sandy bay & clontarf reserve – clontarf

Address

Sandy Bay Road, Clontarf

Facilities

• Parking
• Toilets and showers
• Cafe
• Beach and tidal pool
• Playground
• BBQ
• Picnic tables/seating
• Bin
• Water stations

If you are planning a full day of activities for friends and family, you can’t do much better than a trip to Clontarf Reserve.

Clontarf Reserve and Sandy Bay are located on the Middle Harbour foreshore, and are a good meeting spot for those who live on the Northern Beaches and Lower North Shore. There is everything you would need for a picnic by the beach, even dedicated areas for your best furry friend. You can walk a couple hundred metres down to Sandy Bay, where your pooch can run with reckless abandon through the sand and water. Because this isn’t technically a beach, just a bay on Sydney Harbour, the water is quite calm. It’s not too deep, so paddling is ok for everyone.

Dogs are permitted off leash 24 hours a day at Sandy Bay, but there are restricted hours for off-leash activity at Clontarf Reserve (check the Northern Beaches Council website). The Reserve is incredibly popular on weekends, so you will need to get down there before 9am, in order to get a carpark and a prime position. Due to the busy nature of the area, this really is only appropriate for dogs who are comfortable in crowds. Sandy Bay is a little calmer, and dogs of all demeanors should be fine.

tania park – balgowlah heights

Address

2 Bareena Drive, Balgowlah Heights

Facilities

• Toilets
• Parking
• BBQ and seating
• Playground
• Water
• Bins

There are few parks on the Northern Beaches, even in Sydney, that rival the spectacular views of Tania Park. Nestled just above the Sydney Harbour National Park, this sports oval is a pleasure to go to. The views, the breeze, the grass, what else could you and your four-legged friend want?

Because this is also a sports field, the grass is maintained meticulously. There will be times when there will be sports teams training and playing, so probably best to avoid on weekday afternoons and weekend mornings. There is parking the whole way around the field, but may still get tight with people accessing the scenic trails. Speaking of the trails, unfortunately dogs are not allowed to walk along here, as they are technically in a national park.

I really love this park. It is a great reminder of how beautiful the Northern Beaches is and how lucky we are to live around here. Harry loves it because he gets to chase a ball around.

north harbour reserve, balgowlah

Address

Lot 7001, Condamine St, Balgowlah

Facilities

• Minimal parking
• Toilets
• Playground
• BBQ and picnic tables
• Basketball court
• Water station
• Bins
• Seating

North Harbour Reserve is beautiful and the perfect location for a family picnic. There is a lot of open space, a beautiful waterfront, a playground and a small basketball court. There is plenty of shade given the number of trees, so you would be hard pressed to find a better location for a summer afternoon. This is also on the route of the Manly to Spit hike, so if you wanted a quick, shady break, this is a good option. Just to the south of the reserve is a very small beach area. I have only ever been here when the tide has been in, but it never appears to get too deep, so a good spot for a quick paddle.

Because of the amount of activity in this area, parking is an absolute nightmare. There is parking along the road, and a small, unsealed carpark across the street, but tends to fill up pretty quickly. This is also not the best location for ball chasing, again, because it can get busy. But while it is popular, groups aren’t all over each other. There is enough space if you are just planning to sit in your picnic group.

North Harbour Reserve is going to be a hit with the people and the pups.

LM graham reserve – fairlight

Address

Ondawara Close, Fairlight

Facilities

• Toilets
• Bench seating
• Water station
• Poop bag station
• Bins
• Parking
• Basketball course
• Cricket nets

LM Graham Reserve has something for the whole family. This is mainly a sports facility, with a beautifully manicured sporting field in the centre (dogs are not permitted on the sports field), while the outside of the field is a dog park. There are entrances to this park from both Ondawara Close and Kenneth Road, with plenty of parking at both sides. There is so much space for running, sniffing and socialising. The grass is well enough maintained so that this doesn’t get too dusty or muddy, and a huge amount of shade for afternoon relaxing.

As I’ve said, this is a recreation facility, so this is likely to get very busy when there are sporting events on. There are also cricket nets and a basketball court, which can also add to the mayhem, If your dog is shy, early mornings are a better bet.

manly cemetery – fairlight

Address

94 Griffiths St, Fairlight

Facilities

• Parking
• Water stations
• Bins
• Playground

A cemetery seems like a weird place for a dog park, but the Manly Cemetery is actually kind of cool. This place is absolutely not for high-energy dogs, looking to chase a ball, but it’s a great spot for a respectful sniffari.

