Perth is home to a great variety of dog-friendly beaches, both north and south of the city centre. To help you out, I’ve put together this guide to every beach between Yanchep and Rockingham where the local government allows dogs off-leash on the beach. Take your pick from these off-leash dog beaches in Perth…
#1 Two Rocks Dog Beach
The northernmost dog-friendly beach in Perth is part of Two Rocks South Beach in Two Rocks. Dogs are allowed off-leash on the beautiful beach in between the southern groyne of the marina (but not on the groyne) and Marcon Street. There’s a few access paths from Jordon Street. To view a map, head to the City of Wanneroo website.
#2 Yanchep Dog Beach
Heading south to Yanchep, dogs are also allowed off-leash along part of South Yanchep Beach. Dogs are allowed on the beach south of the houses at the northern end of Brazier Place, until a little north of the lookout on Compass Circuit – access this quiet stretch of sand by the access path to the north. See the map on the City of Wanneroo website.
#3 Quinns Dog Beach
Heading much further south, the third off-leash dog beach in the City of Wanneroo is located at Quinns Rocks. The off-leash area is located north of the roundabout at the junction of Ocean Drive and Camira Way, where there is a carpark, and the end of Waterland Point. Search for “Quinns Dog Beach” on Google Maps.
#4 Hillarys Dog Beach
The City of Joondalup is home to a single off-leash dog beach, Hillarys Dog Beach. There’s a large carpark adjacent to the dog beach off Whitfords Avenue in Hillary.
Dogs are also allowed on Hillarys Horse Beach, also known as Whitfords Horse Beach. immediately to the north. They are allowed off-leash in the afternoon from Monday to Saturday and all-day Sunday. During the morning from Monday to Saturday they are only allowed on the beach on-leash.
#5 North Beach Dog Beach
The City of Stirling has three off-leash dog beaches in the city; dogs are prohibited on all other beaches. The northernmost dog beach is part of North Beach, in between Castle Street and Margaret Street in Watermans Bay. On Google Maps, search for “North Beach Dog Beach” – the pin is located at the southern end of the dog beach.
#6 Trigg Dog Beach
Heading south, the next off-leash dog beach is located in Trigg. Dogs are allowed off-leash on the short section of sand in between Bennion and Kathleen Streets. Though small, the beach is pretty and fairly enclosed, wits rocks at either end and dunes to the rear.
#7 Peasholm Dog Beach
Probably the most popular dog beach out of the three in the City of Stirling is Peasholm Dog Beach in Scarborough, also known as Peasholm Street Dog Beach. Dogs are allowed off-leash on a fairly large stretch of sand. There’s also showers and toilets near the carpark, where you can wash down our dog after a play on the sand, before you get in your car.
#8 Floreat Dog Beach
Peasholm Dog Beach continues to the south as Floreat Dog Beach. The northernmost dog beach in City Beach, the off-leash dog beach continues south to Floreat Drain, basically encompassing most of North Floreat Beach. This stretch of the beach is quieter.
#9 South City Beach
The Town of Cambridge is home to a second off-leash dog beach, South City Beach. Search for the pin “South City Beach” on Google – the off-leash dog exercise area starts roughly at the pin, parallel with the end of Darmouth Avenue, and continues south to the edge of City Beach, where there is a nudist beach. A large, relatively quiet stretch of sand, be warned it’s a bit of a walk from the carpark to the foreshore.
#10 Swanbourne Beach
Dogs are allowed off-leash along the majority of Swanbourne Beach, part of the City of Nedlands. The one exception is a stretch of the beach near the Swanbourne Nedlands Surf Life Saving Club, in between the intersection of Odern Crescent and Marine Parade and the northernmost access path, where dogs are prohibited. Check the signs if you are in doubt at each beach access point.
#11 Grant Street Beach
Grant Street Beach is located at the northern end of Cottesloe Beach, at the end of Grant Street, where there is a handy carpark. During the winter months dogs are allowed off-leash on the beach all day long. However, between October and March they are not allowed on the beach between 10am and 4pm. Double check the latest rules of the Town of Cottesloe.
#12 Leighton Dog Beach
At the southern end of Cottlesloe Beach is another dog-friendly beach, Leighton Dog Beach. This huge off-leash dog exercise area extends all the way south from the groyne at the end of Beach Street in Cottlesloe to the bridge over the railway tracks in North Fremantle, near Coventry Parade.
Different sections of the beach are also known by different names: South Cottlesloe Beach in the Town of Cottesloe, Mosman Beach in the Town of Mosman Park and Leighton Beach in the City of Fremantle. Thanks to no time restrictions and the huge size of the off-leash area, while close to the city, makes it very popular.
#13 South Fremantle Dog Beach
South of the mouth of the Swan River and the port of Fremantle, the next dog-friendly beach is at South Fremantle. Dogs are allowed off-leash at the northern end of South Beach, as far south as Douro Road where there is a rocky groyne. It’s also known as South Fremantle Dog Beach.
Despite being very busy when we visited on a Saturday morning, parking was still easy. Don’t miss viewing the beautiful mosaic of dogs in the adjacent reserve.
