Dearin Reserve Dog Area

Dearin Reserve occupies a quiet corner of Newport at the junction of Kalinya and Gladstone Streets, and Northern Beaches Council has signed it as an off leash area around the clock. The reserve is unfenced and gently sloping, with mature trees throwing shade across the middle of the ground, which makes it a regular stop for locals exercising dogs before work or after dinner.

The dog setup

Because this is a council designated off leash reserve rather than a fenced dog park, the rules lean on handler control rather than barriers. Dogs need to stay under effective voice control at all hours, owners are expected to carry bags and pick up waste, and dangerous or restricted breeds are excluded from the off leash status, as they are across the Northern Beaches network. There are no separate small dog enclosures, so timid dogs do best at quieter times of day.

The slope works in your favour for recall games: ball chases run downhill and the steady climb back gives most dogs a solid workout in fifteen or twenty minutes. Shade trees line the upper edge, so early morning sessions stay cool even in summer, and the ground drains reasonably well after rain. Bring your own water, as there is no dedicated dog drinking station on the reserve itself.

Make a day of it

Round the clock off leash access is rare on the northern beaches, so the reserve sees a steady trickle of regulars rather than crowds. If your dog needs a fence between it and the street, the enclosure at Newport Park Fenced Dog Park is only a few minutes away and pairs well with a walk here, and it is worth checking the council website for temporary closures after heavy rain.

Newport's village strip is close enough to build a morning around. Anchorage Bakery Cafe is a reliable coffee stop with outdoor tables where a settled dog can lounge while you eat, and further along the headland The Newport welcomes dogs in its outdoor areas, so you can cover a run, a walk and a long brunch without moving the car, and for more council run off leash options across the region, browse the other parks in our New South Wales parks guide.