Manly Cemetery is an important local landmark, having been operating since 1870. The earliest marked burial is for a lady named Jane McLean, back in 1863. There are a number of prominent local people who have been buried here, with tours run by the council. It is important to acknowledge that this is still an operational cemetery, with services and burials taking place every so often. Like I said before, this is not the place for your pup to release some pent up energy. Let them have a sniff and a wander, and discourage them from peeing on any headstones.

This cemetery is fairly historic and some of the headstones have seen better days, so also keep an eye out for any unstable headstones that may be at risk of toppling over. There is parking the whole way around the cemetery, and unless there is a service, you shouldn’t have any trouble parking.

hinkler park & lagoon park – north manly

Address

Pittwater Road, North Manly &

Lagoon Reserve, Queenscliff

Facilties

• Parking
• Water stations
• Poop bag station
• Playground
• Bench seating
• Bins
• Exercise equipment
• Toilets

This area is a two for one. You’ve got a fenced dog park with Hinkler Park, and only meters away, you have open walking area and swimming hole with Lagoon Park. You could probably include these as the same area, but officially the go by different names.

Hinkler Park can be accessed off Pittwater Road in North Manly. It is a fenced, grassy area, with parking directly next to the entrance. This park also has access to Manly Lagoon, with a small beach for water loving dogs to take a dip in. The grass is well maintained and has never been too busy any time we’ve been there. There are plenty of trees around the perimeter of the park, providing shade to escape the summer heat. I have seen professional dog walkers using the area, so it may become a little busier during the week. They do spray pesticides every so often, but I believe there are warnings prior to spraying, just to keep users informed.

Just across the lagoon is the Lagoon Reserve park, which extends from Pittwater Road, all the way down to Bridge Road in Queenscliff. Even though this is an off-leash area, it does tend to get quite busy. There are a lot of cyclists, runners, as well as other dogs and families. This wouldn’t be a great place for dogs with poor recall, or don’t have a lot of confidence around bikes. Towards the Bridge Road end, there is more access to Manly Lagoon with another small beach, just across from a playground. The depth of this area is usually pretty shallow, so perfect for a paddle. I should warn you that the cleanliness of Manly Lagoon is questionable and perhaps should be avoided if the tide hasn’t flushed it out recently.

I like this area for a Saturday morning stroll, when I am not too concerned about Harry staying clean.

seaforth oval – seaforth

Address

Southern end of Wakehurst Parkway

Facilities

• Toilets
• Parking
• Picnic table, BBQ and seating
• Playground
• Basketball court (half court)
• Cricket nets and wicket
• Water station
• Bins

Seaforth Oval is the perfect place for a high energy dog who needs to run its crazies out. There is so much grassed space, they can run and run and run. And because this is a community sports facility, the fields are kept in amazing condition. With the park being a sporting facility, there are times when local teams will have their training and games, these are generally between 4-9pm on weekdays, and from 7am on weekends. Dogs are still allowed off*leash in the area, but just make sure they’re not making a pest of themselves and interfering with the training.

There is parking available next to the oval, but would fill up pretty quickly when sporting events are on. There is area along Wakehurst Parkway to park, as long as you keep your dog on a leash. The oval is surrounded by the Garigal National Park, and dogs are unfortunately not allowed to explore this area.

Another good neighbourhood oval for your furry friend to enjoy.

flora and richie roberts reserve & adams street reserve – north curl curl

Address

Griffin Road, Curl Curl and

LOT 526 Park St, Curl Curl

Facilities

• Parking
• Poop bag stations
• Water stations
• Bins
• Coffee van (weekends)

Flora and Richie Roberts Reserve, or Curl Curl as I mostly call it, is our most local dog park, and one of the most popular parks in the area. There are big, open grassy spaces to play with a ball or a stick, there is a lagoon dogs can take a dip in, and a well maintained path from Flora and Richie Roberts Reserve down to Curl Curl beach. On weekends, there is also a coffee truck that stays around for most of the day. Just on the other side of Griffin Road is Adams Street Reserve, which are big open playing fields, ideal for games of extreme fetch.

This park can be a bit hit or miss. It’s mostly fine, but it is a very popular park, so probably not ideal for shy dogs. There isn’t a lot of shade here, so in summer, it can really heat up in the middle of the day. Dogs are not allowed on Curl Curl Beach, but there is the lagoon to go and cool off in, but it should really only be accessed if the tide has washed it out in the last day or so. There are lots of bushes for dogs to sniff around in and paths to explore. The parking here is plentiful, so it’s easy to access.

