At a glance
- Off-leash beaches
- Green zone beaches, such as Little Austinmer, East Corrimal, Sharkeys and Perkins, allow dogs off-leash at any time
- Summer times
- At orange zone beaches, dogs on a leash are allowed before 9am and after 6pm from the start of the September school holidays to Anzac Day. In winter it is before 9am and after 4pm
- Never allowed
- Red zones, including Coledale, Austinmer beach, North Wollongong, City Beach, Wollongong Harbour, Port Kembla, Windang, every rock platform, and anywhere within 100 metres of a lifeguard patrol zone
- Off-leash parks
- Six: Proud Park (Helensburgh), Figtree Oval, Reed Park (Dapto), Riley Park (Unanderra), King George V Oval (Port Kembla) and Eleebana Reserve (Koonawarra)
- Who it’s for
- Dog owners living in or visiting the Wollongong council area
- What to do now
- Check the council’s zone map and the signs at the beach before you go, and keep your dog on a leash to and from every off-leash area
- Last checked
- Monday 9 November 2026, against Wollongong City Council’s Dog Beaches and Parks page
- Not yet confirmed
- The council’s page lists beaches by name but says its maps are general information only, so the signs on site decide. Fine amounts are not on this page
Dogs may run off-leash at the council’s green zone beaches at any time, and on a leash at orange zone beaches before 9am and after 6pm this summer. They are banned from red zone beaches and every rock platform. This brief sets out the rules from the City of Wollongong’s Dog Beaches and Parks page, which also links a zone map and the council’s Dogs on Beaches and Parks Policy.
The council patrols all areas at random with animal compliance officers, and fines can be issued to people whose dogs break the rules. If you are planning a swim as well, our brief on Wollongong’s patrolled beaches has the lifeguard hours.
Where can my dog run off-leash?
Green zone beaches allow dogs off-leash at any time. Your dog must stay on a leash going to or from a green zone, including on all pathways leading to the beach. The council lists these green zone beaches:
- Part of Stanwell Park Beach
- Sharkeys
- Little Austinmer
- McCauley’s
- Part of Bellambi Beach
- East Corrimal
- Part of Fairy Meadow Beach
- Part of Puckeys
- Coniston
- MM Beach
- Perkins
At every off-leash location the dog must be under the control of someone aged 16 or older who can control it by voice or another way, makes sure it does not attack wildlife including birds, and carries a bag to pick up and bin any poo. Restricted breeds and dogs declared dangerous are not allowed in off-leash areas.
Which off-leash dog parks are there?
| Park | Suburb | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Proud Park | Helensburgh | Fenced |
| Figtree Oval | Figtree | Fenced |
| Reed Park | Dapto | Fenced |
| Riley Park | Unanderra | Unfenced |
| King George V Oval | Port Kembla | Unfenced |
| Eleebana Reserve | Koonawarra | Unfenced |
Dogs must stay on a leash at all times when travelling to or from these parks. Everywhere else in a public space, a dog must be on a leash, apart from private property and the green zone beaches, off-leash parks, red zone beaches and rock platforms where different rules apply.
When can I take my dog to an orange zone beach?
Dogs are allowed at orange zone beaches only at set times, and only on a leash.
| Season | Dogs allowed on a leash |
|---|---|
| Summer (start of the September school holidays to Anzac Day) | Before 9am and after 6pm |
| Winter (the rest of the year) | Before 9am and after 4pm |
The council lists these orange zone beaches: 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 and Fisherman’s Beach.
Where are dogs not allowed?
Dogs are not allowed in red zones at any time. The council lists these red zone areas: Coledale, Headlands, Austinmer, Sandon Point (the council notes that Sandon Point Beach itself is an orange zone), part of Puckeys, North Wollongong, Wollongong Harbour, City Beach, Port Kembla, Windang and all rock platforms. It also counts as red zone any lifeguard patrol zone marked by red and yellow flags, which covers the entire beach area from the dunes to the water, anywhere within 100 metres of a patrol zone, and any other beach that is not orange or green.
Dogs are also not allowed within 10 metres of a children’s play area, or within 10 metres of an area where food is prepared or eaten, except at cafes or restaurants that allow dogs in outdoor dining areas. Other no-dog places are school grounds, child care centres, wildlife protection areas, rock or ocean pools, and any public place with a sign saying dogs are prohibited, which can include shopping centres, sportsgrounds, pools and parks. The council says you can be fined in a prohibited area whether your dog is on or off the leash.
Why are rock platforms off limits?
Rock platforms are wildlife protection areas under the council’s policy, whatever the zone of the beach next to them. The council says they are home to marine life and to shorebirds such as the Pied Oystercatcher, which it describes as endangered, and the Sooty Oystercatcher, which it describes as vulnerable.
What else should I watch for on the beach?
The council asks owners to keep dogs away from all marine animals, even dead ones, including puffer fish (which are poisonous), other fish or fish parts, marine birds, jellyfish and blue bottles. It also warns that food and rubbish left in public spaces can injure or kill a dog that eats it, and asks you to take away your rubbish, your dog’s poo and uneaten treats.
To report a dog attack or another dog-related problem, call the council on (02) 4227 7111 or use its online form.
Sources
Featured image: Wombarra beach, photographed in March 2020 (photo: Maksym Kozlenko / CC BY-SA 4.0) (text added).
OZ Local Updates is an independent local guide and is not affiliated with Wollongong City Council. Rules can change; check the council’s page and the signs at the beach before you go.