Beachmere Offleash Dog Beach

Beachmere's off-leash dog beach runs along the foreshore south of Biggs Avenue towards the Caboolture River mouth, open 24 hours a day under City of Moreton Bay rules. The draw is roughly 13 hectares of open sand and mudflat at low tide, plus a dog shower for the trip home. The catch is the tide: at high water most of the off-leash zone disappears, so timing matters more here than at most beaches.

The rules

Off-leash is permitted from the southern end of Biggs Avenue, across from the car park, and south of the second footbridge. Dogs must be on-leash from Prince Street to the southern end of Biggs Avenue. Bayside Drive alternates between on-leash and off-leash depending on the season, so read the signage on the day. Dogs are banned from the Beachmere Conservation Park, which protects shorebird roosting and feeding habitat, and penalties apply.

Water and terrain

This is a tidal mudflat beach, not surf sand. At low tide you get wide flats and shallow pools; expect your dog to come back muddy, which is what the rinse-off shower is for. Watch for sharp shell patches on the flats and keep an eye on the incoming tide so you are not caught against the dunes.

Max: read the signs before you unclip. The off-leash boundary shifts along the foreshore and the conservation park is a hard no, so know exactly where you are standing.

What's there

The Biggs Avenue side has on-site parking, picnic tables, shaded areas and barbecues, with a fenced grassy section and direct beach access. Fresh water taps, dog bowls, waste bags, bins and the dog shower are all on site, which makes the muddy aftermath manageable.

Getting there and when to go

Drive in via Beachmere Road and turn onto Biggs Avenue; the main car park sits at the southern end. Public transport is limited, so driving is the practical option with a dog. Aim for a falling or mid tide to get the most sand, and expect weekend mornings and late afternoons to be busiest. This is a beach for dogs that love a muddy tidal romp rather than a clean swim.

While you're out there

The Clayton Park fenced dog park is the fenced backup if the tide is wrong, and The Black Cat Eatery covers coffee in town.

More options are on the Queensland dog beach guide and the Beachmere destination page.