Curl Curl is a good option if you and your dog are open to any adventure, swimming, sniffing, sprinting or socialising.

beverly job park – narraweena

Address

Cnr McIntosh and Victor Rd, Narraweena

Facilities

• Toilets
• Parking
• Picnic table
• Seating
• Water station
• Bin 

Beverly Job Park is pretty local to where we live. We had the pleasure of attending a dog wedding here about a year ago. It all went smoothly until Harry took a liking to the bride and got in a fight with the groom over some bacon. Beverly Job Park is not usually that eventful, but just a calm, neighbourhood park. There are three playing fields in this area, the dog park being at the west, along Oceana Street.

This is a great park for high energy dogs. There is a tonne of open grassy area, and with there being a slight slope to the park, it will wear out your dog quicker. There is plenty of parking all the way around the area, with off street parking along The Cir and Oceana Street, and street parking along Victor Road. There is quite a lot of shade as well, a good option for the afternoon. The dog area handles poor weather pretty well, however the other two fields do tend to get waterlogged, especially under the trees.

truman reserve – cromer

Address

Toronto Avenue, Cromer

Facilities

• Parking
• Playground
• Picnic table
• Bin
• Water

Truman Reserve is a great little neighbourhood park for the pups of Cromer. This is a hard park to fault, the grass is lovely and well maintained, plenty of open space, a playground for the kids to play on, it’s nice and quiet. It’s also a great size for running laps. There is a small carpark off Toronto Avenue, but you can also access Truman Reserve from Bligh Road. There is a little bit of shade along the south east edge of the park near the playground.

The only negative would be that it’s probably not big enough for more than a couple of dogs to play on. But considering it really is just a neighbourhood park, it’s unlikely there will be more than a few dogs at a time. It’s not a park that people will come from far and wide to play at, but it’s an amazing little park for locals.

currie road dog park – forestville

Address

Currie Road, Forestville

Facilities

• Parking (on street)
• Bench seating
• Water station
• Bin

The Currie Road dog park is an absolute hidden gem. I had never heard of this park, not living that close to Forestville, but I was really impressed with what it offered. This is the perfect combination of neighbourhood park and reserve, and will suit dogs that love a good run and chase, as well as those that just like a quiet sniff. It does feel a little private because it is so quiet.

There aren’t a lot of fancy facilities here, but it has what you need. The grass is maintained beautifully, and is big enough to handle quite a few dogs. The park is only partially fenced, so there are a few places your dog can sneak out towards the road if you’re not paying attention. My concern with this park is the long grass that backs on to bushland. There could be some snakes hiding in there, so my advice would be to stick to the areas of short grass.

frenches forest showground – frenches forest

Address

On the corner of Blackbutts Rd, Pringle Ave, and Glen St, Frenches Forest

Facilities

• Parking
• Toilets
• Poop bag stations
• Water
• Playground
• Seating
• Bins

There is a whole lot going on at the Frenches Forest Showground. There are two fenced areas, one dedicated to small and shy dogs, and one big area for everyone. There is a concreted walking track around the outside of the larger grassed area, for those not interested in rumbling in the ring. There are also a couple of sporting fields, just to the west of the dog areas, and a playground. While this spot can get busy, there is still plenty of room. The smaller fenced area is quite often used for small dog meet ups. The meet ups are generally breed specific, organised by local Facebook groups. For example, the Northern Beaches Dachshund group meet here on a monthly basis, and I’ve also heard of similar events for chihuahuas. This park is also good to evening visits, with the area still well lit until 9:30pm.

This spot isn’t one of my favourites for a few reasons. The community often holds big events in the larger grassed area, and it’s somewhere I would completely avoid the week following. There are usually food and scraps all throughout the grass, and could be a recipe for an expensive trip to the vet. I have also come across more irresponsible dog owners here than any other place. On one of our visits, a fellow park-goer told me about a man who would drop his dog off in the fenced area, head off to do his grocery shopping at the Woolworths down the road, and then pick the dog up when he was done. The smaller grassed area is quite shady, which is great for a hot, summers day. However, if the weather has been wet, the area will get pretty muddy.

