The short answer
- Off-lead at any time: Silver Beach at Kurnell (between the third and fourth groynes), Rose Bay Foreshore, Rowland Reserve at Bayview, and Lady Robinsons Beach at Kyeemagh (between gates 60 and 61).
- Off-lead at set hours: Greenhills Beach at Cronulla (4pm to 10am in daylight saving, 3pm to 10am otherwise), Sirius Cove and the Spit in Mosman (all day on weekdays, before 9am and after 4pm on weekends), and the Mona Vale Beach (south) trial area.
- No dogs at all, even on a lead: Bondi, Bronte and Tamarama (Waverley Council), every Randwick City Council beach including Coogee, Clovelly and Maroubra, and beaches inside national parks.
- Before you unclip: keep the lead on entering and leaving every off-lead area, and treat the sign at the beach as the final word, because councils change hours.
Every Sydney dog beach, with its hours
Each row comes from the council's own page, linked in the last column. Hours are written the way the council publishes them. Where a council gives separate daylight saving and standard-time hours, both are shown.
Checked against each council's official page in November 2026.
| Beach | Council | Status | Hours | Good to know | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Silver Beach (Kurnell dog beach) Kurnell | Sutherland Shire | Off-lead | At all times, only between the third and fourth rock groynes at the western end | Calm Botany Bay water. Next to the Bonna Point Reserve car park; toilets and a bubbler across the road. Dogs prohibited on the rest of Silver Beach. | Sutherland Shire Council page |
| Greenhills Beach Cronulla | Sutherland Shire | Off-lead, timed | Daylight saving: 4pm to 10am. Rest of the year: 3pm to 10am. Dogs not allowed on the beach outside these hours | Ocean beach, unpatrolled. Enter at Gate 5 and keep the dog on-lead through Wanda Reserve. Wanda Beach itself is dog-prohibited. | Sutherland Shire Council page |
| Horderns Beach Bundeena | Sutherland Shire | Seasonal mix | September to April: off-lead Mon to Fri before 8.30am and after 4.30pm, on-lead Mon to Fri 8.30am to 4.30pm, no dogs on weekends and public holidays. May to August: off-lead | Not fenced. Check the signs at the Brighton Street, Hordens Lane and Liverpool Street entrances. Toilets at the ferry ramp. | Sutherland Shire Council page |
| Rose Bay Foreshore (Rose Bay dog beach) Rose Bay | Woollahra | Off-lead | At all times, between Dumaresq Reserve and Percival Park | Harbour water. Dumaresq Reserve next door is off-lead 3:30pm to 10:30am only. Tingira Memorial Park and its beach are on-lead at all times. | Woollahra Council page |
| Sirius Cove Mosman | Mosman | Off-lead, timed on weekends | Mon to Fri: all day. Sat, Sun and public holidays: before 9am and after 4pm | Beach and water both off-lead in these hours. Sirius Park grass behind it follows the same times. | Mosman Council page |
| Spit West and Spit East Reserves Mosman | Mosman | Off-lead, timed on weekends | Mon to Fri: all day. Sat, Sun and public holidays: before 9am and after 4pm | Beach and water off-lead in these hours. On the grass at Spit Reserve (West), off-lead is excluded on Saturdays 8:30am to 2:30pm. | Mosman Council page |
| Clifton Gardens (east of the jetty) Mosman | Mosman | Off-lead, timed | Weekdays in winter: before 9am and after 4pm. Weekdays during daylight saving (Oct to Mar): before 9am and after 6pm | Beach and water east of the jetty only. The council page lists weekday beach times only. | Mosman Council page |
| Rowland Reserve (Bayview dog beach) Bayview | Northern Beaches | Off-lead | 24 hours a day | Includes the tidal sand flats on Pittwater. Toilets in the car park, water, seating and bins. | Northern Beaches Council page |
| Mona Vale Beach (south) trial area Mona Vale | Northern Beaches | Off-lead trial | Daylight saving: 5.30am to 10am and 5pm to 9pm daily. Standard time: 6am to 10am and 4pm to 7pm daily. Trial runs to 13 October 2027 | Ocean beach, unpatrolled. Dogs on-lead on the two paths down from South Mona Vale Headland. Prohibited outside the trial area and hours. | Northern Beaches Council page |
| Sandy Bay Clontarf | Northern Beaches | Off-lead | Above the mean high water mark (no time limit listed on the council page) | Limited parking at the end of Sandy Bay Road; more at Clontarf Reserve. Clontarf Beach and its tidal pool are dog-prohibited. | Northern Beaches Council page |
| Mackerel Beach Mackerel Beach | Northern Beaches | Off-lead, timed | Sunrise to 9:30am and 5pm to sunset, from the public wharf north | Prohibited at other times and south of the wharf at all times. The adjoining Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park is off-limits to dogs. | Northern Beaches Council page |
| Lady Robinsons Beach (Kyeemagh dog beach) Kyeemagh | Bayside | Off-lead | 24/7, between gates 60 and 61 | Calm Botany Bay water. On-lead entering and leaving through the gates. Dogs are prohibited on Bayside beaches and foreshores elsewhere. | Bayside Council page |
Two places people often expect to see here are missing on purpose. Station Beach at Palm Beach is not on the Northern Beaches Council list of off-lead areas we read, so we have not listed it. And Clontarf Reserve is an off-lead park, but the beach and tidal pool beside it are dog-prohibited (Sandy Bay, around the corner, is the dog spot).
