At a glance
- Off-leash beaches
- Budgewoi, Copacabana to MacMasters Beach, North Avoca, Patonga, Pearl Beach, the southern end of Umina, Terrigal Haven, The Entrance North and part of Wamberal
- Every other beach
- Dogs are prohibited on any beach that is not specifically designated as an off-leash exercise area
- Limits
- No more than four dogs per person in an off-leash area, and your dog must be under the control of a competent person
- Signs
- Green means off leash, amber means on leash, red means dogs prohibited
- Who it’s for
- Dog owners and visitors on the Central Coast who want to know which beaches allow dogs off leash
- What to do now
- The council says to check the signage at each location; the Wamberal and Umina areas cover only part of the beach
- Last checked
- Monday 9 November 2026, against the Central Coast Council dog pages (list last updated 18 August 2026)
- Not yet confirmed
- The council pages give no time-of-day limits, no summer rules and no fine amounts, and give no extent for six of the nine beaches
- Help
- Central Coast Council 02 4306 7900
Dogs can be off leash at nine Central Coast beaches. Central Coast Council says dogs are prohibited on any beach not specifically designated as an off-leash exercise area. The council’s list has 16 off-leash areas in all, including seven parks and ovals. Everything below comes from the council’s dog parks, beaches and off-leash locations page and its pages for each beach, read on 9 November 2026.
Which beaches allow dogs off leash?
These are the nine beaches on the council’s list, with the address and the part of the beach where the council page gives one:
| Beach | Address on the council page | Where on the beach |
|---|---|---|
| Budgewoi Beach | 2C Uwa St, Budgewoi | Not stated |
| Copacabana to MacMasters Beach | Tudibaring Parade, MacMasters Beach | From 500m south of Copacabana Surf Club to MacMasters Beach, at the corner of Tungarra and Tudibaring Parade |
| North Avoca Beach | 50 Lake St, North Avoca | Not stated |
| Patonga Beach | Brisk St, Patonga | Not stated |
| Pearl Beach | 66 Coral Cres, Pearl Beach | Not stated |
| South End Umina Beach | 10 Berrima Cres, Umina Beach | Umina Beach, southern end only |
| Terrigal Haven | 2 Scenic Hwy, Terrigal | Not stated (listed under parks and reserves) |
| The Entrance North Beach | Hutton Road, The Entrance North | Not stated |
| Wamberal Beach | Ocean View Dr, Wamberal | South of Surfers Lane and north of Terrigal Lagoon only |
The same list names other beaches, including Shelly Beach, Forresters Beach and Umina Beach at The Esplanade, but with no off-leash entry. Under the council’s rule, dogs are not allowed on those beaches at all.
What are the rules in an off-leash area?
The beach pages set three rules for off-leash areas. Your dog must always be under the control of a competent person. No more than four dogs per person can be taken to an off-leash area. And while dogs are allowed unleashed on designated beaches and reserves, you must make sure your dog’s behaviour does not disrupt others. The council also says your dog must stay under effective control at all times and come back to you when called.
You are responsible for picking up your dog’s poo in a public place, and the council asks you to carry a bag and bin it, to keep it out of waterways. The page adds that fines may apply if dogs are not under control or disturb others, but it does not give amounts.
Where are dogs not allowed at all?
The council says dogs are prohibited and must not enter:
- schools, or within 10 metres of any children’s playground;
- any beach not specifically designated as an off-leash exercise area;
- food preparation areas and shopping centres;
- a public place set apart by council for the protection of wildlife, for example COSS lands.
Everywhere else in public, your dog must be on a leash and under control. The council says this includes outside your home, on your driveway and on the footpath.
What do the red, amber and green signs mean?
The council is replacing signs across the region with a traffic light system. Red signs mean dogs are prohibited. Amber signs are a reminder that your dog must be on a leash. Green signs mark an off-leash dog exercise area near you. The council says you will begin to notice the new signs in certain locations, so older signs may still be up, and it says to check the signage at each location.
What about parks and fenced areas?
The other seven off-leash areas on the council’s list are Brendan Franklin Oval, Coburg Street Reserve (Hylton Moore Oval), Ettalong Oval, Gavenlock Oval, McEvoy Drainage Easement, Putty Beach Road Reserve and Sun Valley Park. The council also lists fully fenced off-leash areas at Colongra Bay Reserve (Lake Munmorah), Ettalong Oval (Ettalong Beach), Helen Reserve (Gorokan), Sensory Park (Narara) and Tuggerah Dog Park. Small dogs and puppies of 10kg and under have a separate off-leash area at Tuggerah Dog Park and Helen Reserve, away from bigger dogs.
Who do I contact?
Central Coast Council is on 02 4306 7900. The council’s page links to a map of designated dog off-leash locations and to the Companion Animals Act 1998. For other things to do near the beaches, see our Wyrrabalong National Park guide, noting that the national park does not permit pets.
Sources
- Central Coast Council — Dog parks, beaches and off-leash locations (checked 9 November 2026; page last updated 18 August 2026)
- Central Coast Council pages for each of the nine off-leash beach areas, under the council’s recreational area pages (checked 9 November 2026)
Featured image: Wamberal Beach from the air (photo: Ray Hayward / CC BY-SA 3.0) (text added)
OZ Local Updates is an independent local guide and is not affiliated with Central Coast Council. Rules can change.