These parks are well cared for, but not appropriate for reactive dogs.

deep creek reserve – north narrabeen

Address

Northern end of Wakehurst Parkway, North Narrabeen

Facilities

• Toilets
• Water station
• Poop bag stations
• Parking
• Bins

Deep Creek Reserve is another park tucked away, but worth the exploration. It is off a blink-or-you’ll-miss-it road along the Wakehurst Parkway, and you travel down an unsealed road along Deep Creek, to find a beautiful, open space for dogs to run and play in. Technically, this park is only off-leash for training, but a quick game of fetch or tug before training wouldn’t hurt.

We came across Deep Creek Reserve as this is the home of the Manly & District Kennel & Dog Training Club. Harry and I are members of this club, and this is where we do Agility. This club offers an amazing range of activities for you and your dog to participate in. The club offers puppy training, dog obedience, agility, flyball and frisbee for dogs and owners of all experience levels, and is completely run by volunteers. You can become a member by going to their website, and completing an application form. Once you become a member and pay your membership fees, you are welcome to attend any of the activities they offer. You may need to register your interest prior to attending to ensure there is space for you.

While the park is dog friendly, the trails around the Deep Creek Reserve are not. This is a Wildlife Protection Area, so dogs must stay in the park only. The trails are also very popular for mountain biking, so keep an eye for riders. Parking is plentiful, but can fill up pretty quickly on a fine weekend morning.

progress park – north narrabeen

Address

Garden Street, North Narrabeen

Facilities

• On street parking
• bench seating
• Bins
• Water
• Poop bag stations

Progress Park could be mistaken as just an extra wide median along Garden Street, but it has everything you need for a good run around. Harry and I have been here before for a quick run before Agility.

This open grassed area is well maintained and is nice and level. There is plenty of space to run around in, so a good game of fetch can definitely be had. Mullet Creek runs along the east of the park, but it’s well covered by trees, so I personally wouldn’t be venturing down there. This park has never been that busy when I’ve been there, there are usually locals just walking through, on their daily walks with their furry companions. There is a road fairly close by, so keep close tabs on your dog if you don’t have good recall.

This is another great neighbourhood park for local dogs of Narrabeen and Warriewood.

griffith park – colloroy

Address

Pittwater Road, Collaroy

Facilities

• Toilets
• Water station
• Poop bag station
• Bench seating
• Parking
• Playground
• Bins

Griffith Park is probably my favourite dog park on the Northern Beaches.

This is good combo area. There is a big grassy area for the dogs to run and around chase, and there is a beautiful coastal walk around the Long Reef Headland, which surrounds the Long Reef Golf Course. What I like to do is walk first, then at the end, if Harry still has some energy to burn (and he usually does), we’ll throw the ball around in the park area. There is also a sports oval next to the off-leash dog area. You’re not supposed to have your dogs off-leash on the oval, as it can get busy when there are football or cricket matches being played.

The grass is mostly taken care of, but when the weather has been bad, it can get especially muddy. This park doesn’t get overly busy, but the walking track does, so if you have a reactive dog, it’s probably best to stay in the park area. There is also a carpark right next to the ovals, but it can fill up quickly. It’s unlikely you’ll find parking there after 9am on a weekend, so get in early. I wouldn’t recommend this park if you don’t have a good recall with your dog. This park isn’t fenced and is reasonably close to a major road, so just keep close tabs on your dog.

Griffith Park is a good choice for you if you want both a walk and a play, matched with amazing views. It’s a beautiful way to start the day.

south mona vale headland – mona vale

Address

Narrabeen Park Parade, Mona Vale

Facilities

• Parking
• Bench seating
• Water station
• Bin 

What’s with all the dog parks having these amazing views? South Mona Vale Headland, also known as Robert Dunn Reserve, is a great location to take in the beautiful views of Mona Vale Beach and exercise your pooch at the same time.

There is plenty of parking along Narrabeen Park Parade and Coronation Street. There is enough space for your pup to run around, maybe not quite enough for multiple dogs in the area to play fetch, but enough to burn some energy off. The park is partially fenced, so that dogs can’t access the raw cliff face, unfortunately the roadside isn’t fenced, which could present a risk to dogs with poor recall.

Dogs are not permitted to enter Mona Vale beach, unfortunately, so if you’re looking for a spot for your pup to paddle, check out another park.

rowland reserve – bayview

Address

1670 Pittwater Road, Bayview

Facilities

• Toilets
• Parking
• Poop bag stations
• Water stations
• Dog grooming (weekends)
• Coffee van (weekends)
• Bench seating
• Bins

Rowland Reserve is another popular dog park in the Northern Beaches, with options for both beach and grassy play areas. Harry and I come up here a fair bit.

