Walking your dog

Taking your dog for a walk is not only great fun and exercise but it is also a great way to reduce barking problems and socialises your dog. Whether you want your dog to have a run off the lead or you want to take them for a swim, Woollahra has somewhere for you and your dog to have fun.  Remember to take a bag or two to pick up your dog’s faeces because no one likes stepping in dog poo!  Remember, you must keep your dog on a lead at all times when in public unless in a sign-posted off-the-leash area.  Fines of $110 apply.

Where to walk your dog

Within the Municipality, the Council has classifed areas suitable for walking your dog.  Below is a list of the locations where you can walk your dog and also where you cannot.  View the map of the locations (PDF File, 723 kb).

Where dogs are prohibited at all times

Dogs are generally prohibited, by the Companion Animals Act 1998, from the following public areas:

  • Children's play areas - dogs must be a minimum of 10 metres from any playing equipment provided for children
  • Food preparation/consumption areas - dogs must be a minimum of 10 metres from any area where food is prepared or consumed.

In addition, Council has prohibited dogs from the following parks, reserves and public places: 

  1. Blackburn Gardens, Double Bay
  2. Redleaf Pool, Double Bay
  3. Double Bay Beach, Double Bay
  4. Percival Park, Rose Bay
  5. Gap Park, Watsons Bay
  6. Robertson Park, Watsons Bay
  7. Chiswick Gardens Reserve, Woollahra
  8. McKell Park, Darling Point
  9. Parsley Bay Reserve, Vaucluse
  10. Nielsen Park, Vaucluse
  11. Trumper Park Oval playing surface
  12. Woollahra Oval playing surface

Where dogs are allowed at all times on a leash

The Companion Animals Act 1998 requires that dogs are to be on a lead at all times when in public, unless in a sign-posted off-the-leash area.  This means that whenever you are walking on a public footpath, roadway or pathway, you must have your dog on a lead.

The simple rule is NO SIGNAGE, your dog must be on a lead. 

With regard to Council's parks and reserves, dogs are permitted in the following public areas at all times but only on a lead:

  1. Woollahra Oval (excluding the playing surface) & Playing Fields, Rose Bay
  2. Harbourview Park, Woollahra
  3. Trumper Park (excluding the Oval playing surface), Paddington
  4. Harris Street Reserve, Paddington
  5. Vaucluse Park, Vaucluse
  6. Samuel Park, Vaucluse
  7. Signal Hill Reserve, Vaucluse
  8. Bellevue Park, Bellevue Hill
  9. Cooper Park, Bellevue Hill
  10. Steyne Park, Double Bay
  11. Camp Cove Reserve, Watsons Bay
  12. Darling Point Reserve, Darling Point
  13. Rose Bay Park, Rose Bay

Where dogs are allowed off the leash at all times

Council has declared that dogs are permitted off-leash in the following areas at all times;  

  1. Steyne Park (Northern End), Double Bay, except during organised sailing events 
  2. Yarranabbe Park, Darling Point
  3. Lighthouse Reserve, Vaucluse

Where Dogs Are Allowed On The Leash At All Times And Off The Leash Between 4:30pm & 8:30 am

Council has declared that dogs are permitted off-leash in the following parks and reserves between 4.30pm and 8.30am - at all other times dogs must be on a lead:

  1. Lough Playing Fields, Double Bay
  2. Lower Cooper Park, Double Bay
  3. Dumaresq Reserve, Rose Bay
  4. Lyne Park, Rose Bay
  5. Rushcutters Bay Park, Darling Point
  6. Royal Hospital For Women Park, Paddington
  7. Christison Park, Vaucluse

Always check the signs in the park if you are unsure about the regulations governing a particular area.  In some areas, the requirements differ throughout the park.

Dog poo

Attention all dog owners!  are you POO-lluting our environment?

No one likes to step in dog poo, however, most people are not aware that every time it rains, everything on our roads, footpaths, parks and beaches (including dog poo) washes down our stormwater drains and into Sydney Harbour.

The nutrients in dog faeces can contribute to toxic algae blooms in our waterways.  These algal blooms can affect our water quality and those marine organisms that contribute to the health of our waterways.  As responsible pet owners, please pick up your dog’s waste and help keep our waterways clean.

What can you do to help?

  • Cleaning up after your dog is easy.  You can use plastic or biodegradable bags, trowels or pooper scoopers.  Personal bag carriers are available to attach to your dog’s leash so that you always have plenty of plastic bags for use during walks.  Once collected, please dispose of your dog’s waste either in a Council bin in the street or park, or in your bin at home.
  • Do not let your dog out without supervision.  When not supervised, your dog may defecate on your neighbour’s property or in the street.  Be a responsible owner, don’t make your dog’s poo someone else’s problem.
  • If someone in your neighbourhood is not doing the right thing, contact Council.

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