Rockingham Dog Beach

Rockingham Dog Beach is the City of Rockingham's designated off-leash stretch at East Rockingham, running along the shoreline between the Shelton Street and Bent Street markers. The water is calm, shallow and sheltered, which makes it an easy choice for nervous or first-time swimmers, while the open sand leaves plenty of room for a proper fetch session.

The dog setup

The off-leash zone is open around the clock, but it runs strictly between the two boundary markers, so check the signage at your access point before letting a dog off. Even off lead, your dog needs to be under effective voice control and in sight, and it must be leashed on the walk to and from the sand.

Pick up waste straight away, because fines apply, and keep dogs out of the children's playground and barbecue and picnic areas entirely, staying at least 10 metres clear. Rangers patrol the beach, so the boundaries matter more here than at quieter suburban reserves.

Worth knowing

Facilities are decent for a dog beach: a dedicated car park at the end of Bent Street, public toilets and waste bins nearby, picnic shelters and water bowls around the entrances. Shade on the sand itself is minimal and water for dogs is not guaranteed, so pack your own bowl, water and some cover if you plan to stay a while. Weekday mornings are the sweet spot before the foreshore crowd builds.

Getting there

Drive in via Safety Bay Road or Mandurah Road and turn onto Bent Street for the main car park. Transperth buses run along Safety Bay Road with stops an easy walk from the beach, which helps on weekends when parking tightens.

Max: the off-leash zone stops at the Shelton Street and Bent Street markers, not at the first patch of empty sand. Check the signage before you unclip.

Pair it with

The Rockingham foreshore has dog-friendly tables within a few minutes, including Bean at the Beach and Spill the Beans at Palm Beach Jetty. For a secure run on the way home, Seahaven Reserve Fenced Dog Park at Waikiki is close by, and the Cape Peron Loop Trail makes a good on-leash add-on.

More options are on the Western Australia dog beaches guide and the East Rockingham destination page.