Hillarys Dog Beach

Hillarys Dog Beach, also known as Whitfords Dog Beach, sits on Northshore Drive in Kallaroo right next to Hillarys Boat Harbour, and it is one of the busiest off-leash beaches in the City of Joondalup. Calm, shallow water and a long stretch of clean sand explain the crowds; so does the dog wash at the entrance.

Leash status

Dogs can run off-leash on the sand but must be under effective voice control at all times. The off-leash zone is bounded: dogs need to stay within it and are not permitted on the neighbouring Whitfords and Mullaloo beaches. Keep dogs on-leash while crossing the car park and reserve on the way in and out. Owners are required to clean up after their dogs, and bags and bins are provided at the entry points.

Max: stick to voice control before you unclip the lead. The boundary with Whitfords Beach is not fenced, and it is easy to drift past it without noticing.

Water and terrain

The beach is sandy with no rocks, and the water stays relatively calm and shallow, which suits swimmers and paddlers alike. Low tide opens up more wet sand for running if your dog prefers firm ground. Bench seating runs along the dunes, and a freshwater shower or dog wash near the entrance handles the sand-and-salt rinse before the drive home.

Getting there and parking

Turn off Whitfords Avenue onto Northshore Drive and follow it to the free gravel car park at the end. Buses 441 and 442 run from Whitfords Station and stop on Hepburn Avenue or Marmion Avenue, leaving a short walk in, and the coastal path from Sorrento Quay also connects through on foot if you want to make a morning of it.

When to go

Early mornings before 9am and weekdays are quietest. Summer evenings between 4pm and 6pm draw a crowd, and weekend mornings fill the car park fast, so get there early if you want a spot close to the sand.

While you're out there

For coffee, Alleycats Espresso at Sorrento Quay welcomes dogs at its outdoor seating, and Sorrento Beach Dog Off Leash Area makes a second stop along the coast. Staying the weekend, The Spanish Guest House takes dogs overnight.

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