Peasholm Dog Beach, Scarborough: Off-Lead Rules and Parking

Peasholm Dog Beach at a glance

Sources: the City of Stirling Peasholm Dog Beach venue page and dog exercise areas page, both read on 7 November 2026. On-site signs always win.

Is Peasholm dog beach off lead?

Yes. The City of Stirling's dog exercise areas page has a short “Dog beaches” list with three entries: Peasholm Street dog beach in Scarborough, Trigg Beach between Kathleen and Bennion streets, and North Beach between Castle and Margaret streets. Directly under that list the City writes: “Dogs are prohibited at all other beach and coastal reserve areas.”

Notice what that list does not say. Trigg and North Beach come with cross streets that mark where the dog section starts and stops. Peasholm comes with no such limits and no hours. In plain terms, the City treats Peasholm as a dog beach in its own right rather than a slice of a swimming beach, which helps explain why it gets so much use.

“Off-lead” in Stirling always comes with one condition: the City says dogs “must remain under effective control at all times when off leash.” On a beach, that means your dog comes back when called, does not jump on people or chase other dogs that do not want to play, and stays where you can see it.

Where the dog area ends

This is the rule people break by accident. Peasholm is the southern end of Scarborough, and walking north along the waterline takes you onto Scarborough Beach. On Scarborough Beach Reserve, the City of Stirling allows dogs on a lead only in the car parks, thoroughfares and formal footpaths. The sand there is a dog prohibited area, like every Stirling beach outside the three listed dog beaches.

The City does not publish a map with an exact northern line for Peasholm in text form, so the signs on the beach are the boundary. A simple habit helps: note the sign at your access path, walk south or stay close to where you came down, and turn around before the beach starts to fill with swimmers and boards.

To the south, Peasholm sits close to the Town of Cambridge boundary. Cambridge's Dog Control Policy makes North Floreat Beach a dog exercise area from the stormwater drain opposite Oban Road north to the Town's northern boundary, about two kilometres. The two councils set their rules separately, so treat the signs where Stirling meets Cambridge as the authority, and keep your dog off the dunes on both sides.

Getting there and parking

The City of Stirling gives the address as Peasholm Dog Beach, West Coast Highway, Scarborough WA 6019, and places it between Floreat and Scarborough Beach. If you put “Peasholm Dog Beach” into a map app, it should take you to the City's listed location; the venue page has a directions link too.

• The car park. Free, floodlit, 40 bays. The City adds that parking cannot be guaranteed, so on a warm Saturday arrive early or late.
• When it is full. The City does not name an overflow car park for Peasholm. Use any legal street or council parking nearby and read the signs, since Scarborough parking rules vary by street.
• Lead on to the sand. The City of Stirling says dogs must be on a leash in public places, such as streets and near roadways, unless signposted otherwise. Clip on before you open the car door, because the car park sits right by a busy highway.
• Public transport. The City's pages do not give a public transport route to Peasholm, so we do not suggest one here. Plan your own route before you go.

Facilities: why Peasholm is the easy choice

Most Perth dog beaches give you sand and a sign. Peasholm gives you a set-up. The City of Stirling venue page lists:

• public toilets
• shower facilities
• a dog wash area
• drinking fountains and animal drink facilities
• free parking with floodlights

The dog wash is the feature owners love most. A salty, sandy dog in the back seat is a long drive home, and a rinse before you leave keeps sand out of the coat and salt off the skin. Bring your own towel; the City does not list towels or bags as supplied.

One line on the venue page confuses people: “This facility is currently unavailable to hire.” That is about booking the space for an organised event (the page lists a standing capacity of 100). It does not mean the beach is closed to dogs. When we checked on 7 November 2026, nothing on the City's dog pages suggested any closure.

What Peasholm is like for a dog

The City describes Peasholm as having “lots of space for dogs to run around” and as “a great spot for swimming or surfing.” That second phrase tells you the water: this is the open Indian Ocean coast, not a sheltered river beach. Some days are flat and glassy, others bring a shore break that knocks a small dog over.

