The short answer
- Off-lead in Brisbane City Council: the Sandgate foreshore (Second Avenue to Zeehan Street) and the Manly foreshore (end of Davenport Drive). No time limits are published. For a creek swim, the Kedron Brook area in Tuckeroo Park, Nudgee Beach.
- Off-lead in the City of Moreton Bay: Queens Beach North at Redcliffe (the “Redcliffe dog beach”), Deception Bay foreshore, part of Beachmere, and Woorim Beach (south) on Bribie Island, the only surf beach of the lot.
- On-lead only: Nudgee Beach, the Wynnum Manly foreshore walk, Clontarf, Jamieson Park and the rest of Queens Beach.
- Everywhere else on the foreshore: assume no dogs off-lead. Both councils keep dogs off most of the bay to protect shorebirds, and the sign at the beach is the final word.
Every Brisbane-area dog beach, with its rules
Each row comes from the council's own page, linked in the last column. Boundaries and times are written the way the council publishes them. Where a council lists no time limit, we say so rather than guess.
Checked against each council's official page in November 2026.
| Beach | Council | Status | Hours and boundaries | Good to know | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manly foreshore dog off-leash area Manly (Wynnum Manly bayside) | Brisbane City | Off-lead | No time limit listed. The beach at the end of Davenport Drive, between the southern and northern rock walls | The closest thing to a Wynnum dog beach. The Wynnum Manly foreshore walk itself is on-lead. | Brisbane City page |
| Sandgate foreshore dog off-leash area Sandgate and Shorncliffe | Brisbane City | Off-lead | No time limit listed. Between the stairs near Flinders Parade and Second Avenue, and Park Parade and Zeehan Street | Mudflats at low tide. Below Lover’s Walk, next to Sandgate Foreshores Park. On-lead on the rest of the foreshore. | Brisbane City page |
| Kedron Brook off-leash and swimming area (Tuckeroo Park) Nudgee Beach | Brisbane City | Off-lead | No time limit listed | A creek swimming spot inside a dog park, not the bay beach. The council points Nudgee Beach dog owners here. | Brisbane City page |
| Nudgee Beach foreshore Nudgee Beach | Brisbane City | On-lead only | At all times | Was an off-lead trial area from 2019 to 2020. Returned to on-lead because shorebird disturbance was much higher there. | Brisbane City page |
| Queens Beach North (Redcliffe dog beach) Scarborough, Redcliffe peninsula | City of Moreton Bay | Off-lead (sand and water only) | No time limit listed. Along Flinders Parade, between the beach access stairs and the northern rock groyne | On-lead on the grass, footpath and car park, and on the beach south of the steps towards the boat ramp. | City of Moreton Bay page |
| Queens Beach (south of the steps) Scarborough, Redcliffe peninsula | City of Moreton Bay | On-lead only | No time limit listed. From the steps at the end of the off-lead area south to the rock groyne near Flinders Lane | Walk on-lead here to reach the off-lead stretch. | City of Moreton Bay page |
| Jamieson Park beach Scarborough, Redcliffe peninsula | City of Moreton Bay | On-lead only | No time limit listed. From the northern point of Reef Point Esplanade west towards Deception Bay, next to the car park | A beach walk with your dog, but not a run. | City of Moreton Bay page |
| Clontarf beach (Woody Point Jetty to the Houghton Highway bridge) Clontarf and Woody Point | City of Moreton Bay | On-lead only | No time limit listed | The bay side of the peninsula facing Brisbane. | City of Moreton Bay page |
| Deception Bay foreshore dog beach Deception Bay | City of Moreton Bay | Off-lead beach; timed footpath trial | Beach: off-lead between Wallin Avenue and Joseph Crescent, no time limit listed. Foreshore footpath: off-lead trial before 8am and after 4pm daily | On-lead entering and leaving the footpath area and at all other times. The council calls these arrangements a trial. | City of Moreton Bay page |
| Beachmere foreshore Beachmere | City of Moreton Bay | Off-lead area plus a seasonal zone | Off-lead area from the southern end of Biggs Avenue (south of the second footbridge). Bayside Drive foreshore: off-lead 1 May to 31 July, on-lead 1 August to 30 April | About 13 hectares at low tide. New zones took effect 1 December 2025. Dogs prohibited in Beachmere Conservation Park. | City of Moreton Bay page |
| Woorim Beach (south) Woorim, Bribie Island | City of Moreton Bay | Off-lead (sand and water only) | No time limit listed. From beach access 19 at Lowry Street, south for about 4.2km | The only ocean surf on this list. Dogs not allowed on the dunes or in vegetated areas. | City of Moreton Bay page |
