Sydney is a thriving metropolis for dogs. Without a doubt, as soon as the weekend hits, Sydneysiders emerge with their Baxter’s, their Luna’s, their Oreo’s and their Duke’s and you’d be forgiven for thinking our glorious city was actually run by a band of cute furry pups.
To make your weekly doggo adventures that much easier, we’ve rounded up the absolute best things to get up to with your pooch in Sydney. From the greatest walks and beaches to last-minute dog-friendly getaways, you’ll find it all here.
Here are the best dog-friendly things to do in Sydney.
Grab Your Furry Pal And Take Them For An Epic Adventure On One Of The Best Dog-Friendly Walks In Sydney
Switch up your morning play at the park (there’s only so many times you can launch that “Chuck It” contraption before you get RSI), and take your furry friend on an epic long walk. Cooper Park Trails is one of our favourites, this reserve has a heap of little tracks that weave around the waterfalls and cascades that will make you feel like you’re deep in the forest when you’re actually just a stone’s throw from suburbia. This dog-friendly walk spans between one and three kilometres and though it’s a “leashed” one, there are a few little parks along the way to let Fido run free. For more dog-friendly walks, head here.
Order Up A Puppacino At Sydney’s Best Dog-Friendly Cafes
For dog-owners in Sydney, it can be a hard feat trying to score a weekend brunch spot where your pup also gets a big old warm welcome—and where “puppacinos” are a real menu item, for that matter. You need space, a park nearby, a “slobber-friendly” crowd and look, really, really good coffee because let’s be real, you’ve had paws sprinting over your bed covers since 4am.
Our suggestion? Cafe Bones in Sydney’s Leichhardt. This outdoor coffee haunt churns out cups of the good stuff plus pet-friendly snacks right in the middle of an actual dog park, which means your pooch can run free while you load up on all the caffeine. For more dog-friendly cafes in Sydney, head here.
Lap Up Some Luxury At The Best Dog-Friendly Hotels In Sydney
What's the only thing more glorious than a swanky hotel? A swanky dog-friendly package so you and your furry pal can indulge together. These days, the dog-friendly hotel game is pretty damn sweet with dog butlers on hand, dog menus, complimentary toys, gift bags, personalised collars and leads, and hey, even dog photoshoots.
At the moment, we’re vibing all the dog-friendly luxury at Surry Hills’s Little Albion. For you, there’s a 24-hour honour bar system, meaning you can mix your own cocktails, grab a bottle of wine or some snacks, kick back in the bar or head to the secluded rooftop whenever you please. For your four-legged mate, a puppy staycation package here includes Mimi & Munch doggie bakery treats and eats on arrival, a personalised collar and lead from The Daily Edited, a fitting with an actual DOGUE doggie stylist, a personal doggie butler, and yes, there’s a whole slew of chew toys to go around too.
Make Some Outdoor Memories With The Best Dog-Friendly Camping
On the other side of the table, you can always rough it up a bit and stoke a fire at the best dog-friendly camping spots near Sydney. Our pick has to be Coachwood Camping Area inside the Chichester State Forest. This one goes out to anyone who ever saw The Blue Lagoon and thought: "sounds great". This dog-friendly camp spot is three and a half hours north-west of Sydney, is pretty remote, and, for the most part, accessible only by 4WD (2WD can work sometimes, but it can be difficult). The site sits on the Telegherry River and offers a rainforest setting with a lagoon for paddling, dog or otherwise.
Round-Up The Pack And Head To The Best Dog-Friendly Airbnbs Near Sydney
From Hampton-style boatsheds on the water all the way to farm escapes that overlook Blue Mountains National Park, you’ll easily be able to plan your next dog-friendly getaway with this list.
Our favourite? Laguna Sanctuary is every bit its own name. Tucked into mountains, the Balinese-inspired cottage bears a heated spa and epic views that overlook a freshwater lagoon. Maximise your s’mores roasting time over the open fire-pit, go fishing, read a book under the gazebo, take a bike ride, take your pooch out for a bushwalk, or hit the lagoon for a morning dip.
Include Your Doggo In Your Beach Holiday Plans With The Best Dog-Friendly Stays On The South Coast
The South Coast is any pup’s true playground. There’s lots of dog-friendly accommodation to check out plus dog-friendly parks, dog-friendly beaches, dog-friendly cafes, and dog-friendly restaurants. Basically, if dogs could move here—they would.
One of the best dog-friendly Airbnbs down this way has to be Lolita’s. You’ll find this beautiful property tucked into the heart of Sanctuary Point and the best part is, it sits on a huge, grassy plot of land, ready for all the doggy rolling, chasing and lazing about in the sun ever. The legendary owners have also gone one step ahead and noted down a tonne of great dog-friendly beaches (so you can spend more time getting sandy, less time searching). The Basin View boat ramp is about a 10-minute drive from Lolita’s and is off-leash at all times, plus Plantation Point Reserve is a spot where your four-legged mate can have a wild sunset run from 4pm.
Cool Off At Some Of Sydney’s Most Beautiful Dog-Friendly Beaches
When the mercury starts to pick-up, there’s really only one thing for you and your furry mate to do—head to the beach. Sydney’s dog-friendly beach scene is pretty limited, but yes, we’ve gone and done the hard work for you and rounded up the best of the best, right here.
If you’re going to make a day out of it, you really can’t go past Rosebay Foreshore. This beach is completely off-leash so your dog can dig holes, chase seagulls, frolic in the waves and play with hundreds of other dogs all day. This one also stares out to the Harbour Bridge so yes, watching the sunset here is truly amazing.
Play Ball At Sydney’s Best Dog-Friendly Parks
All you need to know is that Sydney Park is the best dog-friendly park in Sydney. The best. The park contains Sydney’s largest off-leash areas so expect to see all sorts of four-legged beings running around. There’s also a puppy paddling pool worth swinging by but just make sure you take note of places like the park’s beautiful gated wetlands where families of swans and ducks and native birds call home, Alan Davidson Oval, and the playground area—as these are prohibited sections for dogs. For more dog-friendly parks, head here.
Step Off The Beaten Track With The Best State Forests In NSW
NSW's National Parks are wonderful—but if you love weekend adventuring and wilderness, our state forests are a big dog-life hack. Unlike National Parks, NSW State Forests are typically dog-friendly so you can bring your four-legged mate along off the lead whenever you please (except in Cumberland State Forest where they must be on a leash at all times).
When you’re keen to really escape with your pooch, Strickland State Forest has all the appeal of Costa Rica’s Monteverde Cloud Forest—waterfalls, deep gully walking tracks, and a suspension bridge to boot. It’s a heavy-hitter on the Central Coast for your dose of weekend adventure. If it’s the suspension bridge adventure you’re after, the Arboretum Track is for you. This easy two-kilometre loop leads down to Stoney Creek and passes giant Australian Red Cedar, Bunya and Hoop Pines. You can also add an extra kilometre to your walk by hooking onto the Bellbird Track as well.
You also need to check out the best regional hotels in NSW.
Image credit: Klara Kulikova,Valeria Dubich,Roberto Nickson, Matthew Cooksey