Scarness beach Dogs off leash 24/7 area

This stretch of the Scarness foreshore runs off lead around the clock, from Tooan Tooan Creek down to the Scarness Jetty on the Hervey Bay waterfront. Under Fraser Coast Regional Council rules there is no timed window here, which makes it one of the few beaches in the region where a dog can swim at dawn, midday or late at night.

The dog setup

Off lead means under effective control, not out of it: your dog needs reliable recall, current council registration and vaccinations, and to leave other beachgoers, wildlife and dogs alone. The zone stops hard at Scarness Jetty, and the patrolled swimming area on the other side of it is dog free, so check where the signs sit before you unclip.

The sand is wide and the water is calm, sheltered by Fraser Island across the bay. Bins line the Esplanade walkway near the beach entrances, and bags are on you rather than the council.

The vibe

The paved Esplanade path runs the length of the beach for on-lead walking, with sandy access points spaced along it. Locals use the beach heavily at the early-morning and late-afternoon windows, and weekends fill with families; a shy or ball-obsessed dog does better midweek or mid-morning. The tide changes the picture too, with far more running room at low water.

Pepsi: long flat sand, shallow water, no clock watching. My kind of beach, as long as the jetty stays where it is and I stay on this side of it.

Getting there

Free street parking runs along the Hervey Bay Esplanade, with a sensible start near Central Avenue or the Scarness Jetty car park. Local buses stop along the Esplanade if you are staying car free in Hervey Bay.

Make a day of it

If the timed 24-hour rule here does not suit, the nearby Pialba Foreshore Off-Leash Beach takes a different window, and the 24/7 Off-leash Dog Beach at Urangan sits at the southern end of the same foreshore. The Urangan Public dog park gives a fenced option away from the sand.

For coffee after a swim, Decoy Cafe / Dark Horse Coffee Roasters is a short walk up the Esplanade, and Tasman Holiday Parks Hervey Bay takes pets if you are staying over.

More sand is listed on the Queensland dog friendly beaches guide, with local options on the Pialba destination page.