There is a dedicated gentleman who volunteers his time to look after the park. He can often be seen cleaning up wayward poops and weeding the grassy areas. Thanks to his efforts, the grass is quite flat and never unkept. Pups can take a dip in the calm waters of Pittwater. This is the first place Harry ever went swimming. There is a lot of space for running and chasing on the sand when the tide is out. The causeway disappears when the tide comes in, which is a good opportunity to have a little paddle.

The grassed area doesn’t have great drainage, so it’s a good place to steer clear of if it has been wet. There are a couple of trees around so there are some shady spots, but it can get pretty hot in the middle of summer. Even though there is a lot of parking, parks do tend to get taken quickly towards the middle of the day. On Sundays there is dragon-boat racing, which can make parking even more elusive.

With this being a popular dog park, it’s not the best spot for shy or reactive dogs. Dogs do tend to get extra excited here.

mccarr’s creek reserve – church point

Address

Eastern section of McCarr’s Creek Road, Church Point, near Cicada Glen Creek

Facilities

• Parking
• Toilets
• BBQ
• Picnic tables and seating
• Bins
• Water

McCarr’s Creek Reserve is a special place for locals. Paddling around in Pittwater after a BBQ, and being able to bring your furiend with you is the best way to spend a warm, sunny day. I don’t think you could technically call this a dog park, but you can let your pooch off a leash during the week, but not on weekends or public holidays. There is a bit of space for a run around, but because this area is quite popular, it’s probably not my first choice for exercising my dog. But knowing I can have a picnic, take in the views of Ku-Ring-Gai National Park (McCarr’s Creek Reserve isn’t in the national park), and bring my best friend with me, is a lovely feeling.

dearin reserve – newport

Address

Corner of Kalinya and Gladstone Streets, Newport

Facilities

• Seating
• Water station
• Poop bag station
• Bin

It might be a bit of stretch to call Dearin Reserve a dog park, but it is an off-leash area. This isn’t a park where you would throw a ball around, it’s probably best used as another sniffari park. The parking situation is not great here. There is only on-street parking, which, on the weekends, is mostly taken. But it is a beautiful, peaceful space for shy dogs to comfortably sniff around without being ambushed. It’s not a park that I would actively seek out regularly, but it’s a nice spot for locals and their pups.

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avalon beach reserve fenced dog area – avalon

Address

Central Avenue, Avalon – behind Avalon Beach

Facilities

• Water station
• Poop Bag station
• Bench seating

You may have a little trouble finding the Avalon Beach Reserve dog area because it is quite tucked away. It is right next to the sporting courts along Barrenjoey Road, but it is hidden by trees along the road, so it’s not easy to spot. You can also access this park from a path that comes off Central Avenue, just keep walking from the beach carpark until the see a wooden bridge.

When I first stumbled across this park, I was a little unimpressed, it’s quite small. But it’s the perfect size for a small dog to have a run and sniff. If you have a larger dog that needs to stretch it’s legs, this one won’t be for you. This is another sniffari park, as there are lots of bushy nooks and crannies to explore. It didn’t appear to get overly busy, but I wouldn’t like to play in here when there are more than four or five dogs. It is fully fenced, so it would be a nice, safe place for shy dogs to potter around.

This is a decent park for the neighbourhood, but it’s not one I would actively seek out.

hitchcock park – avalon

Address

Barrenjoey Road, Avalon

Facilities

• Parking
• Seating
• Water station

This was another hard to find park, tucked away in the forest of Avalon. The Hitchcock Park playing fields are just off Barrenjoey Road, but the actual off-leash dog areas are off the beaten track. If you enter the carpark across from 732 Barrenjoey Road, this will save you ten minutes of walking.

There is a lot of wide, open space in this area. Technically you’re not allowed to have your dog off-leash on the Careel Bay ovals, but this is absolutely perfect spot for a game of fetch with a ball, stick or frisbee. The grass is meticulously maintained, due to these being active sporting fields for the local Avalon Soccer and Football teams. So if you do use these as off-leash fields, please be considerate and pick up any mess your dog makes, and ensure they don’t dig. The off-leash areas are not for fetch, they’re good for a sniff and a socialise. The full enclosed area is very small, and really only suitable for small dogs.

If you live in Avalon, looking for wide open playing fields, and willing to risk a fine, you won’t find any better dog spot. I wouldn’t go out of my way to go back to the fenced dog area.