Dog-friendly parks in Eastern Suburbs

Raleigh Reserve is a long, corridor-shaped off-leash park with dramatic cliff views along the eastern edge. The shape makes it easy to keep sight of your dog while they move up and down the length of the space, and the views of the coastline are genuinely striking. It's mostly used by local dog walkers and stays relatively quiet. Off-leash access is available all day, with standard exclusion zones around the playground and BBQ area. Waste bags are provided.

Bardon Park is a well-used local off-leash park that draws a steady crowd morning and afternoon. The facilities are basic — a couple of benches, drinking water, and waste bags — but the space itself is open enough for dogs to run, and the regular community makes it a social spot. It's an everyday park rather than a destination, and it does that job well.

Bangor Park is a fenced off-leash area with shade and a covered shelter. It's an all-day off-leash park with waste bags provided. One consistent note from locals — mosquitoes can be an issue, particularly in the seating areas near the vegetation, so insect repellent isn't a bad idea. The space itself is decent for a run, and the fencing provides containment.

Robertson Park is a green harbourside park above Watsons Bay, with the wharf, beach and harbour views close by. Dogs are allowed off-leash between 3:30pm and 10:30am, and need to stay on-leash outside those hours. It is an easy spot to reach by ferry, settle on the grass and take in the view, with Watsons Bay Hotel a short stroll away for a relaxed afternoon stop.

Baker Park is an off-leash pocket park in Coogee where the grass grows over sand — the surface is firmer than most parks and dotted with holes from years of digging. Two tennis courts share the middle of the park, and there's a partial fence, ocean views in the distance, and poop bags provided.

Dickson Reserve has a designated off-leash area at the south end with partial fencing. It's not the biggest park, but it gets plenty of use from the local Bondi dog community. Dogs must stay 10 metres from the playground and basketball court. The grassed area gives dogs room to run and socialise.

Lough Playing Fields has off-leash access between 3:30pm and 10:30am, reverting to on-leash during the day and during organised sport. The park has drinking water, toilets, shade, and parking. The timed off-leash window means it's primarily a morning and evening spot for dog owners.

Queens Park is a large, open green space on the edge of Centennial Parklands, with room to roam and good visibility across the grass. Dogs are allowed off-leash here except when the sports fields are in use. There is no perimeter fencing, so it suits dogs with reliable recall. A playground, shade and Queens Park Kitchen on the western edge make it a comfortable spot to settle after a walk.

Lighthouse Reserve sits on the headland at Vaucluse with expansive views over Sydney Harbour. The off-leash area is a large, open grassy space with room for dogs to run. Waste bags and bins are provided, and there's parking nearby. The harbour outlook makes it one of the more scenic off-leash parks in the eastern suburbs.

Marks Park sits on the clifftop between Bondi and Tamarama, with open lawns and clear views straight out to the ocean. It is off-leash daily between 4:30pm and 8:30am, so early mornings and evenings are the best times for dogs to stretch out on the grass. Off-leash access is suspended each spring during Sculpture by the Sea. With the coastal path beside it and the headland opening onto big ocean views, it works just as well for a scenic wander as it does for off-leash time.

Trenerry Reserve sits on the southern headland of Coogee Bay with ocean views and seasonal whale watching. The off-leash area is an open grassed space available at all times. Waste bags and bins are provided, with parking nearby. The views make it one of the more scenic off-leash parks in the eastern suburbs.

Yarranabbe Park is off-leash at all times with views over the marina at Darling Point. There's drinking water, shade, parking, and waste bags. Dogs are excluded from the children's playground. A cafe is nearby.

Dumaresq Reserve is a small Rose Bay foreshore spot where dogs can move between grass and the sandy harbour edge. The calm water suits relaxed paddling and gentle swims, and the reserve has a friendly local feel. Dogs are off-leash between 3:30pm and 10:30am and on-leash at other times, with Rose Bay Beach nearby if you want to extend the walk.

Percival Park is a harbourside park in Rose Bay, a lovely green spot for a picnic or a walk by the water. Dogs are allowed off-leash here at all times, and it is well loved by locals, especially around sunset. There is shade, toilets, bag stations and parking on hand, with cafes close by. A relaxed, scenic spot for an off-leash harbour walk.

This Coogee off-leash area is an unfenced space near a playground, giving dogs room to run but requiring reliable recall. Toilets are nearby. A couple of locals note fast-moving cyclists through the area, so keep an eye out during busier times. It's a basic space that works for dogs that are comfortable off-leash in open areas.

Christison Park sits on the clifftop at Vaucluse with panoramic ocean views. Off-leash access runs from 3:30pm to 10:30am, with on-leash at other times. There's drinking water, toilets, and parking. The coastal setting is striking.