Top beaches for top pooches
As I new dog parent, I have had to familiarise myself with the rules for dog beaches from the Wollongong Council. They follow a traffic light system including red, orange and green zones to help keep dogs and locals happy and safe. The rules are as...
My favourite beaches for my new pup include:
1. Stanwell Park Beach
There is a long stretch for your pup to run wild, while you take in the gorgeous scenery that Stanwell Park has to offer. Win, win.
2. Sharky
A popular beach spot for local dogs. Your pup will learn how to socialise and have a little swim on the shoreline.
3. Little Austinmer
This beach is great for pups and bubs. My little ones splash in the shallow rock pools while the puppy runs circles around them. Is there anything cuter than babies and puppies? Yep, babies and puppies in water.
As a new dog parent, I have had to familiarise myself with Wollongong City Council's rules for dog beaches. They follow a traffic-light system, including red, orange and green zones to help keep dogs and locals happy and safe. The rules are as follows:
Red Zone Beaches
Dogs are not allowed in red zones at any time. These Illawarra beach areas include:
- Coledale
- Headlands
- Austinmer
- Sandon Point (note that Sandon Point Beach is an orange zone)
- part of Puckeys
- North Wollongong
- Wollongong Harbour
- City Beach
- Port Kembla
- Windang
- All rock platforms
- Lifeguard patrol zones marked by red and yellow flags. This includes the entire beach area from the dunes to the water
- Within 100 metres of a lifeguard patrol zone
- Any other beaches that aren't orange or green zones
Orange Zone Beaches
Dogs are allowed in orange zones at set times, but they must stay on a leash. These times include:
- In summer (start of September school holidays to Anzac Day) before 9am and after 6pm
- In winter (the rest of the year) before 9am and after 4pm.
Orange zone beaches include:
- Part of Stanwell Park Beach
- Coalcliff
- Scarborough / Wombarra
- Brickyard Point
- Thirroul
- Sandon Point Beach
- Bulli
- Woonona
- Part of Bellambi Beach
- Corrimal
- Towradgi
- Part of Fairy Meadow Beach
- Fisherman's Beach
Green Zone Beaches
Dogs are allowed off-leash at any time in green zones, however, your dog must stay on a leash going to or from a green zone. These beaches include:
- Part of Stanwell Park Beach
- Sharky
- Little Austinmer
- McCauley's
- Part of Bellambi Beach
- East Corrimal
- Part of Fairy Meadow Beach
- Part of Puckeys
- Coniston
- MM Beach
- Perkins.
Always check signs at each beach for more detailed information about zones. Please visit the council website for more information.