Best Sydney dog beach by use case
| If you want | Go to | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Any time of day, any day | Silver Beach, Kurnell; Rowland Reserve, Bayview; Lady Robinsons Beach, Kyeemagh; Rose Bay Foreshore | Their councils list no time limit on the off-lead area. |
| Waves and a long run | Greenhills Beach, Cronulla | A long ocean beach with timed off-lead access. Unpatrolled, so dogs and people swim at their own risk. |
| A first swim or a nervous dog | Silver Beach, Kurnell, or Rowland Reserve, Bayview | Bay and Pittwater water with no surf. Bayview adds tidal sand flats. |
| A weekday harbour swim | Sirius Cove or the Spit, Mosman | Off-lead all day Monday to Friday on the beach and in the water. |
| Eastern Suburbs, close to the city | Rose Bay Foreshore | A harbour shoreline Woollahra Council lists as off-lead at all times, a short trip from the city. |
| Inner West or airport side | Lady Robinsons Beach, Kyeemagh | Bayside Council lists it as a 24/7 off-lead beach area. |
| A boat-day adventure | Mackerel Beach, Pittwater | Off-lead early morning and evening, with a wharf for boat access. |
Why every beach has different rules: the councils
NSW dog law comes from the Companion Animals Act 1998, but each local council decides which of its beaches are off-lead, on-lead or dog-free. Greater Sydney is made up of many councils, so two beaches a few kilometres apart can have completely different rules. These are the councils that run the beaches in the table, and the ones that run the famous no-dog beaches.
Sutherland Shire Council
Three dog beaches: Silver Beach at Kurnell, Greenhills Beach at Cronulla and Horderns Beach at Bundeena. Dogs are prohibited on all other Shire beaches, at ocean and tidal pools, and in sensitive areas such as the Wanda heritage dunes. Shire off-lead index.
Northern Beaches Council
Thirty off-lead areas plus the Mona Vale Beach (south) trial. The ones with sand or water are Rowland Reserve (Pittwater), Sandy Bay at Clontarf, Mackerel Beach, Mona Vale (south), and lagoon access at Curl Curl and Manly. The council says Mona Vale (south) is its only off-lead area on an ocean beach, other than limited access to North Curl Curl Lagoon. Northern Beaches off-lead list.
Mosman Council
Harbour swims at Sirius Cove, Spit West and Spit East, and the Clifton Gardens beach east of the jetty. Dogs are prohibited from all other Mosman parks, reserves, ovals and beaches. Where to walk your dog.
Woollahra Council
Rose Bay Foreshore is off-lead at all times. Double Bay Beach, Camp Cove Beach, Kutti Beach and Watsons Bay Baths are dog-prohibited, and at Gibsons Beach dogs may only use the footpath, on-lead. Several new off-lead areas started on 12 May 2026. Walking your dog.
Bayside Council
One off-lead beach, Lady Robinsons Beach at Kyeemagh between gates 60 and 61, plus 15 parks. Dogs are prohibited in bathing areas such as tidal pools, beaches and foreshores elsewhere. Bayside off-lead areas.
Waverley and Randwick (the no-dog beaches)
Waverley prohibits dogs on beaches and intertidal areas, which covers Bondi, Bronte and Tamarama (Waverley off-lead parks). Randwick prohibits dogs on all council beaches and rock pools, including Coogee, Clovelly and Maroubra (Randwick off-lead areas). Both councils offer off-lead parks instead.
