Hitchcock Park Dog Off-Leash Area

Hitchcock Park is Avalon Beach's biggest neighbourhood park, and Northern Beaches Council allows dogs off-leash around the clock in its northern end. What sets it apart from the suburb's other dog space is the dedicated fenced section for small and shy dogs, a rare thing on the peninsula, while the wider off-leash area is only partially fenced. That split means a nervous cavalier and an exuberant labrador can both get proper exercise without sharing the same patch of grass.

The dog setup

The fenced small-dog enclosure takes the pressure off owners of quiet dogs who get flattened at general parks, and the partial fencing elsewhere suits dogs with reliable recall. Because the designation runs 24 hours, it also absorbs the early and late crowds that spill over from the beach side of the suburb. One boundary to respect: the Careel Bay sportsfields at the park are strictly on-leash, and on weekend mornings they belong to the footy, so keep your dog clear of the marked playing surfaces.

Getting there and parking

The off-leash end sits at the northern side of the park off Etival Street, with street parking along the surrounding residential blocks. The park sits back from the beach strip, so it is a few minutes on foot from Avalon Parade's shops. Council's own page for Hitchcock Park carries the current recreation rules, worth a skim before a first visit since the sportsfield schedule shifts with the seasons.

Afterwards, coffee at Girdlers Avalon is the local habit, and the Sunset Diner suits a family dinner on the way home. The NSW dog parks list covers alternatives up and down the coast, and the Avalon Beach guide rounds up the suburb's dog-friendly venues.

Worth knowing

The park doubles as the suburb's sports ground, so weekend mornings are busy with club sport and dogs need to stay on the fields' fringe. The fenced small-dog section is the space to aim for if your dog is unsure around bigger animals, and it tends to be quietest on weekday mornings. Between the sportsfields, the playground and the dog area, this is the park that covers a whole family outing in one stop.