Dawesville Beach Ocean Side Dog Off-Leash Area

The ocean side of Dawesville gives dogs one of the better deals on the Mandurah coast: the City of Mandurah signs long stretches of this beach as off leash around the clock. It is the surf side of the peninsula, well away from the calm water of the estuary, and it draws locals who want a real walk with room for the ball to travel.

Leash status

Two stretches carry the off leash sign. The longer run covers about 2.2 kilometres from the Pyramids Beach carpark down to the Hunter Street carpark, and a second stretch of roughly 1.8 kilometres runs from Oceanic Drive south to the Mandurah district boundary. Both are open to dogs off leash at any hour, provided they stay under effective control.

The rules tighten around the dunes. Transition and conservation zones, including fairy tern nesting sites, require a lead or are closed to dogs altogether, so read the seasonal signage and give marked areas a wide berth. Waste bags and voice control remain your responsibility across the whole beach, and council rangers patrol more often through summer.

While you're out there

The sand packs firm along much of the run, which makes it good for long ball sessions, and the reef around the Pyramids shapes the surf so the break stays popular with board riders. Early morning is the calmest window: gentler water, fewer people and the best chance of having a stretch nearly to yourself. Take fresh water, since dogs that spend an hour in the surf will drink half the ocean if nothing cleaner is on offer. In the afternoon the seabreeze freshens and the sand starts to sting, so most regulars aim to finish their loop before it arrives.

Parking is straightforward at either end: the Pyramids Beach carpark at the northern end, or street parking off Oceanic Drive for the southern stretch. Both entries put you on sand within a minute or two, and the flat run means you can walk one direction, turn around and call it a solid hour of exercise. When the walk is done, the Melros Beach Walk continues the coastal theme just north of here, and Saltation Cafe is the local stop for coffee with dogs welcome outside. Visiting with the van, Twin Waters Caravan Park puts you minutes from both ends of the off leash stretch.