Cooee Creek Dog Beach

Cooee Creek Dog Beach is a short sandy pocket behind the seawall just west of Burnie, and one of the few places on Tasmania's north-west coast where dogs can run free on the sand. At roughly 170 metres long it is a small beach, but it is easy to reach, has the basics on site, and does the job well if you time it with the tide.

Leash status

The sand below the seawall is a designated off-leash zone under Burnie City Council's dog zones, with dogs under effective control at all times. The boundaries matter here: the main Cooee Beach next door and Cooee Point are completely off-limits to dogs, and the paved Coastal Pathway running behind the beach is strictly on-lead. Council updated the off-leash signage in late 2024, so the boundary is clearly marked, but it is worth reading the signs at the access point before letting your dog go.

Water and terrain

The beach sits below the seawall and the water is often calmer here than at more exposed beaches along the coast. Tide is the deciding factor for how good your visit will be. Between low and mid tide there is plenty of sand to run on; at high tide the usable strip narrows hard against the seawall, and very low tides expose rocky shelf edges worth watching for paws. Check the tide chart before you drive out.

Max: at high tide there is barely enough sand to sit on, let alone throw a ball. Aim for low to mid tide and you get the full run of the place.

Getting there and parking

The beach sits on the Old Bass Highway (A2) at Cooee, with access from the coastal pathway via Durham Road and Thirkell Street. Public toilets and a small car park sit at the eastern end, along with a doggy bag dispenser, waste bins, seating and picnic facilities. Redline and Metro buses between Burnie and Wynyard stop along Bass Highway if you are coming without a car, and the Burnie to Wynyard coastal pathway links straight to the beach for anyone walking or riding in.

Worth knowing

The facilities cover the basics but not much more, so bring your own water for longer visits. If you want to add a leashed leg to the outing, the Coastal Pathway behind the beach runs all the way along the foreshore. Keep an eye out for seasonal signage too, as rules can tighten to protect penguins and shorebirds during breeding periods.

When to go

Early mornings before 9am and late afternoons are the quiet windows. Sunny weekend afternoons fill the small car park quickly, so arrive early if you are heading out on a Saturday.

While you're out there

The Somerset Dog Beach a few minutes west is the natural second stop for another off-lead run, and Fleur by Forbidden Sweets in Burnie is a good coffee stop on the way back through. If you are making a weekend of it, the Somerset Beachside Cabin & Caravan Park puts you close to both beaches.

More options are on the Tasmania dog beaches guide and the Burnie destination page.