Best Brisbane dog beach by use case
| If you want | Go to | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Northside, close to the city | Sandgate foreshore | Brisbane City Council off-lead beach with no time limit listed, and mudflats to explore at low tide. |
| Southside and the bayside suburbs | Manly foreshore, end of Davenport Drive | The only off-lead sand south of the river in Brisbane City Council. Wynnum's own foreshore is on-lead. |
| A swim at any tide | Kedron Brook, Tuckeroo Park, Nudgee Beach | A council-listed off-leash swimming area on the creek, so you are not waiting for the bay tide. |
| A day out on the Redcliffe peninsula | Queens Beach North, Scarborough | Off-lead on sand and water along Flinders Parade, with on-lead stretches either side for a longer walk. |
| Waves and a long run | Woorim Beach (south), Bribie Island | About 4.2km of off-lead ocean beach, the only surf on this list. |
| Lots of space at low tide | Beachmere off-lead area | The council puts it at about 13 hectares at low tide. |
Why the rules change at the council line
Queensland dog law comes from the Animal Management (Cats and Dogs) Act 2008, but each council decides which parts of its foreshore are off-lead, on-lead or dog-free. Greater Brisbane's bay coast is split between several councils, and a reader in the northern suburbs is often closer to a Moreton Bay beach than a Brisbane City one.
Brisbane City Council
More than 160 off-leash areas, almost all in parks. On the bay it has three designated foreshore dog off-leash areas, kept few to protect shorebird habitat: Manly, Sandgate and the Kedron Brook swimming area at Nudgee Beach. Dogs must be on a lead outside designated, signed off-leash areas. Off-leash dog parks and beaches.
City of Moreton Bay
Thirteen listed dog beach areas, from the Redcliffe peninsula to Bribie Island. Off-lead ones include Queens Beach North, Deception Bay, part of Beachmere and Woorim Beach (south). The council says dogs are prohibited from conservation parks, reserves and foreshores unless designated as dog exercise areas. Dog parks and beaches.
Redland City Council
Redlands Coast has its own off-leash beaches, including G.J. Walter Park and Raby Bay Foreshore Park in Cleveland, with shared hours on some island beaches. Redland off-leash areas.
Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast
Ocean dog beaches with their own councils and rules. See our Gold Coast dog beaches guide and Sunshine Coast dog beaches guide.
Brisbane dog beaches in detail
1. Redcliffe dog beach (Queens Beach North)
City of Moreton Bay · Off-lead on sand and water · Calm bay water
When people search for the Redcliffe dog beach, this is the one. City of Moreton Bay allows dogs off-lead on the sand and in the water along Flinders Parade, between the beach access stairs and the northern rock groyne. The page lists no time limit, and owners must keep effective control of their dogs.
The lead goes back on the moment you leave the sand. Dogs must be leashed at all times on the grassed areas, footpath and car park, and on the beach south of the steps towards the boat ramp. That southern stretch is the Queens Beach on-lead area, which runs to the rock groyne near Flinders Lane.
Best for: a calm-water swim with room to run, and a peninsula day out. Peninsula Animal Aid, a dog and cat shelter at Clontarf on the same peninsula, is one of the Brisbane-area rescues we list.
2. Sandgate dog beach
Brisbane City Council · Off-lead, no time limit listed · Tidal mudflats
Brisbane City Council describes the Sandgate foreshore dog off-leash area as the area between the stairs to the foreshore, near the corners of Flinders Parade and Second Avenue, and Park Parade and Zeehan Street at Shorncliffe. The council's trial notes put it on the foreshore next to Sandgate Foreshores Park, below Lover's Walk. It started as a trial in October 2019 and was kept as a permanent off-leash area in late 2020. The council map shows the exact stretch.
Tide changes everything here. The council's own Sandgate guide says that when the tide is low, the mudflats off the foreshore become a spot for exploring, and suggests planning a visit for low tide. For a dog that means plenty of mud and shallow puddles rather than deep water, so pack a towel. Outside the off-leash stretch, the foreshore is on-lead.
Nearby grass: a council walking guide also lists an off-leash area at Decker Park on 25th Avenue, Brighton, at the other end of the Sandgate foreshore promenade.