Sydney dog beaches in detail
1. Kurnell dog beach (Silver Beach)
Sutherland Shire · Off-lead at all times · Calm bay water
The beach most Sydney people mean when they say “Kurnell dog beach” is a short, defined stretch of Silver Beach on the Botany Bay side of the Kurnell Peninsula. Sutherland Shire Council allows dogs off-lead between the third and fourth rock groynes at the western end, next to the Bonna Point Reserve car park and to the right of the Bonna Point Boat Ramp. There is no time limit.
The boundary is the thing to get right. Dogs are prohibited on the rest of Silver Beach, and signs at the entrances mark the off-lead section. Bonna Point Reserve across the road has toilets, a bubbler and a playground (keep dogs 10 metres from play equipment). Leash up as you walk in and out.
Best for: a first swim, small dogs, and older dogs who want to paddle rather than fight waves.
2. Rose Bay dog beach (Rose Bay Foreshore)
Woollahra · Off-lead at all times · Harbour water
Woollahra Council lists the Rose Bay Foreshore “between Dumaresq Reserve and Percival Park” as off-lead at all times, and Percival Park next to it is also off-lead at all times.
Rose Bay has three different rules side by side, which is where people get caught. Dumaresq Reserve is off-lead only from 3:30pm to 10:30am. Lyne Park is off-lead from 3:30pm to 10:30am except during organised sport. Tingira Memorial Park and the beach next to it are on-lead at all times. Read the sign at the spot where you step onto the sand.
Water quality: Woollahra Council notes that Rose Bay beach is shallow, less flushed by tides and can be affected by sewage after rain, so it tends to have lower water quality than its other harbour beaches. Check Beachwatch after wet weather before you let your dog swim.
3. Greenhills dog beach, Cronulla
Sutherland Shire · Off-lead at set hours · Ocean surf
Greenhills Beach is north of Wanda Beach and is the Shire's ocean option. Sutherland Shire Council allows dogs on the beach from 4pm to 10am during daylight saving and from 3pm to 10am the rest of the year. Outside those hours dogs are not allowed on the beach at all, on-lead or off.
Enter at Gate 5. Dogs must stay on-lead in Wanda Reserve on the way in, and they are prohibited on Wanda Beach (south of Wanda Track 5), on the heritage-listed dune east of the service trail, and north of Gate 1. The nearest toilets are at Don Lucas Reserve.
Safety: the council says the beach is not patrolled and swimming is not recommended. For dogs that means real surf and rips. Let a strong swimmer paddle in the shallows and keep weaker swimmers, puppies and flat-faced breeds out of the break.
4. Bayview dog beach (Rowland Reserve)
Northern Beaches · Off-lead 24 hours · Pittwater tidal flats
Northern Beaches Council permits dogs off-lead at Rowland Reserve on Pittwater Road 24 hours a day, and the off-lead area takes in the adjacent tidal sand flats. Facilities are public toilets in the car park, water, seating and bins. The council calls it very popular, and it is the Northern Beaches spot people mean by “Bayview dog beach”.
Best for: any-hour access north of the bridge, and dogs that like shallow water. The flats change with the tide, so there is more sand to run on at low tide.
5. Sirius Cove dog beach, Mosman
Mosman · All day on weekdays, timed on weekends · Harbour water
Mosman Council permits unleashed dogs on the beach and in the water at Sirius Cove all day Monday to Friday, and before 9am and after 4pm on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. The grassed Sirius Park behind the beach runs to the same times.
The catch: weekend middays are on-lead, and Mosman bans dogs from every park, reserve and beach not on its list, so do not wander off the reserve with the lead off. Dogs are not permitted within 10 metres of playground equipment or tables in any Mosman reserve.
6. Kyeemagh dog beach (Lady Robinsons Beach)
Bayside · Off-lead 24/7 · Botany Bay
Bayside Council lists a 24/7 off-lead beach area at Lady Robinsons Beach, Kyeemagh, between gates 60 and 61. Dogs must be on-lead entering and leaving. If the sign on the day differs from the website, follow the sign.
Best for: Inner West and southern-suburbs dogs who want calm bay water close to home. Remember Bayside prohibits dogs on its other beaches and foreshores, so the rest of Lady Robinsons Beach is not a dog beach.
7. Mona Vale Beach (south) trial
Northern Beaches · Timed off-lead trial · Ocean surf
The southern end of Mona Vale Beach is open to off-lead dogs in a Northern Beaches Council trial that started on 14 October 2025 and has been extended to 13 October 2027. During daylight saving the hours are 5.30am to 10am and 5pm to 9pm, every day. In standard time they are 6am to 10am and 4pm to 7pm. Dogs are prohibited in the trial area at all other times and on the rest of Mona Vale Beach at all times.
