7 Top Dog-Friendly Walks on the Sunshine Coast, QLD

While the Sunshine Coast may be most famous for its beaches, there’s also some excellent walks that you can do together with your dog by your side. From coastal boardwalks to mountain hikes, choose from these dog-friendly walks on the Sunshine Coast.

#1 Mount Ninderry Walking Track

Distance: 2.8km return
Difficulty: Moderate bush walk
On-leash the entire length

The Sunshine Coast is dotted with mountains, from the Glass House Mountains to Mount Coolum. Unfortunately, most mountain peaks are located in national parks, so the hikes up them are off limits to pet dogs.

For a dog-friendly alternative, I instead recommend hiking up Mount Ninderry. Located in an environmental reserve not far from Yandina and the freeway, head to Eucalyptus Crescent in Ninderry for the start of the Mt Ninderry Walking Track.

It’s a 2.8km return track to the 304m high summit. Along the way you’ll climb 130m, a combination of gravel paths and rough rocky steps. Once you reach the top plateau, there’s a loop track visiting two lookouts, the eastern and western lookouts.

The sign at the entrance recommends allowing 3 hours, but we finished it in about 90 minutes. I’m sure some of the local dogs that we saw along the way were even quicker! Dogs are meant to be kept on a leash on this dog-friendly hike on the Sunshine Coast, but we notice many of the locals didn’t follow this rule.

#2 Coolum Coastal Boardwalk

Distance: 1.6km return
Difficulty: Easy boardwalk
On-leash the entire length

While the hike up Mount Coolum is off limits to dogs, a wonderfully scenic dog-friendly walk at the other end of Coolum Beach is the Coolum Coastal Boardwalk.

This boardwalk starts at the southern end of Coolum Beach, near the surf club. It then gradually ascends to a whale watching lookout in Wilkinson Park on the headland, where there is also a small carpark, toilets and a covered picnic shelter.

The 800m long boardwalk is an easy walk. Note that dogs need to be kept leashed along the entire length. At the lookout, keep an eye out for whales during migration season. Other visitors also report seeing turtles, but we were unlucky.

The boardwalk is part of a longer series of paths that follow the coastline of the Sunshine Coast, from Tewantin south to Bells Creek. It’s possible to extend your walk in either direction.

#3 Caloundra Foreshore Walk

Distance: 4km one-way
Difficulty: Easy paved path and boardwalk
On-leash the entire length

Another popular section of the coastal pathway can be found in Caloundra. Also known as the Caloundra Foreshore Walk, this walk meanders for 4km between Bulcock Beach and Shelly Beach. Dogs are allowed along the entire length of the walk, so it’s popular for Sunshine Coast dog walks.

There are multiple places where you can access the walk, including at the various beaches along the way. It’s easy to just walk a short section of it. We particularly enjoyed the section of boardwalk to the east of Happy Valley Beach.

Dogs need to be kept leashed on the path, but the rules for dogs on the adjacent beaches vary. Dogs are prohibited from Bulcock Beach, in between beach access points 295 and 302, but along much of the rest of the walk dogs are allowed on the beach on leash – check the sign at each access point.

Additionally, dogs are allowed off-leash along part of Shelly Beach at certain times. From May to October, dogs are allowed off-leash before 8am and after 4pm. This applies between beach access points 276 and 281, roughly from Russell Street to Victoria Terrace. During other times, dogs need to stay on a leash.

#4 Castaways and Marcus Beach Walk

Distance: Up to 4km one-way
Difficulty: Moderate beach walk
Off-leash the entire length

The Sunshine Coast is home to a number of off-leash dog beaches. Some of the longer off-leash dog beaches are ideal for long beach walks with your dog, an alternative to the mainly on-leash walks that are available in the region.

One of the best stretches of sand for an off-leash walk with your dog can be found alongside the suburbs of Castaways Beach and Marcus Beach. Dogs are allowed off-leash from beach access 38 (near Orient Park South) to beach access 47 (at Tasman Trespasser Park), a total stretch of nearly 4km.

Just be wary of the surf along these beaches, which can be rough, particularly if you have a smaller dog. Also note that dogs should be kept leashed until you reach the beach. A visit at low tide is best, with plenty of hard sand to walk on.

#5 Point Cartwright Walkway

Distance: 2km or longer return
Difficulty: Easy-moderate paved path and grassy lawns
On-leash the entire length

A great spot to enjoy a walk and paddle with your dog is the Point Cartwright Reserve, located in Buddina, next to the mouth of the Mooloolah River. Previously the reserve had a number of off-leash areas, but as of late 2023 these have nearly all been removed.

Dogs are allowed on-leash on the paths that cut through the reserve and up to the lighthouse, plus the grassy lawns to the west of the lighthouse. Note that dogs are prohibited from some of the wooded areas, plus the rock platforms at the tip of the point. Check the latest signs at the entrance.

We parked in the small carpark at the end of Pacific Boulevard, then followed the path through the reserve towards the very modern lighthouse. From the lighthouse, we then cut across the grassy lawn, down to the mouth of the Mooloolah River and the small beach outside its mouth – Point Cartwright Beach.

During the week, dogs are allowed on Point Cartwright Beach. Before 8am and after 4pm they are permitted off-leash on the beach, but need to stay on-leash the rest of the day. During the weekends unfortunately dogs are prohibited from the sand.

We wrapped up by walking back along the Mooloolah River, along the foreshore as far as La Balsa Park, where there is another carpark, before partially retracing our footsteps and cutting back up to where we parked our car.

The calm waters of the river along this stretch has long been a popular spot for dog paddling, particularly along the sand bar that becomes exposed at low tide, although they are no longer allowed off-leash here.

Dogs are also allowed off-leash on the northern end of the ocean-facing Buddina Beach, although it looked quite rough on the day we visited, so we skipped visiting.

#6 Maleny Trail

Distance: 9.6km return
Difficulty: Easy paved path and boardwalk
On-leash the entire length

There’s also plenty of dog-friendly bush walks to enjoy with your dog if you head inland to the Sunshine Coast Hinterland. One of the most popular yet easy dog-friendly walks is the Maleny Trail.

The Maleny Trail starts at the Maleny Showground, then runs for 4.8km to Fairview, a heritage-listed house just outside of Maleny, largely following Obi Obi Creek. The trail is a combination of paved paths and boardwalks, also suitable for cyclists, making for an easy and mud-free walk. Dogs need to be kept on a leash along the walk, although they are allowed off-leash at part of the showground.

We didn’t walk the entire trail, just a shorter length close to the town centre of Maleny, including the cute boardwalk section along Obi Obi Creek. There’s also some convenient cafes located here, with outdoor seating where you can sit with your dog and enjoy a coffee or lunch.

#7 Even Maddock Dam Main Track

Distance: 9km one-way
Difficulty: Moderate bush walk
On-leash the entire length

For a longer, more adventurous dog-friendly hike on the Sunshine Coast, head to Ewen Maddock Dam in Landsborough. A 9km long multi-use trail runs alongside the dam, used by horse riders, and mountain bikers, but also open to walkers with on leash dogs.

The trail starts at Maddock Park on the northern edge of the dam, just on the other side of the freeway from Caloundra. It then meanders south, roughly following the edge of the dam, until you reach Gympie Street North on the edge of Landsborough.

I haven’t yet had a chance to complete this walk, which I have been advised is often muddy underfoot and underpaw. I’d recommend just walking part of the trail with your dog, unless you’ve organised a car shuttle at the other end or are up to a long hike retracing your footsteps.

Maddock Park is also home to a pretty boardwalk above the lake, if you’d prefer a shorter mud-free walk.

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