3. Wynnum and Manly dog beach (Manly foreshore)
Brisbane City Council · Off-lead, no time limit listed · Bay water
The Manly foreshore dog off-leash area is the beach at the end of Davenport Drive, between the southern and northern rock walls, according to Brisbane City Council. The council's trial notes add that the northern end is a rock wall and fence. The council map shows it.
The Wynnum catch: people search for a “Wynnum dog beach”, but the Wynnum Manly foreshore walk is on-lead. A council walking guide says dogs are welcome there on a lead and points to two off-leash areas: Elanora Park (a grass dog park in Wynnum) and this Manly foreshore stretch.
4. Nudgee Beach and the Kedron Brook swimming area
Brisbane City Council · Beach on-lead · Creek swimming area off-lead
Nudgee Beach used to be a dog beach. From October 2019 to October 2020 it was one of three foreshore off-leash trial areas, running from the Fortitude Street car park boat ramp south to the mouth of Kedron Brook. At the end of the trial, Brisbane City Council returned it to an on-lead area because studies showed shorebird disturbance was much higher there than at Sandgate and Manly.
The council's alternative is the Kedron Brook dog off-leash and swimming area, part of the Tuckeroo Park dog park at Nudgee Beach (map). It is a creek, not the bay, so it suits a dog that wants a swim when the bay tide is out. The nearby Boondall Wetlands are dog friendly on a lead only.
5. Woorim Beach (south), Bribie Island
City of Moreton Bay · Off-lead on sand and water · Ocean surf
City of Moreton Bay allows dogs off-lead on the sand and in the water from beach access 19 at Lowry Street, Woorim, heading south for about 4.2km. Signs mark where the off-lead area ends and the on-lead area begins. Dogs are not allowed on the dunes or in vegetated areas.
Safety: this is open ocean, unlike every other beach on this page. Keep weak swimmers, puppies and flat-faced breeds in the shallows. Bribie Island National Park is a separate area: Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service says dogs are prohibited from the northern breakaway section of the national park and recreation area.
6. Deception Bay foreshore
City of Moreton Bay · Off-lead beach, timed footpath trial
City of Moreton Bay allows dogs off-lead along the beach between Wallin Avenue and Joseph Crescent. It is also trialling off-lead access on the foreshore footpath in the same stretch before 8am and after 4pm daily. At all other times, including entering and leaving the footpath area, dogs must be on a lead. Because these arrangements are a trial, check the page before you go.
7. Beachmere
City of Moreton Bay · Off-lead area plus a seasonal zone
New zones took effect at Beachmere on 1 December 2025. City of Moreton Bay lists a dog off-leash area from the southern end of Biggs Avenue, across from the car park, south of the second footbridge, on the signed parkland and beach only. The council puts it at about 13 hectares at low tide. The Bayside Drive foreshore is off-lead from 1 May to 31 July and on-lead from 1 August to 30 April. Beachmere Conservation Park is closed to dogs to protect shorebird habitat, and penalties apply.
8. On-lead beach walks: Clontarf and Jamieson Park
City of Moreton Bay · On-lead only
On the Redcliffe peninsula, Clontarf allows dogs on-lead on the beach between Woody Point Jetty and the Houghton Highway bridge, and Jamieson Park at Scarborough allows dogs on-lead from the northern point of Reef Point Esplanade towards Deception Bay. Neither is an off-lead beach, but both are legal places to walk a dog on the sand.
Looking for a beach buddy?
Browse adoptable dogs from Brisbane's shelters, council rehoming centres and foster-based rescues in one place. Filter by size, age and energy to find a dog that suits bayside walks.
Browse Dogs in Brisbane →Where dogs are on-lead or not allowed
The common mistake around Brisbane is assuming any quiet bayside beach is fine for an off-lead run. Most of the foreshore is not. From the council and park pages:
- Brisbane City Council foreshore outside the three areas. Dogs must be on a lead outside designated, signed off-leash areas (owning a dog in Brisbane). That covers Nudgee Beach and the Wynnum Manly foreshore walk.
- Moreton Bay foreshores that are not designated. City of Moreton Bay prohibits dogs from conservation parks, reserves and foreshores unless they are designated dog exercise areas.
- Beachmere Conservation Park. No dogs or horses, to protect shorebird habitat.
- National parks. Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service says domestic animals are not permitted in national parks, with some areas where a dog on a lead is allowed. On Bribie, the northern breakaway section is off-limits to dogs.