Access is from the South Mona Vale Headland off-lead area, with dogs on-lead on the two paths down. The beach is not patrolled. When it extended the trial, the council said it would remain responsive to the risks posed by H5 bird flu, which may require operational closures, so check its page before a special trip.
8. Horderns Beach, Bundeena
Sutherland Shire · Seasonal · Port Hacking
Horderns Beach has the most complicated timetable in Sydney. Sutherland Shire Council says that from September to April, dogs are off-lead Monday to Friday before 8.30am and after 4.30pm, on-lead Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 4.30pm, and prohibited on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. From May to August, dogs are allowed off-lead. The beach is not fenced, and the exact zones are signposted at the Brighton Street, Hordens Lane and Liverpool Street entrances.
9. The Spit and Clifton Gardens, Mosman
Mosman · Timed · Harbour water
Mosman Council gives Spit West and Spit East Reserves the same beach-and-water times as Sirius Cove: all day on weekdays, and before 9am and after 4pm on weekends and public holidays. At Clifton Gardens, dogs can be off-lead on the beach and in the water east of the jetty before 9am and after 4pm on weekdays in winter, and before 9am and after 6pm on weekdays during daylight saving (October to March).
10. Sandy Bay (Clontarf) and Mackerel Beach
Northern Beaches · Harbour and Pittwater
At Sandy Bay, at the end of Sandy Bay Road in Clontarf, Northern Beaches Council permits dogs off-lead above the mean high water mark and lists no time limit. Parking is limited, with more at Clontarf Reserve. Do not confuse it with Clontarf Beach next to the reserve, where dogs are prohibited on the beach and in the tidal pool.
At Mackerel Beach on Pittwater, dogs can be off-lead from the public wharf north, from sunrise to 9:30am and from 5pm to sunset. At other times they are prohibited in that area unless on-lead taking the shortest route between a boat and the grassed strip. South of the wharf is dog-free at all times, and so is the adjoining Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park.
Looking for a beach buddy?
Browse adoptable dogs from Sydney's shelters, council pounds and foster-based rescues in one place. Filter by size, age and energy to find a dog that suits weekend swims.
Browse Dogs in Sydney →Sydney beaches where dogs are banned
The most common mix-up is assuming a famous beach takes dogs on a lead. Many do not take dogs at all. These bans come straight from the council and park pages:
- Bondi, Bronte and Tamarama (Waverley Council). Dogs are prohibited on the beach, intertidal areas and ocean pools. Bondi Park is on-lead only.
- Coogee, Clovelly, Maroubra and every other Randwick beach. Randwick City Council prohibits dogs on all council beaches and rock pools, even on a lead.
- Double Bay Beach, Camp Cove Beach and Kutti Beach (Woollahra Council). Dog-prohibited, along with Watsons Bay Baths.
- Cronulla-area beaches outside the designated areas (Sutherland Shire). The Shire prohibits dogs on beaches except designated off-lead areas, including Wanda Beach.
- Mona Vale Beach outside the trial area, and Clontarf Beach (Northern Beaches Council).
- Any beach inside a national park. NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service does not permit dogs in national parks and reserves, which rules out beaches in Royal National Park and Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park.
Assistance animals have separate rights under these rules. For a general walk with a pet dog, assume a beach is dog-free unless its council lists it, and use our guide to Sydney dog parks and off-lead areas for grass options near the no-dog beaches.
How dog beach hours change through the year
Several Sydney councils tie beach hours to daylight saving, so the same beach can open an hour later in summer. NSW daylight saving started on 4 October 2026, and it ended on 5 April 2026 the season before. The beaches that change:
- Greenhills Beach: 4pm to 10am in daylight saving, 3pm to 10am in standard time.
- Mona Vale Beach (south) trial: 5.30am to 10am and 5pm to 9pm in daylight saving; 6am to 10am and 4pm to 7pm in standard time.
- Clifton Gardens: weekday evenings open at 6pm in daylight saving and 4pm in winter.
- Horderns Beach: runs on months, not daylight saving. Tight weekday hours and no weekends from September to April; off-lead from May to August.
Summer is also when the beaches are busiest and the sand is hottest. Sydney averages around 26 degrees in January with humid 35-degree-plus heatwave days, and dry sand in the middle of the day can burn paw pads. Use the timed windows the way they are meant to be used: early morning and evening.
