The best dog-friendly beaches in Sydney

Whether your canine’s eager to dig some sand holes, sneakily bury sticks or thrash about in the cool salty water, they all love a day at the beach. But it can be tricky to find a beach in the city where dogs are welcome. If you want to share the fun, check out some of these dog-friendly beaches, where all can enjoy the warm sun, energising surf and glorious expanse of sand.

Sirius Cove, Mosman

Sirius Cove is in Mosman, just west of Taronga Zoo. It’s a charming little beach that sees many families and dog lovers visiting. On weekdays, your four-legged friend has all day to play off-leash, while on weekends and public holidays they can frolic before 9am and after 4pm. Your dog will love this beautiful site with the calm, peaceful, protected shallow water, plenty of shade and a large grassy area behind the beach.

Flora and Ritchie Roberts Reserve, Curl Curl

If you’ve got an energetic dog, then Flora and Ritchie Roberts Reserve is a great place to take them. With grassy terrain and a tranquil lagoon, there’s plenty of space to expend all that pent up energy. Located on the Northern Beaches between Dee Why and Freshwater Beach, it’s an off-leash area all year round, so your dog’s free to roam around and be adventurous. The reserve also holds all the essentials like doggie bags, a drinking station, bins and public bathrooms for the owners.

Flora and Riche Roberts Reserve, CurlCurl - Credit: Northern Beaches Council

Rowland Reserve, Bayview

With a large green area perfect for playing, as well as scenic stretch of sand where you can join pooch for a dip, Rowland Reserve is a bit of a hidden gem in Sydney. There's drinking water available, dog washing services available on the weekends and the dog-friendly pub The Newport is just across the water if you want to enjoy a meal and a drink after you've burned off all that enrgy.

Manly Lagoon, Manly

Found just inland from the iconic Manly Beach is the serene Manly Lagoon where you can let your fur baby roam off-leash 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The vast sandy green landscape means there’s plenty of space for your dog to explore. The calm, shallow lagoon is perfect on those hot summer days for doggy paddling and cooling off. There’s also a children’s playground and exercise park, making it a great spot for the whole family.

Manly Lagoon, Manly - Credit: Northern Beaches Council

Dumaresq Reserve, Rose Bay

Head to Dumaresq Reserve in Rose Bay for the best of both worlds. A bit of lush green grass and benches to sit and chill, some tidal sand during low tides and extensive views across Sydney Harbour. You can take your dog to romp off-leash before 8.30am and after 4.30pm and they’re permitted to be walked on-leash at all other times. It’s a great spot to feel the ocean breeze and take in the beauty of the harbour alongside your best friend.

Rose Bay Foreshore, Rose Bay

A lovely off-leash zone with a stretch of sandy beach and shallow water, Rose Bay Foreshore a great option for those inner-city pups. With loads of room to run around and a calm body of water to swim and paddle in, you’re both bound to have a good time. Relax as you breathe in that cool salty air, while your dog goes on a beachy adventure.

Rose Bay Foreshore

Silver Beach, Kurnell

Right on the Kurnell peninsula, you’ll find Silver Beach looking out into stunning Botany Bay. It’s a beautiful location to take your pup to with lots of space for them to run around, stretch their legs and leap into the invigorating water. While they are allowed off-leash, this is only permitted between the third and fourth jetty found at the western end of the beach. This is located right in front of the Bonna Point Reserve car park making it easily accessible.

Greenhills Beach, Cronulla

Head south for sweeping ocean views at Greenhills Beach in Cronulla. This gem is the only dog-friendly stretch of beach in Sydney that faces the ocean. Extending for 3km, Green Hills is perfect for high-energy hounds. There’s lots of room to frolic in and out of the water, play fetch, and get gloriously sandy. They can enjoy this off-leash freedom all days of the week before 10am and after 4pm. Be mindful that outside of these hours, dogs are not permitted on the beach at all.

Greenhills Beach, Cronulla - Credit: Monde Photo

Lady Robinson Beach, Kyeemagh

Lady Robinson Beach in Kyeemagh, overlooking Botany Bay, has a popular off-leash dog exercise area at the northern end. It’s found 150m from the netted swimming enclosure. Let your pup have some canine fun and feel that warm sand between their paws as they bound up and down and in and out of the flat water. Dogs are only allowed on the beach before 10am and after 4pm, though the council can remove the time restrictions in the winter months. Conveniently, there’s parking nearby and even a children’s playground, so lots of fun for both the two- and four-legged.

Horderns Beach, Bundeena

Head to the sleepy town of Budeena, nestled just south of the city on the edge of Sydney’s Royal National Park. Here, you’ll find the town’s popular central beach, the blissful Horderns Beach. It curves for 580m between the Budeena Ferry Wharf and Cabbage Tree Point. From May to August, take advantage of this golden stretch of sand that is completely accessible to dogs. They can frolic in the salty water, biting at waves to their hearts content without the need for a leash. Between September to April dogs are only allowed off-leash on weekdays before 8.30am and after 4.30pm, and are restricted to on-leash outside those times. Unfortunately, the weekends during these months are reserved for two-legged visitors only.

Horderns Beach, Bundeena - Credit: Monde Photo