Assistance animals have separate rights. For grass off-lead options away from the bay, see our guide to Brisbane dog parks and off-lead areas.
Tides, seasons and shorebirds
Brisbane's dog beaches are tidal. At low tide the bay can pull back a long way, leaving mudflats at Sandgate and wide sand at Beachmere. At high tide there is more water and less beach. Check a tide chart before you go, and expect a muddy dog after a low-tide visit.
The tides are also why there are so few dog beaches. Brisbane City Council says migratory shorebirds feed according to the tide, and its three foreshore off-leash areas were chosen using University of Queensland research as the places with the least impact on shorebirds. The bay around Bribie Island is part of Moreton Bay Marine Park and the Moreton Bay Ramsar site, which Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service describes as vital roosting and feeding ground for resident and migratory shorebirds.
Only one rule on this page changes by season: the Bayside Drive foreshore at Beachmere, off-lead from 1 May to 31 July and on-lead from 1 August to 30 April. Summer brings the other seasonal problem. South East Queensland summers regularly reach the low-to-mid 30s with high humidity, and dry sand in the middle of the day can burn paw pads. Go early or late.
Safety at a Brisbane dog beach
Paralysis ticks, close to year-round. The Australian paralysis tick is an eastern-seaboard species and South East Queensland sits squarely in its range. Mild winters mean the risk runs close to year-round, and it is worst in bushland-fringe and coastal suburbs, so the vegetation behind a bayside beach counts. Tick paralysis is potentially fatal. Run your fingers over your dog after every visit, ask your vet about a registered year-round tick-prevention product, and treat wobbly back legs, a changed bark or laboured breathing as an emergency. The RSPCA Knowledgebase lists the signs.
Heat, humidity and hot sand. Humid heat is harder on a dog than dry heat, because it cannot cool itself as easily. 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, never leave a dog in a parked car, and treat heatstroke as a get-to-the-vet-now emergency. Flat-faced and heavy-coated breeds struggle most.
Snakes. Eastern brown snakes, red-bellied black snakes and carpet pythons turn up around SEQ wetland edges and bushland, more often in the warmer months. Keep your dog out of long grass and mangrove edges on the walk to the sand.
Mud, surf and what washes up. Mudflats can be soft and full of shells, so check paws after a low-tide run. At Woorim, the one ocean beach, throw the ball along the sand, not out to sea. Keep your dog away from anything washed up, including fishing line and hooks near boat ramps, and call your vet if your dog seems in pain or unwell after a swim.
Shorebirds. Do not let your dog chase birds on the flats, even inside an off-lead area. Disturbance to shorebirds is the reason Nudgee Beach lost its off-lead status.
Know your emergency vet. The Animal Emergency Service runs after-hours hospitals at Jindalee and Underwood in Brisbane. Save the closest one in your phone before you head to the beach.
When is my new rescue dog ready for off-lead at the beach?
None of Brisbane's dog beaches are fenced. They are open foreshores with water, birds and other dogs, which makes them the hardest recall test there is. A dog that has just changed homes does not know its name well yet 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.
- Use the on-lead beaches first. Clontarf, Jamieson Park and the south end of Queens Beach are legal on-lead beach walks. They let your dog meet sand, water and birds with you holding the lead.
- Move to a long line. A long line at Sandgate or Queens Beach North at a quiet time lets your dog paddle and sniff while you practise recalls.
- 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 sighthounds. Their recall is unreliable around moving things, so keep a pet greyhound on a lead in public. Our Brisbane greyhound adoption guide covers the rest.
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. Brisbane City Council requires dogs to be registered from 3 months of age or within 14 days of moving to Brisbane. Our Brisbane dog registration guide explains how it works.
Beach-by-beach guides
Redcliffe Dog Beach (Queens Beach North)
Off-lead on sand and water to the northern groyne, plus the peninsula's on-lead beaches.
Sandgate Dog Beach
The off-lead foreshore from Second Avenue to Zeehan Street, and the tides.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the best dog beach in Brisbane?
Within Brisbane City Council there are only two off-lead dog beaches: the Sandgate foreshore between Second Avenue and Zeehan Street, and the Manly foreshore at the end of Davenport Drive. Neither has a published time limit. If you are willing to drive north, Queens Beach North on the Redcliffe peninsula and Woorim Beach (south) on Bribie Island, both in the City of Moreton Bay, give a dog more room, and Woorim is the only ocean surf beach of the group.
Where is the Redcliffe dog beach?