Safety at a Sydney dog beach
Paralysis tick. The Australian paralysis tick is native to the NSW coast and a year-round risk in Sydney, with a peak from about August to February. Bushland and dunes behind beaches, such as the bushland reserve at Sirius Park or the dunes behind Greenhills, are tick country. Run your fingers over your dog after every visit, ask your vet about year-round prevention, and treat wobbly back legs, a changed bark, vomiting or laboured breathing as an emergency. The RSPCA Knowledgebase lists the signs.
Heat and hot sand. Press the back of your hand on the sand for a few seconds. If you cannot hold it there, it is too hot for paws. Bring fresh water and a bowl, because a dog that drinks seawater can get an upset stomach. Never leave a dog in a parked car at the beach. Heatstroke needs a vet straight away.
Surf and rips. Greenhills and Mona Vale (south) are unpatrolled ocean beaches. A dog chasing a ball into a rip can be carried out fast. Throw along the beach, not out to sea, and keep puppies, seniors and flat-faced breeds in calm bay water.
Bluebottles and things on the sand. Bluebottles sometimes wash up on Sydney's ocean beaches, and dogs love to sniff or mouth them. Steer your dog away from anything washed up, including fishing line and hooks near boat ramps like Bonna Point. If your dog is stung or seems in pain, swollen or unwell, call your vet.
Water quality after rain. Beachwatch NSW advises avoiding swimming at ocean beaches during heavy rain and for at least a day after, and at estuaries for up to three days after heavy rain. Most Sydney dog beaches are on bays, the harbour or Pittwater, so the longer wait applies. Rinse your dog with fresh water after a swim.
Wildlife. Councils keep dogs out of shorebird zones and dunes for a reason. Sutherland Shire prohibits dogs at places such as the Taren Point Shorebird Protection Zone and Deeban Spit, and Northern Beaches Council has said H5 bird flu may require operational closures of the Mona Vale trial area. Keep your dog away from birds, and away from any sick or dead bird.
Know your emergency vet. The Small Animal Specialist Hospital (SASH) runs 24/7 emergency services in Sydney, including at North Ryde. Save the nearest emergency hospital to your favourite beach in your phone before you go.
When is my new rescue dog ready for off-lead at the beach?
A beach is the hardest recall test there is: open space, water, birds, food smells and other dogs all at once. A dog that has just changed homes does not yet know its name well or trust you to come back to. Most newly adopted dogs need several weeks of on-lead walks and practice before off-lead freedom on sand is a fair ask.
- Read the paperwork. Rescue profiles and adoption notes often say how a dog gets on with other dogs, and some say a dog is not suitable for off-lead areas. Take that seriously. The foster carer or shelter knows the dog better than you do in week one.
- Start on a long line. A long line on a quiet bay beach, such as Kurnell or Bayview at a quiet hour, lets your dog paddle and sniff while you practise recalls.
- Pick quiet times. Weekday mornings at a calm-water beach are easier than a busy weekend evening at Sirius Cove.
- Watch for stress. A dog that freezes, hides behind you, or goes stiff around other dogs is telling you it is not ready. Leave calmly and keep the outing short.
- Greyhounds are different. NSW has extra rules for pet greyhounds in off-lead areas, so read our greyhound off-leash and recall guide before you unclip one.
Make sure your dog is microchipped and registered before its first beach trip, because a dog that bolts is far easier to get back when its details are current. Our Sydney dog registration guide explains how it works, including the $0 lifetime registration for a desexed dog from an eligible pound, shelter or rehoming organisation.
Beach-by-beach guides
Kurnell Dog Beach (Silver Beach)
The off-lead stretch between the 3rd and 4th groynes, open at all times.
Sirius Cove Dog Beach
All day on weekdays, before 9am and after 4pm on weekends, beach and water.
Rose Bay Dog Beach
The Rose Bay Foreshore off-lead area, open at all times.
Greenhills Dog Beach
Cronulla: dogs on the sand 4pm to 10am in daylight saving, 3pm to 10am otherwise.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the best dog beach in Sydney?
It depends on what your dog needs, but a good starting point is Silver Beach at Kurnell, where Sutherland Shire Council allows dogs off-lead at all times in the stretch between the third and fourth rock groynes at the western end. Its Botany Bay water is calm, which suits most dogs. For a surf beach, Greenhills Beach at Cronulla is off-lead at set hours, and on the north side Rowland Reserve at Bayview is off-lead 24 hours a day on Pittwater.
