Day Trips With Dogs Sydney – Most family day trips and explorations beyond your neighborhood usually mean another weekend at home for our four-legged friends. Finding pet-friendly places and activities near Sydney can be difficult, but not in Dilli. Your good boy (or girl) can hop in the car too on a day trip to Wollondilly!
The Historic Picton Walking Tour is a free walking tour of the main attractions of Wollondilly’s largest town. Stepping back in time, it’s a great way to step into not only history, but into the shoes of the local area and experience the sights, sounds and smells of Picton.
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The Historic Picton Walking Tour includes 30 different stops to visit during your stay. These include Old Picton Post Office, St Mark’s Church of England, National Australia Bank, Mushroom Tunnel, Viaduct and many more. Best of all, this attraction is completely outdoor and dog friendly!
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Find plenty of cafes in Wallondilly that offer outdoor seating so your pup can join you for a cup of coffee, brekkie or lunch. Stop by dog-friendly coffee shops like Gather Coffee House, The Ark, Picton Social and more.
Get those tails wagging with Dilli’s long list of dog-friendly parks, hiking trails, and shelters. Enjoy free barbecues (at some of our locations), watch the kids enjoy the playground, and keep your pup safe from the sun. BYO balls and bags.
If you want to turn your day trip into an overnight trip, check out some dog-friendly accommodation options like Bush Escape Cabin, Orchard House or Aurora, which will roll out their rugs to welcome you and your dog. Looking for a fun day out with your dog in Sydney? Whatever you’re looking for, from dog walking to off-shore beaches, dog-friendly cafes and even unexpected surprises, I’ve got you covered with plenty of ideas for dog-friendly day trips in Sydney.
All of these ideas are within a two-hour drive of central Sydney, some are ideal for full-day adventures, while others only take an hour or two. So whether you’re looking for something to do today or planning for the weekend ahead, read on for tons of fun things to do with your pup…
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One of the most beautiful walks in Sydney is the Harbor Bridge. And there’s nothing stopping you from bringing your dog! I recommend parking around Kirribilli and then walking up the steps on the east side of the bridge south of the train station.
The walk is longer than you think, almost 1.5 km at the southern end of the city bridge. There are beautiful views along the way, wear a hat on windy days.
At the southern end of the bridge, you can walk through the Rocks and around the Opera House. (Dogs are no longer allowed in the Royal Botanic Gardens.) Observatory Hill, on the other hand, is a dog park—stay away from parties and weekend picnics!
Another popular walking route in Sydney is the Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk. This route passes some of Sydney’s most famous beaches and follows 6 km of beautiful coastline. Unfortunately, although dogs are not allowed on any of the beaches, you must cover the paths behind them with your pup.
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But there are two outdoor parks along the way. Marks Park, at the headland above Bondini, home of the Seaside Statue, is open after 4:30pm and until 8:30am. Bronte Park behind Bronte Beach is open after 3pm and until 10am. Also, Burrows Park south of Waverley Cemetery is open 24 hours.
There are also many delicious cafes to stop on the way. Do as the locals do and take a seat outside.
Read more about walking from Bondi to Cudi or see our full list of dog walks in Sydney
One of the most popular day trips from Sydney is to climb the Blue Mountains, stopping at famous viewpoints like the Three Sisters.
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Now, you might be thinking that you can’t do this with a dog, since most of the area is in a national park, and dogs are not allowed. However, some of the area’s most popular attractions are outside the national park, overseen by the local council, and dogs are allowed.
It includes the famous Echo Point Lookout on the Three Sisters. Don’t miss the National Park Visitor Center. Other dog-friendly lookouts include Eaglehawk Lookout, Cahill’s Lookout and Sublime Point Lookout in Leura.
For more tips on visiting the Blue Mountains with your dog, including where to eat and dog-friendly walks, check out my Blue Mountains Guide
Another popular day trip from Sydney is south to Kiama, home to one of the world’s largest sinkholes. Offshore windsurfing is best experienced when it really blows!! But even in calm weather, it is a beautiful place to visit.
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Outside of Blowhole Point, dogs are allowed to roam free as long as they are on a lead. Nearby is Diggie’s Cafe, with plenty of outdoor tables or the option to order egg-bacon rolls. Blowhole Point is also on the Kiama Coast Road, see #25.
For more tips on visiting Kiama with your dog, including dog-friendly beaches and more information on Kiama’s coastal walks, check out my dog-friendly Kiama guide.
One of the best dog beaches in the Sydney area is located in Bayview, in Sydney’s northern suburbs, at the start of Pittwoo. The dog park is part of the larger Rowland Nature Reserve with a large grassy area and adjacent beach.
Since it is not an ocean beach, it is relatively calm, with shallower water close to shore and deeper for dog swimmers. Note that parking can be expensive unless you are in one of the special free one-hour parking lots.
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Across the water is The Newport, a great dog-friendly pub with a great outdoor area to walk your pup. Although dogs are not allowed inside the Pavilion or Pergola, it does get busy so advance booking is recommended, especially for large groups. Of course, dogs must be on a leash at all times.
Finding dog-friendly rainforest walks around Sydney can be difficult, with some of the best walks in national parks and no dogs allowed. However, dogs are allowed in all NSW forests.
One of the best state forests close to Sydney is Strickland State Forest on the Pacific Highway near Gosford. It’s a 75-minute drive north of central Sydney, and even closer to the northern suburbs or Parramatta.
There are several hiking trails within Strickland State Forest that are up to 2 km long, but you can combine several hikes into something longer. We choose to walk the Arboretum Trail, a 2.3km walk across one of Australia’s oldest arboretums, including a fun swing bridge.
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Note that the last road in the Strickland State Forest is unsealed. It is approximately 2.5 km from the lower car park or 1.5 km from the Banksia picnic area. The roads in the lower section are often muddy and if you are in 2WD I would recommend not going to the lower car park after heavy rain, but the Banksia picnic area is fine.
Dogs are technically allowed on lease in state forests, but the old rule that they must remain under your control meant dogs were often off-leash. It’s also a popular spot for dog walking in the middle of the week, so keep an eye out and back your dog up when you see other dogs.
Another scenic dog-friendly hike through the forest, but this time with more fun than the falls, is the South Lawson Falls Loop Trail. This is one of the best dog walks in the Blue Mountains. On this 1.7-mile hike, you and your pup will explore not just one, but four waterfalls.
Note that there are sections that are very difficult for dogs. At the start of the hike (if you start at the place marked “Five Falls Walk South Car Park” on Google), there is a metal bridge that many dogs don’t like, but can escape across. steep steps ready for small dogs to climb up or down.
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This walk is suitable for all seasons, including dog splashing areas. Please note that there may be mud in some places after the rain.
NOTE: From February 2022 there is a short section of the route