It is Queens Beach North, along Flinders Parade at Scarborough. City of Moreton Bay allows dogs off-lead on the sand and in the water between the beach access stairs and the northern rock groyne. Dogs must be on-lead on the grass, footpath and car park, and on the beach south of the steps towards the boat ramp. The council page lists no time limit.
Where is the Sandgate dog beach?
The Sandgate foreshore dog off-leash area sits between the stairs to the foreshore near the corner of Flinders Parade and Second Avenue in Sandgate, and the stairs near Park Parade and Zeehan Street in Shorncliffe. It is below Lover's Walk, next to Sandgate Foreshores Park. Brisbane City Council lists no time limit. Outside that stretch, dogs on the foreshore must be on a lead.
Is there a dog beach at Wynnum?
Not on the Wynnum foreshore itself. Brisbane City Council says dogs are welcome on the Wynnum Manly foreshore walk but must be kept on a lead. The nearest off-lead sand is the Manly foreshore dog off-leash area, the beach at the end of Davenport Drive between the southern and northern rock walls. Elanora Park in Wynnum is an off-leash dog park on grass.
Can dogs go off-lead at Nudgee Beach?
No. Nudgee Beach was part of a foreshore off-leash trial from October 2019 to October 2020, but Brisbane City Council returned it to an on-lead area because studies found shorebird disturbance there was much higher than at Sandgate and Manly. The council suggests the Kedron Brook dog off-leash and swimming area in Tuckeroo Park, Nudgee Beach, instead.
What are the off-lead hours at Brisbane dog beaches?
Brisbane City Council does not publish time limits for its Sandgate and Manly foreshore off-leash areas, or for the Kedron Brook swimming area. The places with set times are in the City of Moreton Bay: the Deception Bay foreshore footpath trial (before 8am and after 4pm daily) and the Bayside Drive foreshore at Beachmere, which is off-lead from 1 May to 31 July and on-lead from 1 August to 30 April. Signs at the beach are the final word.
Are there any off-lead surf beaches near Brisbane for dogs?
Yes, one in the City of Moreton Bay: Woorim Beach (south) on Bribie Island. The council allows dogs off-lead on the sand and in the water from beach access 19 at Lowry Street, south for about 4.2km, but not on the dunes or in vegetated areas. Everything inside Brisbane City Council is calm, tidal Moreton Bay water rather than surf.
Can I walk my dog on other Redcliffe beaches?
Only on the beaches the council has signed for dogs. City of Moreton Bay says dogs are prohibited from conservation parks, reserves and foreshores unless they are designated dog exercise areas. On the Redcliffe peninsula that means Queens Beach North (off-lead), the rest of Queens Beach, Jamieson Park and the Clontarf beach between Woody Point Jetty and the Houghton Highway bridge (all on-lead).
Why does Brisbane have so few dog beaches?
Mostly because of shorebirds. Brisbane City Council says it keeps three designated foreshore dog off-leash areas to protect important shorebird habitat in Moreton Bay, and the locations were chosen using University of Queensland research to have the least impact on shorebirds. Migratory shorebirds feed on the tidal flats, and a dog running through a flock disturbs them.
Can I take my dog to Bribie Island National Park?
No. Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service says domestic animals are not permitted in national parks, and its Bribie Island page says dogs are prohibited from the northern breakaway section of the national park and recreation area. Stick to the council's signed dog beach at Woorim Beach (south).
Do I need to worry about paralysis ticks at the beach?
Yes. The Australian paralysis tick is an eastern-seaboard species, South East Queensland sits squarely in its range, and the risk runs close to year-round because winters are mild. Bushland and vegetation behind bayside beaches is tick country. Check your dog with your fingers after every outing, ask your vet about a registered year-round tick-prevention product, and treat wobbly back legs or a changed bark as an emergency.
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. An unfenced foreshore with water, birds and other dogs is the hardest place to test recall, and none of Brisbane's dog beaches are fenced. Start on a long line at a quiet time, 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 Brisbane 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 Brisbane →Keep exploring
Dog Parks and Off-Lead Areas in Brisbane
How Brisbane's 160-plus off-leash parks work, plus tick, heat and snake safety.
Dog Registration in Brisbane
Council registration, microchipping and what rescue adopters need to do.
Best Dog Rescues in Brisbane
The shelters and rescues we track, and how each one adopts.
Dog Beaches on the Gold Coast
Ocean dog beaches to the south, with City of Gold Coast rules.