Are dogs allowed on Bondi Beach?
No. Waverley Council prohibits dogs on Bondi Beach, the intertidal areas and the ocean pools, and Bondi Park is on-lead only, with dogs kept 10 metres from the playground and barbecues except on the marked footpaths. The same council bans dogs on Bronte and Tamarama beaches. The nearest off-lead options are parks rather than sand, such as Dickson Park in Bondi or the Bronte Gully corridor between 3pm and 10am.
Can I take my dog to Coogee or Maroubra beach?
No. Randwick City Council prohibits dogs on all of its beaches and rock pools, including Coogee, Clovelly and Maroubra, even on a lead. Randwick has 14 off-lead parks instead, such as Trenerry Reserve a short walk south of Coogee Beach, and they have no time limits.
What are the off-lead hours at Kurnell dog beach?
There are no time limits. Sutherland Shire Council says dogs are allowed on the Silver Beach off-lead area at all times. The catch is the location: it is only the stretch between the third and fourth rock groynes at the western end, next to the Bonna Point Reserve car park, and dogs are prohibited on the rest of Silver Beach.
Is Rose Bay dog beach off-lead all day?
Yes, for the Rose Bay Foreshore between Dumaresq Reserve and Percival Park. Woollahra Council lists that stretch as off-lead at all times. Dumaresq Reserve itself is only off-lead from 3:30pm to 10:30am, and Tingira Memorial Park and its adjacent beach are on-lead at all times, so check which section you are on.
What time can dogs go on Greenhills Beach?
During daylight saving, dogs are allowed on Greenhills Beach from 4pm to 10am. Outside daylight saving the window opens an hour earlier, from 3pm to 10am. Outside those hours dogs are not allowed on the beach at all, not even on a lead. Enter at Gate 5 and keep your dog on-lead through Wanda Reserve.
Is Sirius Cove off-lead on weekends?
Only before 9am and after 4pm. Mosman Council allows unleashed dogs on the beach and in the water at Sirius Cove all day Monday to Friday, but on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays the off-lead window is before 9am and after 4pm. Outside those weekend hours your dog needs to be on a lead.
Is Bayview dog beach open 24 hours?
Yes. Northern Beaches Council says dogs are permitted off-lead at Rowland Reserve in Bayview 24 hours a day, and the off-lead area includes the tidal sand flats on Pittwater. There are toilets in the car park, water, seating and bins.
Is there an off-lead ocean beach for dogs in Sydney?
Yes, a few, and all have set hours. Greenhills Beach at Cronulla is off-lead from 4pm to 10am in daylight saving and 3pm to 10am the rest of the year. On the Northern Beaches, a trial area at the southern end of Mona Vale Beach is open to off-lead dogs at set morning and evening times until 13 October 2027. Most other Sydney surf beaches, including Bondi, Bronte, Coogee and Maroubra, ban dogs.
Do dog beach hours change with daylight saving?
At several beaches, yes. Greenhills Beach, the Mona Vale Beach (south) trial area and the Clifton Gardens beach in Mosman all publish different hours for daylight saving and standard time. Daylight saving in NSW started on 4 October 2026, so the summer hours apply now, and they switch back when daylight saving ends in April.
Can I take my dog to beaches in national parks around Sydney?
No. NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service does not permit dogs and other pets in NSW national parks and reserves, and that includes beaches inside parks such as Royal National Park and Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park. Some NSW regional parks allow dogs on a lead in designated areas.
When is a newly adopted rescue dog ready for a dog beach?
When it comes back to you reliably, which for most newly adopted dogs takes weeks of on-lead walks and long-line practice rather than days. A dog that has just changed homes may not know its new name or trust you yet, and an open beach with water, birds and other dogs is the hardest place to test recall. Start at a calm harbour or bay beach at a quiet time, keep a long line on, and read what the rescue told you about the dog with other dogs before you unclip.
Find a dog to share the sand with
Current listings from Sydney shelters and rescues, refreshed regularly. Many listings say how a dog gets on with other dogs, which helps you plan those first beach trips.
See Adoptable Dogs in Sydney →Keep exploring
Dog Parks and Off-Lead Areas in Sydney
Grass off-lead areas, effective control rules and timed zones across Sydney councils.
Dog Registration in Sydney and NSW
Microchipping, lifetime registration and what rescue adopters pay.
Best Dog Rescues in Sydney
The shelters and rescues we track, and how each one adopts.
Dog Adoption in Sydney
Every adoptable dog we list across Sydney's shelters and foster-based rescues.