Hinkler Dog Park

Hinkler Dog Park occupies the corner of Lagoon Park at 300 Pittwater Road, North Manly, with a shallow tidal lagoon right beside it where dogs can paddle and swim. Northern Beaches Council lists the off-leash area as available around the clock, and the water access is the reason people cross town for it.

The dog setup

Council signage matters here: the dog area itself is the off-leash zone, while the rest of Lagoon Park, including the sports fields and playground, is on lead. The dog section is only partially fenced, so dogs that bolt toward open water or traffic along Pittwater Road need close watching rather than loose trust.

The space is grassy with picnic tables, benches and drinking water bubblers. Waste bags are provided but bring your own in case the dispensers run empty. The lagoon edge is shallow, which makes it a reliable cool-down, though the banks turn soft and muddy after rain. A community bike and skateboard track runs immediately next door, worth noting if your dog is reactive to fast-moving wheels.

Pepsi: the lagoon is the whole point. I am in the water before my lead hits the ground, and I am muddy all the way home.

The mix of water and unfenced edges is the trade you accept here: swimmers get a lagoon session few fenced parks can match, but owners trade the certainty of a gate for vigilance. If your dog is a flight risk, keep the lead on until you have read the space, and position yourself between your dog and Pittwater Road while they settle.

Worth knowing

The lagoon is tidally connected, so it can turn murky and unpleasant after heavy rain; high tide brings the cleanest water. Council also notes the park is occasionally booked for events, which can temporarily affect off-leash access, so check signage on arrival.

Getting there and parking

The park fronts Pittwater Road at North Manly, with street parking on surrounding side streets and B-line bus stops along Pittwater Road putting you minutes away.

While you're out there

For a beach alternative, Manly Off-leash Dog Beach is a short drive south, and the Keirle Park to Cabbage Tree Bay walk makes a scenic on-lead finisher. Flora and Ritchie Roberts Reserve at Curl Curl is another grassy off-leash option nearby.

More runs are listed on the NSW dog parks guide and the North Manly destination page.