Best dog-friendly walks in Sydney
Here in Sydney, we are lucky enough to be surrounded by beautiful scenery in almost every part of the city - whether it’s our stunning beaches, spectacular harbourside views or luscious urban parks and trails.
When Summer rolls around, one of our favourite ways to spend our holiday downtime is to explore all of the best places Sydney has to offer - after all, the emergence of beautiful, sunny weather means some scenic walks are on the cards.
Now, we’re sure you’ll agree that even though your furry friend loves their walkies no matter where they go, they might like a little change from the staple weekly walking route. So when planning your next Sydney walking adventure, consider choosing a location that allows your pooch to experience a premium dog treat and tag along with you on the journey.
To make it a little easier for you, we have created a short list of our favourite dog-friendly walks in and around Sydney. These routes vary in length, difficulty and atmosphere, so there is one for any kind of hooman/dog duo in this list. Read on to find the perfect walking route for you and your furry walking buddy this Summer.
- The Headland Track
Oatley
The Headland Track is a relatively short but pretty loop walk in Oatley Park, located south of Sydney. It’s important to note that the track does contain steep steps at the start and midway along the track, which increases its difficulty for smaller and older dogs. However, if your pup is up for the challenge, we recommend visiting this trail, as it contains numbered posts that mark points of interest along the track. A QR code at each post links to online guides that tell you more about the history of the interesting things to discover in the park.
Distance: 1.3km
Difficulty: Moderate
Leash Required: Yes
Opening hours: 7 am - 6 pm
- The Gadyan Track at Berry Island Reserve
Wollstonecraft
Following the Gadyan Track at Berry Island Reserve in Sydney’s lower north shore is a fantastic way for you and your pup to experience the beauty of this unique spot in Sydney Harbour. Located along the trail are signs that detail the life of the former Cammeraygal inhabitants, plus there are beautiful rock engravings. This short loop circuit is also accompanied by a grassed picnic area where your pup can run and play off-leash for some post-walk fun.
Distance: 750m loop
Difficulty: Easy
Leash Required: Dogs should be on-leash when walking in bushland areas along the track but are allowed off-leash in the grassed reserve area.
Opening hours: Open 24 hours
- Narrabeen Lagoon Trail
Narrabeen
Located in Sydney’s north, the Narrabeen Lagoon Trail is a scenic circuit track around Narrabeen Lakes. While a longer dog-friendly walk, it consists of a flat and paved multi-use path (perfect for those poochies who don’t like hills). So whether you plan on taking your pup for a simultaneous walk and cycle or just a good old fashioned flat walk, this trail is the perfect circuit to soak up all that natural serenity. Also, this walk is easily accessible, as there are multiple car parks situated around the lake where you can begin and end the walk.
As this is one of the longer routes on the list, we suggest packing some water for you and your pup, as well as a premium dog treat to ensure that they remain hydrated and energised for the duration of the walk.
Distance: 8.4km loop
Difficulty: Easy
Leash Required: Yes
Opening hours: 6 am - 9 pm
- Glebe Foreshore Walk
Inner Sydney
Extending from Bicentennial Park across to Pyrmont, the Glebe Foreshore Walk is a favourite among both dogs and owners. Not only are the harbourside views along this walk breathtaking, but this trail also passes by several on and off-leash parks perfect for letting your furry friend run wild, meet other pups and experience some new smells.
Centennial Park has an off-leash area in the western section of the park, and Federal Park is a 24-hour off-leash area. If your pup has worked up a sweat during their adventure, there’s also a little beach area in Centennial Park where your dog can freely run or jump into the water.
Distance: 2km (one way)
Difficulty: Easy
Leash Required: Dogs should be on-leash when completing the Glebe Foreshore Walk, but several off-leash park areas are situated along the walkway.
Opening hours: Open 24 hours
- Cooper Park
Bellevue Hill
Quietly tucked away in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, Cooper Park is a large bushland reserve home to lots of little walking tracks that weave in and out of waterfalls and cascades, making you feel as though you’ve been transported to a tropical rainforest (when really you’re just on the doorstep of suburbia). This magical find contains creeks and dirt tracks, so we suggest bringing a towel for the car trip home, as fun-loving dogs can get quite messy/dirty along this tranquil walk (you’ll thank us later).
Distance: Between 1-3km (depending on route)
Difficulty: Easy
Leash Required: Dogs should be on-leash when completing the bush-walking tracks but are allowed off-leash in park areas along the walkway.
Opening hours: Open 24 hours
- Federation Cliff Walk
Waverly
The Federation Cliff Walk is a mid-length coastal trail between Watsons Bay and Dover Heights that features enormous sandstone cliffs and scenic ocean views. This track wanders through beautiful parklands and open spaces and includes a timber walkway with viewing platforms on top of the cliffs to take in all the stunning scenery (and maybe take a photo or two). While your pup is required to be on a lead at all times on the trail, there are some off-leash parks along the way and nearby, including the beautiful Lighthouse Reserve and Diamond Bay Reserve.
Distance: 5km (one way)
Difficulty: Easy
Leash Required: Dogs should be on-leash when walking on the trail, but several off-leash park areas are situated along the walkway and nearby.
Opening hours: Open 24 hours
So there you have it, our guide to some of Sydney’s best dog-friendly walks. We hope this list has inspired you to get out there and switch it up with your pup and explore some new places together, as this is one of the best ways to enhance the strong bond you have with your pooch and make some memories that will last forever.
