Blacksmiths Beach
Blacksmiths Beach is a long stretch of soft yellow sand south of Lake Macquarie — wide, often empty, and one of the larger 24-hour off-leash beaches in the Hunter. The off-leash section runs from the Awabakal Avenue car park north to the Belmont Golf Club boundary. Locals describe walking for kilometres without seeing another person.
Dogs are off-leash throughout the designated section at any time, but must remain under effective control. Keep dogs at least 10 metres from playgrounds and BBQ areas, and 400 metres from patrolled beaches. Vehicles are permitted on the beach in some areas — worth watching for. A jetty at the south end is a popular fishing spot.
Dog rules
Off-leash area: Off-leash beach in Blacksmiths. Leash free at all times. Dogs must be supervised at all times and under effective control. Dogs are not permitted within 10 metres of playgrounds or BBQ areas, or within 400 metres of patrolled beaches. Dog owners must clean up after their dogs. Source: Lake Macquarie City Council – Off-leash areas (lakemac.com.au/For-residents/Pets/Exercising-your-dog/Off-leash-areas)
At a glance
Before you go
- 💧No confirmed drinking water — bring your own to be safe.
- 🌳No shade confirmed — take it easy on warmer days.
- 🗑Poo bags not confirmed — best to bring your own.
What people say
I got engaged at this beach so it holds special memories for me. The beach itself is stunning, with clean, soft yellow sand and loys of space as it's never crowded with people. You can look for shells, and it's dog friendly so bring your fur babies for a run!
Excellent beach, less crowd so far. Quite accessible. Only the Toilets we're functional, we rather clogged, when we went in September. Don't know if they are now fixed.
A hidden gem! Recommend a stop there to break the journey from Brisbane to Sydney or to take an extended holiday at.
Massive Beach, pretty much all to myself. Beautiful views. Could see that vehicles are allowed on the beach, though I saw none on my visit. Had a great swim, there were a few surfers about.
Always love the sunrise at Blacksmiths beach. The beach is quiet most days and you can go for a long walk or fish off the jetty.
Happy Dog Guides
View all guides 
How we know this
We check council regulations, official sources, and community reviews to verify dog access at every venue. Access may change — always check on-site signage. Something wrong or missing? Submit feedback. How it works.