Wickham Walk

Wickham Walk is the paved walking path through Artarmon Reserve on Sydney's lower north shore, linking the Artarmon Station subway to the reserve's sportsground on Burra Road. It is a leash-on route rather than an off-leash trail, so treat it as a green, shaded connector walk with one carefully bounded off-lead exception nearby.

The walk

The path is flat, sealed and gravelled in sections, wide enough for two-way foot traffic, prams and joggers. It runs through tree cover along the edge of a valley, giving shade and a break from the surrounding streets without being a bushwalk proper. The reserve is open around the clock, which makes it a flexible option for early starts.

Leash status

Wickham Walk itself, the carpark and the bushland edges are on leash at all times. The one off-leash allowance is the southern half of the Artarmon Reserve oval, and only before 9am and after 4pm on weekdays, outside any scheduled sport. Do not assume the oval rules apply to the path: the walk stays on leash the whole way.

Max: do not assume the oval rules apply to the path. Wickham Walk stays on-leash the whole way, even outside the oval's off-leash hours.

Water

A drinking fountain sits down at the oval rather than along the path itself, so carry water for anything longer than the station-to-oval stretch, particularly through the warmer months.

Watch-outs

The bushland edges turn muddy after heavy rain. Keep dogs out of the playground and away from the barbecue and picnic areas, and stay well clear of any sports equipment in use at the oval.

Getting there

The walk starts a short way from Artarmon Station via the pedestrian subway near Burra Road. Free parking is in the lower Artarmon Reserve carpark off Burra Road. Being a station-adjacent walk, it is one of the easier car-free dog walks on the north shore.

More walks nearby

For a proper off-lead session, the Unleashed Dog Exercise Area at Chatswood and the St Leonards Picnic Ground Fenced Dog Park are both close. Afterwards, The Wooden Whisk at St Leonards and The Incinerator Cafe at Willoughby are the dog-welcoming coffee options in the area.

When to go

Weekday mornings and evenings draw commuters walking to and from the station, and weekend mornings pick up with junior sport at the oval. The middle of a weekday is the quietest window for an easy on-leash stroll.

More options are on the New South Wales trails guide and the Artarmon destination page.