For a confident swimmer, that is the fun of it. For a dog that has never swum, it is a reason to stay in ankle-deep water until you know how it copes. Surfers share the water too, so call your dog in if it starts chasing boards.

Because Peasholm is the best equipped dog beach in Perth's inner north and has a dedicated car park, expect crowds at the obvious times: warm weekend mornings and summer evenings after work. Weekday mornings and cooler months are calmer, which suits a younger or less social dog.

The rules on the day

• Carry a lead, even off-lead. Under section 32 of the Dog Act 1976, a dog in a dog exercise area must be held, tethered, or supervised by a competent person close by who is carrying a lead and can attach it.
• Effective control at all times. The City of Stirling's own words. If your dog will not come back, it should not be off the lead.
• Pick up every time. The City says leaving droppings is an offence with $100 on-the-spot penalties.
• Registration and tag. Your dog must be registered with your council and wear its tag. Our Perth dog registration guide covers how it works.
• Stay on the dog beach. Every other Stirling beach and coastal reserve is dog prohibited, apart from the Trigg and North Beach dog sections.
• Keep clear of play areas. The City says dogs are not permitted within five metres of playgrounds, or of sports grounds while a game is under way.

Safety: heat, sand, snakes and surf

Hot sand is the main summer risk. Perth summers bring long runs of mid-30s to 40 degree days, and dry sand on the walk down can burn paw pads. Use the back-of-your-hand test: if you cannot hold your hand on it, it is too hot for paws. Go early or late, carry fresh water and a bowl (seawater is not drinking water, even with the fountains nearby), and never leave a dog in a parked car. Heatstroke is an emergency, so get to a vet immediately.

Snakes live in the coastal scrub. Dugites and other snakes are active around Perth in the warmer months, roughly September to April. Keep your dog on the open sand and the paths, not nosing through the dunes.

Surf. Peasholm is a surf beach. Keep a dog out of the water on rough days, and watch for a dog getting carried along the shore by the current. Never swim out after a dog in big surf; call it, move along the beach, and let it come in on a wave.

Ticks are a low risk here. Paralysis ticks are not established in WA, so Perth beaches do not carry the tick risk of the east coast. Ask your vet about prevention if you are taking your dog east.

Know your emergency vet. Perth's 24/7 hospitals include Animal Emergency Service (formerly Perth Vet Emergency) at Cannington and Osborne Park, The Animal Hospital at Murdoch University and WAVES at Success. Save one in your phone before a summer trip.

Best times to go

Peasholm, Scarborough: the Perth one

If your search for “Scarborough dog beach” turned up rules about summer dog bans and Peasholm Park, you were reading about Scarborough in North Yorkshire, England. This page is the Western Australian Peasholm, a City of Stirling dog beach on West Coast Highway, with no seasonal ban published. Different country, different rules.

Nearby dog beaches if Peasholm is packed

For every beach from Two Rocks to Coogee, including the time limits at Grant Street in Cottesloe and the Hillarys horse beach, see our full Perth dog beaches guide.

Is Peasholm right for a newly adopted rescue dog?

Eventually, yes. In the first few weeks, usually not. Peasholm is busy, unfenced, full of loose dogs and surf, and backed by a car park on a highway. A dog that has just moved homes does not know its name well yet, has not learned that you are its safe base, and may bolt if a wave or a bigger dog startles it.

• Read the adoption notes. Some rescues say a dog is not suited to off-lead areas or to mixing with unknown dogs. Follow that advice; the foster carer has watched the dog for weeks.
• Go at a quiet time on a long line. A weekday morning, a long line clipped to a harness, and short recall games with treats. Let the dog meet the water at its own pace.
• Use the dog wash as training. A calm rinse and a treat after every visit builds a good routine and makes the car trip home easier.
• Check the microchip and tag. Make sure the chip and council registration carry your name and number before the first off-lead run.
• Leave on a high note. Fifteen good minutes beats an hour that ends in a scuffle.

Many of the dogs we list from Perth rescues are adults living in foster homes, so the carer can often tell you before you adopt whether a dog loves the water, comes back when called, or would rather stay on the lead. That is worth asking about if a beach is part of your weekend. Our best dog rescues in Perth guide is a good place to start.

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