summer to avoid the midday heat. Maybe head out early and join in at one of the dog-friendly cafes along the way?
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The Bondi to Coogee beach trail isn’t the only dog-friendly walk around town with mountain views. Head north of Bondi for the Federation Cliff Walk, which runs between Dover Heights and Watsons Bay.
The official start of the walk is on Raleigh Street in Dover Heights, on the southern edge of the Raleigh Reserve. Your dog will enjoy this section as this long hilltop park is designed for outdoor exercise, luckily with a secure fence on the side of the hill.
Continuing north, the walk is a combination of mountain paths and boardwalks, although you have to avoid local roads in some places. Look out for the occasional ‘Cliff walk’ sign and most reserves have detailed signs with maps. At the end of 2022, some roads with roundabouts will also be closed for safety reasons.
Diamond Bay Reserve in Vaucluse is another 24-hour dog exercise area on a stunning road. You’ll also pass Macquarie Lighthouse, Australia’s first and oldest lighthouse.
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Christison Park also has an incredible park (open until 10:30am and only after 3:30pm) and a Lighthouse Reserve. The journey ends at Watsons Bay and passes through Gap Park. But those with dogs should stay off the road as dogs are not allowed in Gap Park.
Instead, turn around at the start of Gap Park and retrace your steps. If you have a dog and a small bag, you can also take advantage of Sydney’s dog-friendly buses and ferries.
I’ve walked the Harbor Spit Bridge on Manly Walk a few times, but not yet with my dog. This is partly because the regular route takes you through Sydney Harbor National Park, where dogs are not allowed.
However, it is possible to do a modified 9km version instead, via a series of back roads, cutting through part of the National Park at Dobroyd Head, although you will miss some of the best views of the harbour. The last signs of the walk indicate an alternative route for the dog.
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Start at the north end of the Spit Bridge after the Fisher Bay tour. A few minutes later you arrive at Sandy Cove, Sydney’s amazing outdoor dog beach. This is a great place for your dog to run and swim, especially while bathing.
Continue along Clontarf Nature Reserve, keeping your dog on the lead, then onto Clontarf Road. When you arrive at the start of the national park, you should turn left onto Cutler Road. There are several routes you can take after that, with 40 Baskets Bay as your destination.
No restrictions for the entire journey to Manly Wharf. Both Tania Park and North Harbor Nature Reserve allow dogs on a leash.
The Spit Bridge to Manly Walk is usually a one-way walk and walkers catch a bus back to the starting point or catch a ferry back into town. If you are traveling with a small dog, if you take a bag, they can get on the bus.
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Otherwise, I recommend walking only part of the route and then retracing your steps. Perhaps the best walking route is the route between Manly Wharf and North Harbor Nature Reserve.
Across from Manly along Manly Beach is another great beach walk for dogs in Sydney. Although dogs are not allowed on Manly Beach, nor on nearby Queenscliff or Shelley beaches, they are welcome on the footpath behind the beach.
The 2.5 km walk from the north end of Queenscliff Beach directly to Shelly Beach is a smooth and easy walk. There are plenty of dog-friendly cafes or benches along the route where you can sit and enjoy the view.
If you want to combine a walk with dog swimming on the beach, head to Manly Lagoon in Queenscliff, just north of the road. Manly Lagoon Park and Lagoon Park West are both outdoor dog parks, and the sandy lagoon is a popular place for dogs to enjoy the water. Just be aware that water quality changes and should be avoided after heavy rain.
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For a more challenging but still short coastal walk, head a few steps north to the Curl Cliff Walk at Dee Charo. The route starts south at Charo Rockpool and continues 1.5 km south along the ridge behind the millionaire’s house to the North Curl Surf Life Saving Club.
Lead your dog on this trail, especially around the mountain tops. Note that the walk is very rough and rocky underfoot, except for the sidewalk section, and some small dogs may need a hand at times.
Parking is possible on both sides of the road. Paid parking can be quite expensive, but there is also free parking on nearby streets.
The southern part of the boardwalk is adjacent to Curl Curl Lagoon, aka Curl Curl Dog Beach. It’s a popular swimming spot for dogs, although technically dogs are only allowed in the Flora and Richie Roberts Forest Reserve on the south side of the lagoon. The north side is close to the parking lot and the easiest way to get to the outdoor park is on the beach, where dogs are of course not allowed.
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Heading north on the North Beach is another great dog walk, the Narrabeen Lagoon Trail. This is a long dog-friendly walk with a full loop of 8.4 km around the lagoon. However, it is a smooth and simple multi-use road, a combination of paved roads, wide dirt roads and boardwalks.
There are several parking lots and road access points around the lagoon where you can start and end the trip, although some parking is quite expensive. Alternatively, if your dog can’t complete the entire loop, just walk the short part and retrace your steps.
My favorite part is the bushland near Bilarong Nature Reserve and Jamieson Park. Part of the bike path is well marked with plenty of distance markers to the next point of interest.
Dogs must be on a lead, although you can head to nearby Deep Creek Beach for some outdoor fun. Allow 2-3 hours to walk the entire distance around the lake.
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On the southern edge of Sydney, Cronulla has an excellent coastal path. The Cronulla Beach Walk is a 4km walk along the eastern side of the Cronulla Foreshore.
This beautiful walk begins near Greenhills Beach, starting at the dog-friendly Wanda Beach Life Saving Club, before continuing south along Bass Beach and Flinders Point and the entrance to Port Hacking.
We started our journey at the quieter southern end, where the park is easy to find on the street. There is some parking at the north end, but it fills up quickly in the summer. Return the same way or turn to the other side of the peninsula through Gunnamatta Park.
You don’t have to go all the way south to Cronulla to enjoy Sydney’s southern suburbs. The Botanic Bay area outside Brighton-Le-Sands is home to a long shared path that runs from the Cooks River to the George River.
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I recommend starting the walk at the north end, side
