Hinkler Park

Hinkler Park is Northern Beaches Council's dog off-leash area on Pittwater Road in North Manly, right beside Manly Lagoon. Fenced, open 24 hours and quieter than the beach off-leash areas up the road, it is the dependable option on this stretch of the Northern Beaches for a contained run.

Leash status

Dogs are permitted off-leash 24 hours a day. The council describes the dog off-leash area as partially fenced, which matters: it suits dogs still building recall better than an open oval, but the park borders a public path and the lagoon, so watch the open sections near the water and keep voice control honest. Pick up after your dog; bins are on site. Note that the park is usually booked out once a year for a visiting circus, so if your routine depends on it, check the council page around booking season.

The dog setup

Facilities are simple and functional: a dog water station, picnic tables for the hang-around crowd, bins for waste, and a public toilet in the building outside the off-leash area. The lagoon edge draws dogs for a paddle, though water quality in Manly Lagoon drops after heavy rain, so give the swimming a miss for a few days post-storm.

Pepsi: the fence plus the lagoon edge is a good combo, but it is not a fully sealed run, so stay off your phone near the unfenced corners.

Getting there and parking

The park sits on Pittwater Road at North Manly, an easy hop from Manly or Seaforth. There is a small free car park on site plus street parking nearby, and several bus routes along Pittwater Road, including the 155, 17X and 180, stop close to the gate.

When to go

Early mornings, late afternoons and weekends run busiest; weekday middays are the quiet window for a timid dog. Lagoon Park, another council off-leash area, is a short walk away if you want to string two stops together.

While you're out there

For a bigger outing, the Keirle Park to Cabbage Tree Bay walk via the Manly Beach promenade is an on-lead coastal leg that pairs well with an off-leash session here.

More options are on the New South Wales dog parks guide and the North Manly destination page.