Dog-Friendly Walks in Sydney and the Blue Mountains

The famous Sydney walks mostly don’t allow dogs. Spit to Manly, the Royal National Park coast and the big Blue Mountains tracks are all in national parks, and dogs are banned there. But there’s plenty left: harbour foreshores, lagoon loops, bushland in regional parks, and a set of council walks in the mountains. Dogs stay on a lead on all of them unless a sign says otherwise. These are the walks we checked against the council or park’s own page in October 2026.

Harbour and water walks

The Bay Run, Iron Cove. A flat 7 km loop round the bay. Dogs stay on a lead on the path (Inner West Council), but the sports grounds at Callan Park and King George Park next to it are off-lead when there’s no organised sport on.

Cremorne Point, Lower North Shore. Harbourside bush with city views, along the foreshore of Cremorne Reserve. On a lead the whole way (North Sydney Council), and keep 10 m away from the playground. Start from Bogota Avenue or from above Cremorne Wharf.

Glebe Foreshore Walk. From Bicentennial Park round to the Fish Market. The stretch from Pope Paul Reserve to Ferry Road is off-lead at any time (NSW Government); keep the lead on for the rest.

Headland Park, Middle Head. A 3 km route linking Middle Head, Georges Heights and Chowder Bay, run by the Harbour Trust, on a lead and open sunrise to sunset. Parts of the headland are Sydney Harbour National Park, where dogs aren’t allowed, so watch the signs.

Lagoons, lakes and bush

Narrabeen Lagoon Trail, Northern Beaches. An 8.4 km loop on a smooth, shared track with no steps. Dogs on a lead (Northern Beaches Council). Some wildlife protection areas along the way, like Middle Creek Reserve, are off limits to dogs.

Centennial Park, Eastern Suburbs. The Grand Drive circuit is about 3.5 km. Dogs are on a lead on Grand Drive and the paths, but more than 30% of the parklands are off-lead, outside the Drive and on sports fields not in use (Greater Sydney Parklands). No dogs in the Bird Sanctuary or York Road Bushland.

Lake Parramatta. A 4.2 km bush circuit round Australia’s first large dam, built in 1856, with shorter tracks if you want an easy hour. Leads on at all times, and dogs can’t swim in the lake (City of Parramatta). The creek crossings can flood after rain.

Wolli Creek, Bexley North. A 2 km bush track in Wolli Creek Regional Park, part of the 13 km Two Valley Trail. Dogs on a lead, and look out for pelicans, egrets and, at dusk, tawny frogmouths (NPWS).

Berowra Valley Regional Park, Pennant Hills. Dogs are allowed on three trails only: Bellamy, Daphne and Clarinda. The short Bellamy fire trail passes an old sandstone quarry. The national park next door is off limits (NPWS), so stay on those trails.

Heart Crossing Loop, Western Sydney Parklands. An easy 2.3 km loop at Bungarribee, with the off-lead Warrigal Dog Run next door for after.

The Blue Mountains

Dogs aren’t allowed in Blue Mountains National Park, which covers the famous Katoomba and Wentworth Falls tracks. Blue Mountains City Council lists walks outside the park where dogs can go on a lead, in a 2017 guide. We couldn’t find a newer list, so check the signs or ring the visitor centre on 1300 653 408. Four from that guide:

• Knapsack Viaduct, Glenbrook. An easy hour return along the old Zig Zag railway.
• South Lawson Waterfall Circuit. A waterfall circuit of about two and a half hours.
• Charles Darwin Walk, Wentworth Falls. An easy walk from Wilson Park. Dogs have to stop at Fletcher Street, where the national park starts.
• Lawson’s and Lockyer’s Historic Crossings, Mt Victoria. About four hours, a proper day out.

The same guide lists 13 off-lead areas in the mountains, such as Leura Oval and Blackheath Old Airstrip.

Walks where dogs can’t go

Pets aren’t allowed in NSW national parks (NPWS). That rules out:

• Spit to Manly and the rest of Sydney Harbour National Park, including the Hermitage Foreshore Track, Bradleys Head and North Head
• Royal National Park, including the Coast Track
• Ku-ring-gai Chase (Bobbin Head, Barrenjoey) and Lane Cove National Park
• The main Blue Mountains tracks

NSW state forests are open to dogs, and some regional parks allow them on a lead, like Rouse Hill and Parramatta River.

What about Bondi to Coogee? We couldn’t check the councils’ own rules for the path. The beaches along it ban dogs, Bondi included (see Sydney’s dog beaches).

Ticks, snakes and heat

• Paralysis ticks are a year-round risk in Sydney, worse in the warmer months, in bush, parks and gardens, says the University of Sydney vet hospital. Keep up your dog’s tick prevention and check it after every bush walk: head, ears, neck, under the collar, between the toes and under the tail. Wobbly back legs, vomiting, gagging or a changed bark mean go to the vet now, even if you’ve taken the tick off.
• Snakes are out more in summer. Keep your dog on its lead in the bush. If you think your dog’s been bitten, keep it calm and get to a vet straight away; don’t wash the wound or try to catch the snake (RSPCA NSW).
• Heat. Walk early in the morning or in the evening. If you can’t hold your hand on the path for five seconds, it’s too hot for paws. Pugs and bulldogs shouldn’t exercise in the heat (RSPCA NSW). Carry water for both of you.
• Fire days. Bushland tracks can close on high fire danger days, so check before you drive out.

Getting there

Dogs can’t go on Sydney trains or the Metro. Buses, ferries and light rail may take a dog in a carrier if the driver or crew agree (more in our Sydney guide). So plan loops, or walks you can drive to and back from.

Dog parks in other Australian cities: Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide.