Dog friendly parks in Sydney

June 2, 2022

There are countless dog friendly parks in Sydney including great parks, reserves and beaches where your furry friend is as welcome as you are! Here’s just a few of the many parks to visit while in town.

1. Sydney Park

Located at the end of King St at the margins of the inner west, this sprawling park has the largest off-leash area in the city, so when it comes to dog friendly parks in Sydney, you can’t get better than this. Spanning 40 hectares it features shady walkways, open grassed areas and a big hill at its centre. For families there are picnic areas with barbecues, an awesome playground and sandpit, as well as a cycling track. The café serves fantastic food and beverages, and there’s plenty of spots for your pooch to grab a drink during your walk.

Address: Sydney Park Road, St Peters.

More info: https://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/parks/sydney-park

2. Centennial Park

This is as close to dog heaven as you’ll find! This sprawling parkland, affectionately known as ‘The Lungs of the City’ receives some 30 million visitors a year, with ain excess of one million dogs entering the grounds for some playtime. It’s the biggest green space in Sydney, so naturally there’s LOADS of room for your dog to run around. Much of the park is a designated off-leash area, just make sure you read the signs. There’s also several cafes where you can grab a coffee and play areas for the kids. You’ll want to make sure your dog is good at recall, because there’s not only lots of people and pooches about, but birds and other wildlife too!

Address: Between Oxford Street, York, Darley, Alison & Lang Roads.

More info: www.centennialparklands.com.au

3. Blackwattle Bay Park

Glebe is known for its youthful vibe and cafes, but it’s also home to one of Sydney’s best waterside parks. The Glebe foreshore is a lovely part of the city, with great views of ANZAC Bridge and the skyline. It also has a fantastic walkway that snakes along the water’s edge, with gardens and parklands to the other side. There’s an extensive off-leash area and places where your pooch can have a swim. Along the way there are bubblers, park benches and shady spots to have a picnic. It gets busy of a weekend so come early to avoid the crowds, or better still, head down of an evening and enjoy the sunset and city lights.

Address: End of Leichardt St, Glebe

More info: www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/explore/facilities/parks/major-parks/glebe-foreshore-parks

4. Hawthorne Canal Reserve

Home to the iconic Café Bones, this dog friendly park is a favourite with Sydneysiders who reside in Leichardt and Haberfield. Apart from the extensive off and on-leash areas, it adjoins the harbour side walk known as ‘The Bay Run’ which is a 7km circuit of Iron Cove Bay. In the canal area you have a fenced play zone for dogs, swings for the kids and picnic tables where you can park up for an afternoon of fun with your pooch…and family of course. What’s more, the café serves treats for humans and dogs alike.

Address: Darley Rd, Leichardt

More info: https://www.innerwest.nsw.gov.au/explore/parks-sport-and-recreation/parks-and-playgrounds/parks-by-suburb/leichhardt-parks/hawthorne-canal-reserve

5. Sirius Cove Reserve

If you’re headed to the north side of the bridge, then the pick of the parks has to be Sirius Cove in Mosman. Here your pooch can roam free, all day throughout the week and before 9am and after 4pm on weekends. What makes this such a great spot is that there’s plenty of space on the beach to run and play, and most importantly, a calm bay for a refreshing swim! For those not so keen on the water, there’s also plenty of grass to run around on. It’s a popular spot, so parking can be tricky, especially of a weekend in Summer.

Address: Sirius Cove Rd, Mosman

More info on Dog parks in Mosman: https://mosman.nsw.gov.au/residents/Pets/where-to-walk-your-dog

About the Author: Lara Shannon is a certified dog behaviourist and trainer, pet food nutrition specialist, Executive Producer and Host of Pooches at Play on Channel 10 and editor of Poochesatplay.com. Lara also runs her own dog training business in Melbourne’s Bayside area and is the Author of World of Dogs and Eat, Play, Love (Your Dog).