#14 CY O’Connor Beach
The next off-leash dog beach heading further south is CY O’Connor Beach, also known as North Coogee Beach, in the City of Cockburn.
The southern end of the dog beach is accessed from CY O’Connor Reserve in North Coogee, where there is a carpark, toilets and showers and a drinking fountain for humans and dogs. We found the beach quieter than South Beach when we visited outside the summer months.
#15 McTaggart Cove Beach
Dogs are also allowed off-leash at McTaggart Cove, just to the south of the CY O’Connor Reserve in North Coogee. I believe there’s an on-leash section of beach in between CY O’Connor Beach and McTaggart Cove – follow the signs. The beach is adjacent to the old South Fremantle Power Station.
#16 Jervoise Bay Dog Beach
Heading further south, the third and final off-leash dog beach in the City of Cockburn is Jervoise Bay Dog Beach, on the southern side of Woodburn Point. The off-leash dog beach is next to the large carpark at the Woodman Point Boat Ramp, and popular thanks to its calm and shallow waters.
#17 Rockingham Dog Beach
While the Town of Kwinana is not home to any off-leash dog beaches, the City of Rockingham has nine. The northern most dog beach is at Weld Street Beach in East Rockingham. It’s accessed from the carpark at the end of Weld Street and extends north to the horse beach car park, opposite the blue and white grain terminal. Search for “Rockingham Dog Beach” on Google Maps.
There’s a pin for “Kwinana Dog Beach” on Google Maps further north, but I don’t believe it extends that far north – check the signs.
#18 Cape Peron Foreshore
Dogs are allowed off-leash along the multiple beaches around the headland of Cape Peron in Peron. Dogs are allowed off-leash on the beaches all the way from Hymus Street in the north to Boundary Road in the south. There’s multiple carparks around the large area; I’m not sure what’s the best spot to visit with your dog.
#19 Shoalwater Dog Beach
The next off-leash dog beach to the south is part of Shoalwater Beach. Dogs are allowed off-leash on the beach in between McLarty Road in Shoalwater and the Mersey Point Carpark, where the ferry to Penguin Island departs from. It’s a great spot for a walk with your dog.
#20 Safety Bay Dog Beach
Dogs are also allowed off-leash along part of the beach at Safety Bay. The off-leash dog area is located in between the Bent Street Boat Ramp and the Donald Drive Boat Ramp. A foreshore footpath runs parallel to this long narrow stretch of sand, if you’d prefer a sand-free walk with your dog as well.
#21 Waikiki Dog Beach
There’s another stretch of off-leash dog beach in Waikiki (the one in Western Australia, not Hawaii!) The off-leash dog exercise area is located in between the end of Shelton Street and the end of St Malo Cove. There’s a carpark at St Malo Cove for easy access.
#22 Warnbro Dog Beach
At the southern end of Warnbro Beach, there’s an off-leash dog beach in between the Capella Pass Carpark and to the south of Bayeux Avenue, where the Port Kennedy Nudist Beach is located. On Google Maps, search for the pin “Warnbro Dog Beach”, with the nearby carpark labelled “Warnbro Dog Beach parking”. This beloved dog beach is wide and clean.
#23 Secret Harbour Dog Beach
On the other side of Port Kennedy, Secret Harbour is home to an off-leash dog beach at the end of Siracusa Court, where there is a carpark. Check the signs for the exact details of where dogs are allowed off-leash.
#24 Golden Bay Dog Beach
A section of the Golden Bay Foreshore is dog-friendly. To let your dog off leash, head to the end of Crystaluna Drive. The off-leash dog exercise area extends for 500 metres to the south.
#25 Singleton Dog Beach
The final off-leash dog beach in the City of Rockingham is located at the southern edge of Singleton. Head to the carpark labelled as the “Singleton Southern Foreshore Car Park” on Google Maps, at the end of Bight Reefs Road. The off-leash dog beach extends to the south. The beach is beautiful and uncrowded.
BONUS: Swan River Foreshore Beaches
There are also multiple stretches of the Swan River foreshore where dogs can enjoy a dip in the calm water. Some of the off-leash reserves that you can visit with your dog and also enjoy a paddle in the water include:
- North Fremantle Foreshore, alongside Gilbert Fraser Reserve
- Foreshore alongside Garungup Park and part of Point Roe Park in Mosman Park, but not Minim Cove Park in between
- East Fremantle River Foreshore, along Jerrat Drive, as signposted
- Northern foreshore of Peppermint Grove, from Leake Street to the north
- Claremont Foreshore Reserve, between the jetty and Alex Prior Park
- Multiple foreshore reserves in Dalkeith, including Bishop Road Reserve and White Beach to the south, Sunset Foreshore, Paul Hasluck Reserve and Charles Court Reserve
Just be wary of any recent shark reports, as there have been shark attacks at times in this part of the Swan River, plus avoid the water after heavy rain.
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About the Author
Shandos Cleaver is the founder of Travelnuity: Dog-Friendly Travel. She has travelled extensively with her Miniature Dachshund, Schnitzel, including to 33 countries across Europe, every state and territory of Australia except Tasmania, and 10 of the United States. She’s passionate about providing inspiration and information to others wanting to travel with their dogs, whether close to home or internationally.